The desire not to be forced to support war is what leads some conscientious people to resist paying their income taxes. Last year, 53% of our income taxes went to war.
Today is Tax Day, and thousands of people around the country are refusing to pay their taxes. Instead, many redirect what they would have paid to social services or other benign activities through an alternative fund such as the New York City People’s Life Fund or the San Francisco Bay Area People’s Life Fund.
The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) provides resources and support for tax resisters. Their new 30-minute video Death and Taxes has interviews of 28 resisters — including Randy Kehler, Julia “Butterfly” Hill, Ruth Benn, Juanita Nelson, and Bill Ramsey — exploring why and how they resist taxes.
Don’t Pay Taxes
By Charlie King (to the tune of Bye, Bye Blackbird)
The IRS says pay your dues
Business doesn’t, why should you?
Don’t pay taxes
Enron skipped a year or two,
tell the taxman you’re no fool
Don’t pay taxes
You can end this yearly aggravation
Just pretend that you’re a corporation
And tell ’em that you’re workin’ hard
Drilling oil wells in your yard
Don’t pay your tax
A package you don’t want or need
Arrives next April C.O.D.
Don’t pay taxes
A few demented terrorists
have got you on their mailing list
Don’t pay taxes
Please report these sleazy overspenders
Mark your tax return,
Return to Sender
Call John Ashcroft or any Fed
It’s obscene, unsolicited
Don’t pay your tax
The dollars that you pay for war
Kill people in El Salvador
Don’t pay taxes
If some escape to this fair land
Your dollars send them back again
Don’t pay taxes
The generals say they wantcha where they gotcha
They gotcha buyin’ Black Hawk helicopters
You work for peace, you pray for it
If you hate war, don’t pay for it
Don’t pay your tax
(Reprise) Tell the IRS this year
Let ’em know the buck stops here
And don’t pay your tax
Recorded on “Sparks and Tears” by Charlie King and Karen Brandow. Look for their touring schedule and CD’s at www.charlieking.org.
