The Mysterious Ways of the IRS
“The Mysterious Ways of the IRS” was a topic of conversation during a recent war tax resistance (WTR) workshop. Many of the questions from resisters —whether new or longtime — related to “what might happen when.” If I file, when will the first IRS collection letter arrive? How long will it take them to seize… Continue reading
Frances Crowe: Finding Her Radical Soul
A couple of weeks ago, as we were eating lunch on the porch of Casa Maria Catholic Worker, Ruth talked about meeting her mentor in activism, Frances Crowe, in Western Massachusetts. When Frances saw Ruth wearing an anti-nuclear T-shirt, Frances, ever the organizer, came up and introduced herself immediately. Frances was a long-time staff member for… Continue reading
May in Milwaukee
Another enjoyable time at NWTRCC’s May conference in Milwaukee! Our hosts, Casa Maria Catholic Worker (with lead organizer Lincoln Rice), did a great job with the weekend. As the Administrative Committee wrapped up our preparation for the business meeting on Friday, other folks who arrived early got to see some papers from Christian anarchist and… Continue reading
Not Paying for Nukes
Thousands marched to and rallied at the United Nations Sunday, April 26, to protest nuclear weapons. Two days later 22 were arrested blockading the U.S. Mission to the UN demanding disarmament not more talk. The United Nations holds a review of the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty every five years. Hundreds of Japanese — including still… Continue reading
“I just can’t pay for murdering other people” – Post-Tax Day News Roundup
Despite the media focus on the Fight for 15 minimum wage protests around the country on April 15, it seemed to me to be a good media day for war tax resistance too. New resisters announced their commitment, while long-time resisters continued to speak up in opposition to military spending, in support of redirecting tax… Continue reading
This Tax Day, A 23-Year-Old Refuses to Pay for War
by Sam Koplinka-Loehr, Philadelphia, PA Since I was born in 1991, the U.S. Government has been in a non-stop state of war, and has spent trillions of dollars on killing people overseas. As a young person growing up in the United States, I saw our schools faltering. I saw income inequality growing. I saw communities… Continue reading
Stephen Leeds
April 15, 2015 To: Senator Barbara Boxer Senator Diane Feinstein Rep. Nancy Pelosi Internal Revenue Service Center, San Francisco (with Form 1040) Commissioners of the Internal Revenue Service President Barack Obama Clerk, San Francisco Friends Meeting, Religious Society of Friends People’s Life Fund This letter concerns my IRS Form 1040 for calendar year 2014. I’m sending a… Continue reading
Susan Lannen
April 15, 2015 Dear Friends at the IRS, I will not be paying the amount that my tax returns state that I “owe” for 2014, because over 50% of the money collected would go toward military spending. As a conscientious objector to all war I just cannot do it. I know it doesn’t make sense… Continue reading
Sam Koplinka-Loehr
Since I was born in 1991, the U.S. Government has been in a non-stop state of war, and has spent trillions of dollars on killing people overseas. As a young person growing up in the United States, I saw our schools faltering. I saw income inequality growing. I saw communities struggling. And yet, the government… Continue reading
Elizabeth Boardman
To my federal legislators and my local paper Re War tax resistance Dear Friends, Today I have filed my IRS 1040. I have not included a check for the amount I still owe for 2014, about half of my total income tax bill. I am a member of the long-established Religious Society of Friends (Quakers),… Continue reading
Jason Mizula
The following is the letter I mailed to the IRS a few days before tax day about my reasons for not paying federal income tax. This is the first year since leaving the military that I have had taxable income, otherwise I would have done this sooner. Working under-the-table is a much simpler form of protest, and… Continue reading
Kevin Martonick (2015)
Dear IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, On this tax day I am thinking a lot about how about half of our taxes goes toward military spending. Actually, it is something on my mind quite often throughout the year. In the same way a conscientious objector refuses to fight in a war and our country provides a… Continue reading