Today
is
April
Fools’
Day
and
many
of
us
will
participate
in
a
prank
to
get
some
laughs.
But
with
the
tax
return
filing
deadline
coming
in
two
weeks,
some
who
are
unhappy
with
how
the
country
is
doing
may
be
tempted
to
write
“April
Fools”
on
their
tax
returns
and
either
not
pay
their
taxes
or
try
to
get
an
illegally
large
tax
refund.
But
filing
an
incorrect
tax
return
or
not
paying
taxes,
even
if
done
to
conscientiously
protest
policies
they
disagree
with,
is
not
a
good
idea.
The
IRS
or
any
other
tax
agency
will
not
see
this
as
a
prank
but
instead
illegal
and
will
act
accordingly.
Half
of
the
country
disagrees
with
President
Donald
Trump’s
policies,
most
notably
the
large-scale
raids
by
Immigration
and
Customs
Enforcement
(ICE)
officers
and
the
recent
conflict
with
Iran
which
has
significantly
raised
gas
prices.
A
number
of
these
people
want
to
protest
with
their
wallet
by
not
paying
taxes.
Their
rationale
is
that
they
shouldn’t
have
to
pay
taxes
to
fund
policies
they
disagree
with.
A
few
people
have
taken
their
case
to
social
media
telling
their
followers
that
they
won’t
pay
federal
income
taxes
as
a
form
of
protest.
There
are
also
organizations
that
provide
information
and
resources
for
people
who
want
to
avoid
paying
taxes.
After
reading
numerous
news
articles
featuring
these
people
and
organizations,
I
have
decided
not
to
name
them
as
I
believe
their
primary
motivation
is
getting
social
media
clout
and
attention.
Also,
they
are
spreading
incorrect
information
that
could
get
people
in
trouble,
both
civilly
and
criminally.
The
IRS
has
heard
the
moral
objection
argument
before
and
now
considers
these
arguments
to
be
frivolous.
The
IRS
notes
that
these
individuals
or
groups
claim
that
taxpayers
may
refuse
to
pay
federal
income
taxes
based
on
their
religious
or
moral
beliefs
or
on
an
objection
to
using
taxes
to
fund
certain
government
programs.
In
support
of
this
frivolous
position,
these
persons
mistakenly
invoke
the
First
Amendment.
The
IRS
cites
numerous
court
decisions
which
held
that
the
First
Amendment
does
not
provide
a
right
to
refuse
to
pay
income
taxes
on
religious
or
moral
grounds
or
because
taxes
are
used
to
fund
government
programs
opposed
by
the
taxpayer.
The
First
Amendment
does
not
protect
commercial
speech
or
speech
that
aids
or
incites
taxpayers
to
unlawfully
refuse
to
pay
federal
income
taxes,
including
speech
that
promotes
abusive
tax
avoidance
schemes.
The
people
who
choose
to
take
their
chances
will
be
liable
for
not
only
taxes
but
also
penalties
and
interest.
There
are
penalties
for
failing
to
file
tax
returns
and
not
paying
the
tax
owed
which
can
add
up
quickly
and
raise
the
amount
due
significantly.
The
IRS
will
not
waive
these
penalties
because
they
do
not
consider
protesting
government
policy
to
be
reasonable
cause.
Also,
if
the
IRS
considers
you
to
be
a
frivolous
tax
protestor,
they
can
also
issue
a
special
$5,000
penalty
for
filing
a
return
containing
frivolous
statements
and
protest
language.
In
extreme
cases,
this
can
result
in
prosecution
for
criminal
tax
evasion.
For
these
tax
protestors,
there
are
a
few
things
to
consider.
First,
your
tax
boycott
must
be
applied
consistently.
Let’s
suppose
you
are
allowed
to
avoid
paying
taxes
to
protest
ICE
or
the
Iran
conflict.
Does
this
mean
someone
else
can
similarly
protest
because
ICE
is
being
too
lenient
on
undocumented
aliens
or
because
the
U.S.
does
nothing
while
Iran
builds
a
nuclear
weapon
and
funds
terrorist
groups?
Many
people
disagree
with
the
government’s
spending
on
welfare
or
warfare
for
many
reasons.
If
they
are
allowed
to
protest
by
not
paying
taxes,
the
government
will
go
broke.
Second,
are
you
really
willing
to
accept
the
consequences
of
not
paying
taxes?
Boycotting
taxes
is
not
the
same
as
boycotting
a
TV
show
or
a
business.
The
IRS
can
seize
bank
accounts
and
garnish
wages,
and
they
don’t
do
this
when
it
is
most
convenient
for
the
delinquent
taxpayer.
This
can
destabilize
a
person
or
family’s
finances.
Once
the
IRS
freezes
your
bank
account
holding
the
money
for
your
rent
or
car
payment,
you
will
seriously
consider
whether
there
is
a
better
way
to
protest
President
Trump.
Taxes
are
the
lifeblood
of
government
that
pays
for
infrastructure,
national
defense,
and
public
services
to
name
a
few
things.
It
also
pays
for
agendas
you
agree
with
and
disagree
with.
But
the
system
is
not
set
up
where
you
can
veto
spending
you
don’t
like,
otherwise
the
public
treasury
will
be
in
chaos.
Avoid
taking
advice
from
grifters
who
will
tell
you
what
you
want
to
hear
but
will
get
you
in
serious
trouble.
So
don’t
think
you
can
play
an
April
Fools’
stunt
this
tax
season
because
the
tax
laws
are
enforced
on
the
basis
of
the
law,
not
feelings.
Steven
Chung
is
a
tax
attorney
in
Los
Angeles,
California.
He
helps
people
with
basic
tax
planning
and
resolve
tax
disputes.
He
is
also
sympathetic
to
people
with
large
student
loans.
He
can
be
reached
via
email
at [email protected].
Or
you
can
connect
with
him
on
Twitter
(@stevenchung)
and
connect
with
him
on LinkedIn.