14 April, 2013
Operations Mgr., Exam SC Support
Internal Revenue Service
1973 N. Rulon White Blvd. M/S 4210
Ogden, UT 84404-0040
Dear ____________,
I received your letter dated Mar. 21, 2013 on the 26th of March. I am sorry that you consider life and death decisions and the Ten Commandments “frivolous.” Your determination that I am being frivolous does not change my deepest beliefs, nor my leading to support life instead of death.
I read your letter and the accompanying brochure thoroughly. Most of the information provided in your letter does not apply to me. I am well aware of my legal obligations, and am not arguing against the payment of taxes. I am simply stating that my conscience does not allow me to disobey God’s law in favor of U.S.A. law. When human laws are made contrary to my understanding of God’s commandments, I do my best to change those laws by legal means, but ultimately I can not keep paying for what I see as murder. I am aware of the possible consequences and if necessary, I will accept my country’s punishments rather than kill people or pay for others to kill people.
I understand that many people see war as a necessity and a legitimate way to protect the people we love. I have come to understand “defense” spending and support of war -- paying for the deaths of thousands of people, most of them civilians – as contrary to God’s commandments to put faith in God first, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and not to kill. I ask you to try to see my point of view. I understand that your job is to collect taxes, not to question their use. However, I see it as a citizen’s duty in a democracy to question our country’s expenditures and the values they reflect, and to hold our country to high standards of behavior.
Regarding some specific points in your letter, here is why I do not see how they apply to this situation :
1) You talk about legal requirements for filing tax returns, and penalties for fraud. I file an accurate, honest tax return every year. I do not lie on my tax returns, and keep receipts and W2s and all other data necessary to prove the accuracy of my annual tax returns.
2) You stated in several ways that you have the right to examine all of my papers and records, and say that you can issue a summons “for ascertaining the correctness of any return filed…” Any IRS official is welcome to view my records. I have nothing to hide.
3) You talk about “people who encourage others to violate our nation’s tax laws by arguing that there is no legal requirement for them to file income tax returns or pay income taxes.” I have never argued this, I have never told others that they aren’t legally required to pay taxes, and no one has told me this. I am perfectly aware of the need to file income tax returns (this is the reason that I do so every year), and I am perfectly aware of legal obligations to pay income taxes. My employer deducts taxes from every paycheck. As stated in previous letters, I approve of the idea of taxes and I want very much to fulfill my legal obligations. Unfortunately, paying all of my taxes involves paying for war, and I can not do this. I have much respect for the law and it pains me deeply to have to take this stand. As I stated above, I will deal with the consequences rather than pay the full amount of war taxes.
4) You state that people who violate the tax laws also may be subject to federal criminal prosecution and imprisonment. So be it. That is better for me than murdering others. I am concerned that your keyword for information on the criminal enforcement program is “fraud.” Fraud is lying. I am not a liar.
5) You talk about the IRS and Department of Justice work against “people who promote or join in abusive and fraudulent tax schemes.” Please explain to me how I am being abusive. I am not paying war taxes because I abhor abuse and violence. Who am I abusing, and how? Regarding fraudulent tax schemes, again, feel free to examine my records. My tax returns are simple and straightforward. I am not scheming against the IRS. The only scheme I am guilty of is an open and honest attempt to change USA law and change USA war-making, but that has not changed my annual submission of honest tax returns.
6) The brochure you enclosed refers to myths. One of these myths is that filing violates First Amendment rights based on religious beliefs. Again, I am fully aware of the current law implication that my religious beliefs have nothing to do with my legal obligation to pay for war. I believe this is wrong, but I am aware that it is the law, and I have not said otherwise. However, everyone does have the choice to disobey the law and accept the consequences. When given the awful choice of supporting torture and thousands of deaths through war or going to jail, I’ll take jail. It is certainly not what I want, but it is the lesser of evils, and I have more chance of affecting change in prison than I do paying for war.
This year, once again, the Federal tax amount I owe ($656.00) will be paid to Friends Peace Teams, a remarkable organization bringing together warring peoples and working in violent areas to defuse tensions and prevent future wars. From families to communities and entire countries (DR of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Indonesia, the Phillippines, Kenya…), Friends Peace Teams is demonstrating real change toward building a more peaceful world. As usual, I will send a receipt to show that I am not trying to get out of paying the amount I owe. I just can’t pay it toward continued war-making.
Please tell me : How is giving up claim to all property, risking loss of my job and livelihood, dealing with the higher costs and inconveniences of living without credit or a credit card, and risking Federal imprisonment, “frivolous?”
In peace,
Susan Lee Barton
