economy
‘Tax resistance’ gains attention amid ICE protests, Iran war
Tax protesters often withhold taxes due to moral objections to certain government programs, such as the Iran war. But there can be IRS penalties, experts say.
TL;DR
- Some individuals are withholding federal income taxes to protest government actions, including U.S. strikes on Iran and immigration detention.
- The IRS states that moral or religious beliefs do not exempt individuals from their tax responsibilities.
- Failing to pay taxes can lead to penalties, interest, wage garnishment, tax liens, and potentially jail time.
- Federal courts have a history of ruling against tax protesters, often dismissing their claims as frivolous.
- War tax resistance has seen an increase in attention, with website traffic for related organizations surging.
- Methods of protest include filing returns but refusing to pay, paying less than owed, or not filing at all.
- The IRS can take collection actions, including preparing substitute returns, issuing 90-day letters, and pursuing criminal charges for willful tax evasion or fraud.
- There is no statute of limitations for false or fraudulent returns, allowing the IRS to pursue filers indefinitely.