Just under 90 days. Is it possible to organize....?

[TygrBright]

Tax Filing Resistance?

If the Septic Sphincter has not released his returns by April 15th, can we organize a major non-filing protest?

I'm thinking back to the tax protests of the Vietnam era. They couldn't be that widespread (because it's a serious violation with a serious penalty attached,) but for those who are willing to put that kind of skin in the game, can we make a movement out of it?

Publicity, legal defenses, setting up escrow accounts for 'good faith' payments, that kind of thing?

Even a "don't pay until he releases the returns or at the VERY LAST MINUTE ON 4/15" movement would have some serious impact.

I have a relative who used to work at the IRS and IIRC, they count on a fairly large number of people to file early because they're owed refunds. But one thing that means is that as soon as the return is filed, the rest of the filer's withheld and/or estimated payments are released for use. And they have one less to process in the days immediately following the deadline.

So the IRS would have a Big Sad if we all said "not until he shows us his!"

Could it be done?

curiously,
Bright

[HassleCat]

1. As long as people realize what they're exposed to.

Audits, harassment , prosecution, jail, etc.

[TygrBright]

3. Yes, that's why I don't propose a non-filing protest lightly, or even as the only option.

It should be AN option for those who wish, with all the support (and more) that was arranged for tax protesters during the Vietnam and Cold War eras.

But the "delay filing until" option could have a real impact if enough people were willing.

I would step up on that. Have our prep person get everything ready, then print it out, on paper, and send via postal mail at the last minute. We'd still e-file our state return early, as usual.

Of course, if the Septic Sphincter released his returns before that, we'd drop our Federal e-file the same day or next day.

Everyone filing paper at the last possible minute would be a SERIOUS headache for the Federal government.

speculatively,
Bright

[brooklynite]

2. Conway has said voters don't care about his tax returns...and she's right.

The election is over. If people didn't care about it then (or his misogyny or anything else), there will be no resonance on tax day. If you want to go after Trump, pick a policy issue from his Presidency, not his personal past.

And, NO, you will never get enough people willing to risk the immense financial and legal penalties that come with refusing to file and pay taxes to have any sort of significant "movement".

[TygrBright]

4. *I* care, dammit. And I'm not chopped liver. And I DON'T think I'm alone.

He needs to release those forms.

Whatever else he may do, he will NEVER be a legitimate head of state/head of government in this democratic republic without that level of transparency.

(Mind you, I'm not saying that alone WOULD confer legitimacy. But without it, never.)

And it wouldn't necessarily require large numbers of people to NOT file and/or NOT pay. If a few brave high-profile souls want to step into the machine, it will make the impact all the greater.

But even a "wait until and file paper" movement, by large numbers, should throw some sand in the gears.

positively,
Bright

[Farmgirl1961]

5. There must be some way for us to fight back

I don't think we should go about this willy nilly, but I'm thinking that maybe getting some legal advise on what we CAN do regarding tax resistance.

[citood]

10. A local guy used to teach classes on how to not pay taxes

It was really a pyramid scheme...he would 'train' other people to teach the class, who would train people below them, etc.

When the feds came after him, he fled to Mexico - they caught him when he tried to re-enter and go to his daughter's wedding.

Anyhoo...I'm no lawyer, but I would advise paying taxes. Frankly, most of us are wage slaves, and our employers aren't going to stop withholding.

[citood]

6. Not sure that's accurate

"But one thing that means is that as soon as the return is filed, the rest of the filer's withheld and/or estimated payments are released for use."

I've never heard of the withholding being held in some sort of escrow. As far as I know, once it leaves my paycheck, it enters the general fund.

So, yes, its beyond late to protest. Most people have already paid their taxes, and then some.

"And they have one less to process in the days immediately following the deadline."

I am not aware of any statutory time period after the deadline, within which the returns would have to be processed. Since the vast majority of taxpayers get refunds, the IRS and the treasury are not hurt at all (and likely the treasury is helped) if it takes a long time to process returns.

[TygrBright]

7. It is not in escrow and it IS in the general fund.

But they cannot release the dollar amount into a line item for budgeting and/or expenditure without a special procedure, that I do know.

And the IRS HATES paper filing now. That I also know.

It costs them a lot more to process a paper return than an e-file.

specifically,
Bright

[citood]

8. If that were true

If that were true...and it most certainly isn't...the federal government would be funded by gasoline vapors, voodoo, and quarterly payers for the entire year, plus 3.5 months, before it could allocate and spend any given year's tax revenue on that year's budget...and there would be a sudden deluge of funds available in April.

That is fantasy.

Ask yourself - why would the government withhold money each month, if 'a special procedure' prevented it from spending it right away? If that were true, the government would just require all of us to be quarterly filers...or even monthly.

I think what your 'people you know at the IRS' were trying to tell you is that they want all the easy returns (which usually get refunds) early, so they'll be better staffed to deal with the more complex returns which don't get a refund, and are usually filed on the last day.

But no, a vendor in Peoria who sold widgets to the government in June isn't waiting with baited breath for Sally Sue in Sarasota to file her return to unlock her entire year's withholding six months later, before he gets paid...because of a 'special procedure'.

Every dollar collected in taxes means one less dollar borrowed...and since we operate on deficits, that means the government has already spent my withholding by the time I see my pay stub...likely spent within minutes off hitting the general fund.

[jmg257]

9. No thanks - I want my refunds. nt

[boston bean]

11. Masses of people could file for extensions... maybe??