Is Federal Income Tax Constitutional?
Tax Protesters Say Government Cannot Collect Income Tax
CONCORD, N.H. -- Those who sympathize with a Plainfield couple who refuse to surrender after being convicted of tax evasion say that the federal government does not have the power to tax income, but are their arguments valid?
Each year, about 300 people are indicted on charges of federal income tax evasion. Ed and Elaine Brown have each been sentenced to more than five years in prison, nearly twice the average of those convicted. Ed Brown said he firmly believes the law is on his side.
Read article here.
CONCORD, N.H. -- Those who sympathize with a Plainfield couple who refuse to surrender after being convicted of tax evasion say that the federal government does not have the power to tax income, but are their arguments valid?
Each year, about 300 people are indicted on charges of federal income tax evasion. Ed and Elaine Brown have each been sentenced to more than five years in prison, nearly twice the average of those convicted. Ed Brown said he firmly believes the law is on his side.
Read article here.
posted by The Freedom Fellowship at
12:52 AM
7 Comments:
This could be ended peacefully if the Govt representatives would do ONE SIMPLE THING--
Just show Ed & Elaine (and all of us) specifically where in USC Title 26---NOT in CFR Title 26, which was written by the IRS, and is a regulation, not a statute---the average American INDIVIDUAL is liable for a tax on his/her income.
That's ALL the Govt has to do...why won't they? [Could it be because the cited law IS Constitutional precisely because nowhere does it levy such a tax?]
Come on, Govt...pony up. Just show me the LAW (not the regulation).
http://individualsovereignty.blogspot.com/
What a biased article and straw man arguments. They twisted the arguments out of context and then refuted them.
And I still didn't see the law!
Question: "What does the Bible say about paying taxes?"
Answer: In Matthew 22:17-21, the Pharisees asked Jesus a question, "Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." In full agreement, the Apostle Paul taught, "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor" (Romans 13:6-7).
Federal income tax, state income tax, local income tax, sales tax, property tax, personal property tax, capital gains tax - the list could go on and on. Statistics show that in the United States, April 15th, tax day, is one of the most stressful days of the year. The Internal Revenue Service is probably the most despised government organization. Similarly, tax collectors were not thought highly of in Bible times (Matthew 11:19; 21:31-32; Luke 3:12-13).
As much as we hate taxes, as much as the tax system is corrupt and unfair, as much as there are far better things our money could go towards - the Bible commands, yes commands us to pay our taxes. Romans 13:1-7 makes it clear that we are to submit ourselves to the government. The only instance in which we are allowed to disobey the government is when it tells us to do something the Bible forbids. The Bible does not forbid paying taxes. In fact, the Bible encourages us to pay taxes. Therefore, we must submit to God and His Word - and pay our taxes.
The most frequent objection to paying taxes is that the money is being misused by the government or even used for evil purposes by the government. That, however, is not our concern. When Jesus said, "Give to Caesar..." the Roman government was by no means a righteous government. When Paul instructed us to pay taxes, Nero, the most evil Roman emperor in history, was the head of the government. We are to pay our taxes even when the government is not God-honoring.
We are free to take every tax deduction that is both legal and honest. We do not have to pay the maximum amount of taxes possible. If the government allows you a tax break - take it. If there is a legal way you can shelter some of your money from being taxed - shelter it. By all means, take the deduction for your children, your mortgage, your moving expenses, etc., etc. Again, feel free to take every legal and honest opportunity to reduce your tax burden. Illegal and/or dishonest methods must be rejected. Romans 13:2 reminds us, "Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."
The most frequent objection to paying taxes is that the money is being misused by the government or even used for evil purposes by the government. That, however, is not our concern.
Not our concern? If I work to earn money, it is most certainly my concern what it is used for.
So, following a couple links from Wikipedia, I find:
1) a requirement to file a return:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode26/usc_sec_26_00006012----000-.html
and 2) a requirement to pay the amount on the return:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode26/usc_sec_26_00006151----000-.html
What am I missing?
The whole thing is stupid anyway. We should be moving to the FairTax.
To Bill:
Neither of those LEVIES A TAX on the labor of an average American wage-earner.
1. What if your "income" is zero?
(Doyle v. Mitchell Bros., 1918---Supreme Court ruling, never reversed: 16th Amendment "incomes" means, "GAIN FROM CORPORATE ACTIVITY".
2. See # 1. above.
Some individuals are subject to the tax: alcohol dealers, firearms dealers, nonresident aliens, corporate officers, etc. But the average American wage-earner is not.
Google the video, "Theft by Deception"...or spend about 100 hours studying ALL of USC Title 26, paying particular attention to how various convoluted sections correlate/interrelate.
None of this can be done in an hour or so.
For an excellent short course, see www.originalintent.org/edu ...left side of page, scroll down to "Video Archive", and click on the Income Tax---for a series of short (2 min. each, or so) videos that will help.
:)
Jeff said...
Question: "What does the Bible say about paying taxes?"
This is only one part of what the bible says. It also says to protect the poor, help your neighbor and fight for truth. To sacrifice for others and teach others the truth of our Fathers Love.
Caesar's coins and money is so different from what belongs to America it's not even funny. You would have to believe that everything we have is from the grace of Government. You are lost. We are America and the government works for our benefit. We owe government nothing more than we decide to owe ourselves. We are the People who own our government. If we do not authorize a thing, it is not lawful. The bible also says about taxes you are to pay what is owed, nothing more, and you are to fight for what is the Lords. Our labor is the Lords for me because I struggle and sacrifice to support my faith and my family. The lord gives me my labor. not the government. And when my labor ends, I will have to beg for the government support because all my past labor and taxes has destroyed my ability to support myself. But I will resist to my last breath.
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