Note: This flyer is also available in PDF format. Feel free to download, copy, and distribute. If you'd like us to send you a PDF with customized local contact info, just let us know!
The following concerns and responses are taken from the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) flyer "Why Isn't Everyone Who's For Peace A War Tax Resister?", which can also be ordered from the NWTRCC office (see resources list below).
• "It's hard to take on something new with a lot of uncertainties when I'm not forced to. Life is complex enough now." We all have more than enought things to do, and must decide which issues are worth tackling, and which need to be put off. Some War Tax Resisters, so horrified by U.S. militarism, feel compelled to ignore their fears, and go to great lengths to sever their connections to the war-making machinery. Despite personal discomforts that may result from engaging in War Tax Resitance, War Tax Resisters reason these personal problems are minor compared to those of people suffering because of U.S. military actions.
• "It would create problems with my spouse/parents/employer (security clearance, financial, stress)." It is unlikely that anyone will be harmed because of your War Tax Resistance. In many instances, relatives have been very supportive, though unwilling to participate themselves.
• "I'll go to jail." It's not going to happen...at least not for refusing to pay War Taxes. Of the couple dozen War Tax Resisters jailed in the last sixty years – out of tens of thousands of Resisters -- the reasons have not been for refusal to pay taxes, but rather because they persistently refused to give information to the IRS (or "falsified" the tax forms). Only one person was actually jailed for War Tax Resistance, and that was in the 1940s.
• "With interest and penalties, they'll end up collecting more than I originally owed." If the IRS collects, it probably will add interest at the prevailing rate, and penalties. However, the penalties and interest usually do not offset the IRS's costs of collection. Though some War Tax Resisters just accept this as one of the burdens of War Tax Resistance, others have joined the War Tax Resisters Penalty Fund. As a result, they are in little danger of losing money because of interest and penalties (for more information about the WTRPF, see below).
• "I might lose my job." It's unlikely that an employer will fire an employee who gets a levy. Some resisters, though, have quite their jobs rather than allow the IRS to successfully seize the War Taxes.
• "It'll hurt my credit rating." This is the intention of the IRS. Despite IRS liens and levies, War Tax Resisters have been able to secure credit cards and loans, as well as make purchases on credit.
• "It'll call attention to me, and the IRS may invalidate my deductions and credits." War Tax Resisters are rarely audited, because the IRS usually chooses to send resisters' returns directly to the collection division. However, many War Tax Resisters welcome the attention of the government, so officials know why Resisters are refusing to pay their taxes.
• "The IRS might take my house or car." The IRS can seize property whose titles are held by War Tax Resisters. This, however, is very rare (from 1992 through 2002, the IRS seized only one house and two cars from War Tax Resisters), and the Resister will be given opportunities to pay up and stop the seizure, or redeem the property from the buyer after it is sold. There are many ways to protect your property. For example, some War Tax Resisters have put their property in the name of close friends or relatives. Also, if your resisted taxes are in an alternative fund, that money could be pulled out to help pay for the recovery of your property.
• "I need my 401(k)/pension/IRA/Social Security to live on when I am older." Currently, the IRS can seize no more than 15% of Social Security checks. Also, it is highly unusual for the IRS to seize 401(k), pensions, or IRAs. Many War Tax Resisters put their resisted taxes into Escrow Accounts or Alternative Funds with the provision of getting that money returned if the IRS succeeds in collecting from another source.
• "It might jeopardize my ability to get student aid or loans." Though applications have become more nationalized, War Tax Resisting families have been successful submitting an accurate FAFSA form and talking directly to the school's financial aid office.
• "This isn't my battle. Rather than spend the time and energy needed to deal with the IRS and the court system, I prefer to do constructive work for change elsewhere." As mentioned earlier, it is up ot each of us individually to decide where we will focus our efforts, and which projects will get our attention. Resistance to injustice is constructive, particularly when that Resistance is coupled with the re-routing of taxes into community programs. War Tax Resisters do not claim that Tax Resistance is the best or only way to protest militarism -- rather that it is one among many options.
• "If everyone were to pick and choose which taxes to pay, that would be unfair." If people are willing to non-violently resist taxes, for whatever cause, and deal with the consequences, that's their decision (and also the essence of Civil Disobedience). War Tax Resisters are not shirking their civic duty by refusing to pay the IRS. Most re-route their taxes into programs hurt by the military spending and misplaced priorities of the U.S. government. Moreover, in polling American citizens often vastly underestimate the percentage of the budget allocated to the military -- while opining that they think it should be even smaller than they already think it to be. So it is actually Congress and the President -- and not War Tax Resisters -- who are out of touch with the American public with regard to this issue.
• "I would rather work within the system, so we can have some influence. War Tax Resistance is alienating and marignal, and will cut me off from the circles of influence that effect real change." In trying to make fundamental changes, it is sometimes necessary to do things that others feel are alienating or extreme in order to get the attention of an establishment that chooses to ignore injustice. In a movement for social change, there are many complementary roles to be played. Among them is the role of the agitator, which aids in getting attention and raising issues. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once noted, "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored."
