Dear IRS Commissioner John Koskinen,
Our country is full of innovative, creative, talented people who have great potential for solving any problem that comes our way including providing quality education and health care for all. It is incomprehensible that the U.S., apparently is the richest country in the world, does not provide for its citizens what other countries, with far less wealth manage to do provide for all of their citizens. Additionally, the creativity in the U.S. is so great that we have the potential to solve foreign policy issues without resorting to violence. However, due to the U.S.’s severely violent foreign policies and profound lack of respect for human life both inside and outside the country including, but not limited to:
• The U.S. bombing of Doctors Without Borders hospitals in Kunduz, Afghanistan and Taiz, Yemen to name just two of many
• Guantanamo, the mistreatment of the prisoners there and the the illegality of it’s existence
• Drone assassinations including that of U.S. citizens and children
• Complete disregard for and violation of the Geneva Conventions to which the U.S. is a signatory
• Complete disregard for and violation of the Nuremberg Principles to which the U.S. is a signatory
• Complete disregard for and violation of the Kellogg-Briand Pact to which the U.S. is a signatory
• Complete disregard for and violation of the United Nations Convention against Torture to which the U.S. is a signatory
• The militarization of the police to further oppress and murder citizens with impunity, particularly black citizens
• The Prison-industrial complex
• The bailing out of big banks and Wall Street with taxpayer dollars at the expense of many hard working U.S. citizens
• The funding of the black budget, which has no accountability or oversight, with taxpayer dollars
• The fact that the U.S. is the biggest threat to world peace according to a poll conducted by Win/Gallup
It is my right and my responsibility as a U.S. citizen according the Nuremberg principles to point out when my own government is acting illegally as it has been for decades. In the civil disobedience of my tax refusal, I am doing exactly that and stating that I conscientiously object to being forced to pay for the killing of anyone. I have paid a small portion of my taxes in hopes that it will go to a constructive, worthwhile cause such as education, health care or social work. However, the U.S. government gives me little hope of that as it has proven with it’s own history time and again it will act illegally with U.S. taxpayer dollars. I cannot in good conscience give much of what little I have earned to such a corrupt institution. Therefore, I have kept the majority of what I owe which I will, as I am able, give out to organizations that are working to help people such as educational, health and other public institutions that exist to build up society rather than tear it down. When U.S. taxes are allocated completely for such worthwhile constructive causes I will gladly pay them.
Sincerely,
Kevin Martonick
Dear Mr. Martonick
I am responding to your letter dated June 14, 2016, to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. You wrote that you conscientiously refuse to pay taxes that support war efforts and specifically violence.
I am sorry for your frustration with our tax laws, but I hope you will try to understand our duty to uphold them. We do not have the authority to change tax laws; only the Congress has that power.
Federal Courts have held that individuals have no constitutional right to refuse to pay federal income taxes on the grounds the government uses the funds to support any war effort or government programs a taxpayer opposes. In addition, the courts have held that a sound tax system could not function if it allowed religious groups to challenge the tax system because the government spends funds in a manner that violates religious beliefs.
Our system of government provides many legal ways for individuals to express their dissatisfaction with the law. However, we must administer the tax laws as written and take the appropriate action in cases of noncompliance, if necessary. Such actions include interest, penalties, and in some cases, imprisonment.
Again I am sorry for your frustration with tax law, but I hope you understand our position. If you have questions, please call (800) 829-1040.
Sincerely
Naomi Henry, Branch Chief Executive Secretariat Correspondence Office
