Letters

April 15, 2004 Dear IRS: Another year has passed, and I notice that your work is still primarily to collect money to buy weapons to conduct wars and brutalize people all over the world. Even the money you collect that is not directly earmarked for war is most often used for nefarious activities, including for… Continue reading

The Hand April, 2003 This is a protest poem but I’m not sure to whom I should register my complaint. I would like to protest the dismembered hand draped across a tree branch close to a market in an old neighborhood of Baghdad bombed during its evening peak: packed with women vying for the few,… Continue reading

April 12, 2003 Internal Revenue Service Center Philadelphia, PA 19255-0015 To whom it may concern: Last year, $X in federal taxes were withheld from my paycheck. According to my completed income tax return, which is enclosed, I owe the federal government an additional $377. According to the U.S. Constitution, however, I say it is the… Continue reading

I forgot to pay my income taxes this year. Why would a person do that, you say? Won’t they just steal it from you anyway? Let’s just say if all we have is today, it was what was right for me today. I was anxiously looking at the tax form on April 15—like a lot of… Continue reading

April 15, 2003 Dear Internal Revenue Service of the United States: In recent years I have become more aware of where my tax money goes. This year, I have made a decision of conscience to redirect 47%, the amount of the federal budget spent on the military, of the federal taxes I owe toward building… Continue reading

Internal Revenue Service Andover, MA 05501-0002 April 15 2003 Dear Internal Revenue Service Person: I enclose this letter with my completed tax form as an explanation about why I cannot, in good conscience, pay the tax money that is demanded of me by the I.R.S. and the United States government—$2,494.00—for the 2002 tax year. Approximately… Continue reading

April 15, 2003 Dear IRS: I had a dream the other night. Maybe you had one like it too. It was based on one of those mind-numbing commercials for credit cards. That guy with the syrupy TV voice did the voice-over, and it went something like this: Cost to the US taxpayer of one Caterpillar… Continue reading

April 14, 2003 Dear IRS, I agree 100% with our President Select, George W. Bush, that anyone who finances terrorist acts is just as guilty as the perpetrators. With this in mind, I conscientiously object to paying 50% of the income tax that reliable sources estimate is the amount the current regime in Washington is… Continue reading

The Internal Revenue Service C/o Andover Mass. Service Center 05501-0102 Copies to: Sen. Hillary R. Clinton Sen.Charles Schumer Rep. Maurice Hinchey April 11, 2003 Dear relevant representatives of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Please be advised that we are paying our federal and New York State income taxes under extreme protest. We believe that any… Continue reading

April 6, 2003 To the people working for the IRS: Regarding my 1040 for 2002, This is my annual letter of conscience. This year I am writing during the season of Lent and this terrible season of war. My hope is to follow Jesus of Nazareth, who so clearly taught the love of enemies, who… Continue reading

April 15, 2002 Internal Revenue Service Austin, TX 73301-0102 Re: 2001 individual tax return CC: Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman; Representative Heather Wilson To whom it may concern: You will please find herewith my 2001 individual tax return. I affirm this to be a fully accurate statement of my income for the year in… Continue reading

Pete Meyers Ithaca, NY April 15, 2002 Internal Revenue Service Andover, MA 05501-0002 Dear Internal Revenue Service Person: I enclose this letter with my completed tax form as an explanation about why I cannot, in good conscience, pay the tax money that is demanded of me by the I.R.S. and the United States government—$2,781.31—for the… Continue reading