• "Taxes are good; we shouldn't refuse to pay them. I support some of the things that taxes pay for, such as education and human services." While many taxes are beneficial, those that contribute to the military are not -- and that's 50% of the federal budget! And even more taxes are used for other nefarious ends (such as helping to subsidize the tobacco, mining, oil, chemical, auto, etc. industries). So not paying Federal Income Taxes on balance prevents more ill from occuring than it does good from occurring. Additionally, most War Tax Resisters don't simply refuse taxes, thus putting the burden of society's expenses on the shoulders of others. Rather than keep resisted taxes for themselves, they re-route those taxes to society's programs most in need of attention. Also, most War Tax Resisters do pay many taxes not related to military spending (including Social Security, as well as State and Local taxes).
• "It's wrong to break the law." In a free society, openly wihtdrawing one's consent is an essential component of resisting oppression and tyranny. Non-violently breaking laws has had a long and honorable tradition in the United States. If Thoreau hadn't refused to pay his taxes as a protest to slavery and the Mexican-American War, he would never have written his essay "Civil Disobedience". If protesters for women's suffrage, civil rights, the Vietnam War, and gay rights (among other movements) hadn't committed Civil Disobedience, those movements might well have had very different results.
• "War Tax Resistance Is Too Complicated." It can be complicated, depending upon how you resist the taxes and what your personal situation is. But it can also be as simple as doing what you do now, except to refuse a token amount of money and to include a letter of explanation with your return. In any case, there are counselors who are willing to help explain the techniques and issues.
• "I would have to change my lifestyle." It is true that some War Tax Resisters go out of their way to be un-collectible; and so in the process must frequently change their lifestyles -- including to one of more simple, eco-friendly living. Many War Tax Resisters, on the other hand, find that they can fit their Resistance into their current lifestyles.
• "I never owe anything: the IRS always sends me a refund." Chances are you are being over-withheld with eacy paycheck. This can be corrected for by claiming at least another allowance on the W-4 form that you file with your employer. This will mean that less income tax will be withheld, and you will owe money to the IRS at the end of the year. You will then be in a position to Resist. For more information regarding W-4 Resistance, see the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee's "Practical War Tax Resistance #1: Controlling Federal Tax Withholding" (also available from the NACC office).
NACC Services
• The Conscience and Military Tax Campaign Escrow Account The nation's largest fund of resisted War Taxes. For more information, see the NACC flyer "Conscience & Military Tax Campaign Escrow Account for Resisted War Taxes". Copies are also available from the NACC office.
• Counseling, Workshops, Literature, and other information to support War Tax Resisters and their allies. Get in touch with the NACC office to set up a presentation for your organization or group of friends, to speak with a WTR counselor, or with any questions regarding Tax Resistance or the CMTC Escrow Account.
• An annual Grant Cycle, allocating most of the interest generated by the CMTC Escrow account to local, national, and international Peace & Justice organizations. To be added to the notifications list for upcoming dates of significance regarding the next grant cycle, pass your e-mail address along to the NACC office. For a list of the most recent recipients, see here.
Other Resources
• The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, a national coalition of local War Tax Resistance organizations; with a very helpful full-time staffperson, excellent literature, a newsletter, and a national contacts and counselors list. NWTRCC, P.O. Box 150553, Brooklyn, NY 11215; (800) 269-7464.
• The War Resisters League in New York City recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. The WRL publishes War Tax Resistance: A Guide to Withholding Your Support from the Military, a highly recommended, 130-page basic War Tax Resistance handbook (also available for $15 from the NACC office), as well as the annual "Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes" pie-chart leaflet. War Resisters League, 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012; (212) 228-0450.
• The War Tax Resisters Penalty Fund. Established in 1982 to spread out among the entire WTR community the costs of penalties and interest imposed by the IRS. Each member of the fund generally ends up paying less than $20 per year. WTRPF, P.O. Box 25, North Manchester, IN 46962; (260) 982-2971.
• The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund "advocates for U.S. federal legislation enabling conscientious objectors to war to have their federal income taxes directed to a special fund which could be used for non-military purposes only." National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund and the Peace Tax Foundation, 2121 Decatur Place NW, Washington, DC 20008; (202) 483-3751; (888) PEACE-TAX.
• The Picket Line: "How I live up to my values by resisting federal taxes." A blog maintained by David Gross.
Note: This flyer is also available in PDF format. Feel free to download, copy, and distribute. If you'd like us to send you a PDF with customized local contact info, just let us know!
The Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia
P.O. Box 85541, Seattle, WA 98145. An affiliate of the
War Resisters League and NWTRCC
Tel: (206) 547-0952, Fax: (206) 547-2631. E-mail: nacc (at) drizzle (dot) com