# Don't Have to Pay US Income Tax, fer real? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 10, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247 "2003-08-10T20:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247/1 "2003-08-10T20:28:13Z")
Look here: > [@](#): > > \*\*[Jury acquits pilot, who questioned IRS, of tax-evasion counts \*\*](http://www.givemeliberty.org/mailroom/2003-08-09.htm) > > Kuglin, a pilot for FedEx since 1985, said she had paid taxes like anyone else for most of her life. But about 10 or 11 years ago, she began to question the federal tax system. She began to read court documents, legal opinions and the federal tax code. > > She said she found what she felt were contradictions. She wanted to know where in the federal tax code it said she was liable for taxes. > > Kuglin wrote the Internal Revenue Service twice in 1995 with questions but said she didn’t get a response. > > Murphy [Federal prosecutor Joe Murphy], in closing arguments on Thursday, said Kuglin did have an opportunity to discuss her situation with the IRS, to learn what she owed and what documents she was required to file “and she didn’t.” > > Defense attorney Larry Becraft of Huntsville, Ala., said Kuglin decided mandatory payment of income taxes “did not apply to her.” > > Juror Barbara Snodgras of Memphis said the jury did not convict because “we all felt that the prosecution didn’t prove its case.” > > When asked if she planned to start paying federal income taxes again, Kuglin replied: “I will pay all the taxes for which I am liable.” The case is supposed to be: **U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee (Memphis) # 03-CR-20111, USA v. Kuglin** I don’t have the legal background to assess something like this. I’m hoping that someone who does will volunteer to fight a bit of hopeful ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247/2 "2003-08-10T20:36:13Z")
“Dear IRS: I’m confused. Please tell me why I have to pay taxes. If you don’t respond, then I will have to presume there is no reason…” Hm… How about, “Dear District Attorney: please tell me why I can’t commit murder. If you don’t respond, then I will know that it’s okay with you if I kill my jerk neighbor who plays music real loud…” No, I don’t think the case in question can be generalized… Trinopus ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247/3 "2003-08-10T20:47:38Z")
She was acquitted of tax evasion charges. But as her own lawyer acknowledges, the feds can still force her to pay up. No doubt they’ll also take a close look at the laws to see how they can make convictions easier in the future. In short, she was lucky, but the tax is still owed. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247/4 "2003-08-10T20:54:54Z")
There always seem to be a few yahoos out there who think that there is a loophole that lets them avoid paying taxes. Specious arguments citing the constitution or a loophole or what have you. All they’ve really found is an excellent way to send themselves to jail. That this woman dodged a guilty verdict just makes her lucky. I wouldn’t advise following in her footsteps as you likely won’t be lucky and you’ll still have to pay all of those taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247/5 "2003-08-10T21:03:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*She was acquitted of tax evasion charges. But as her own lawyer acknowledges, the feds can still force her to pay up. \*\* Ain’t that the truth. The IRS doesn’t need a judgement to seize your assets. I had a dispute with them over a small tax issue, and they simply seized my Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. No judgement required, they just take what they say is owed. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247/6 "2003-08-10T23:01:53Z")
[This guy](http://www.paynoincometax.com/) seems to think paying taxes is optional, but I’ve heard (no cite) that he’s a crackpot whose been in trouble with the law numerous times. ---
**Author:** ![Samm1ie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Samm1ie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Samm1ie)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247/7 "2003-08-11T00:52:26Z")
The jury failed to find proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. As [someone smarter than I](http://evans-legal.com/dan/tpfaq.html) once wrote, such an “acquittal does not prove that you are not required to file income tax returns, any more than the acquittal of O.J. Simpson proves that it is legal to kill your ex-wife.” ---
**Author:** ![maralinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@maralinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maralinn)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-have-to-pay-us-income-tax-fer-real/194247/8 "2003-08-12T20:22:33Z")
This is a pretty useful page. “The Truth about Frivolous Tax Arguments” refutes just about every angle the anti-tax people have tried to use. [http://www.ustreas.gov/irs/ci/tax\_fraud/index.htm?sid=a0000000000000120101](http://www.ustreas.gov/irs/ci/tax_fraud/index.htm?sid=a0000000000000120101)