War tax resistance training in Eugene March 8

Presenter: You are invited to consider tax resistance as a valid tactic of solidarity and divestment. The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee will introduce the history, strategies, risks, and benefits of tax resistance this Saturday, March 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Trauma Healing Project, 631 E. 19th Ave. in Eugene. Here’s coordinator Lincoln Rice:

[00:00:24] Lincoln Rice: The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee is a coalition of groups across the United States that’s worked together now for 42 years to support people who want to refuse to pay taxes for war and violence.

[00:00:38] The U.S. spends more on its military than the next 10 countries combined. The Pentagon has never passed an audit, so we’re not even clear where all of this money necessarily goes. And oftentimes some of these funds, weapons are then diverted to local and state police departments to be used in their own precincts.

[00:01:00] In any given year, around 40% to 50% of the federal budget is used for current and past military expenses.

[00:01:07] Presenter: Why do people choose to become tax resisters? Lincoln Rice:

[00:01:12] Lincoln Rice: The main reason: war and militarism; war crimes; or the fact that the military budget is taking funds from other areas; militarization of police; and also the impact of war on the environment. Currently the Pentagon is the #1 institutional user of oil in the world, so it has a much greater effect on the increasing greenhouse gases than any other institution.

[00:01:37] One of the more recent inspirational stories of war tax resistance is from Myanmar. After the military coup in 2021, we saw millions of people in Myanmar refusing to pay their utility bills as a way to defund the military regime there.

[00:01:54] Essentially, war tax resistance falls into two basic methods: (1) Refusing to pay some or all of the income taxes you owe, which would be a form of civil disobedience and illegal.

[00:02:05] Or (2) earn less than a taxable income. So this is the only legal method. It means you don’t owe any federal income taxes. If you’re single, the standard deduction is $15,000. If you’re married, the standard deduction is $30,000. If you make less than that, you don’t owe any federal income taxes.

[00:02:22] Presenter: If you’re an employee, you can tell your employer how much in federal taxes to withhold from each paycheck. You could also tell them not to withhold any money at all. Lincoln Rice:

[00:02:34] Lincoln Rice: You fill out your W-4 in such a way that federal income taxes aren’t removed from your paycheck, then it gives you the option, once tax season rolls around and it’s time to file your tax forms, if you want to refuse or not.

[00:02:48] For many people if they just sign their name they might be overpaying and getting a refund at the end of the year, which often means they’re giving the federal government a 0% interest loan to pay for war and violence during the year.

[00:03:01] So at the very least, you might want to adjust your W-4 that you’re not getting a refund. And that would actually be legal. That’s what the IRS hopes you’ll do with that form.

[00:03:11] If self-employed, you are responsible for paying all of your own taxes. Nothing is withheld. Some more tax resisters also refuse to pay Social Security and Medicare. Again, that’s only an option if you’re self-employed.

The money that’s given for those programs does get used by those programs, it’s earmarked for them, but many presidents have borrowed from those programs to fund different wars, but they’ve always had to pay it back. So again, it’s an individual choice.

[00:03:37] Presenter: The session will introduce different options based on your goals and the risks you want to assume. The session will also dispel common myths. Lincoln Rice:

[00:03:47] Lincoln Rice: I would caution lawyers and CPAs that they might be at a higher risk if they are practicing war tax resistance. But otherwise, over the last 25+ years, the only war tax resisters who have done any jail time were those who were fraudulent in their tax filings. And by that, I mean they filed forms but either tried to hide income or they tried to take deductions or tax credits that were not due to them.

[00:04:17] Another myth about war tax resistance  The IRS will come to take my house, car or property. Since the late 90s, they’ve not taken any piece, seized any piece of property from a war tax resister.

[00:04:29] Another myth: The war tax resisters don’t pay for things that we need. So it’s a practice among war tax resisters who are refusing to pay all or a portion of the federal income taxes to redirect that money to pressing needs, organizations, or individuals that could really use those funds. So again, we’re not promoting something to skirt responsibility to others in society.

[00:04:55] Presenter: You can also check out the website for the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee. Coordinator Lincoln Rice:

[00:05:03] Lincoln Rice: Our website is gigantic because we know there’s a lot of different situations and people are looking to resist in different ways. So please take time, look through our website. All of our resources are available for free.

[00:05:17] At our website, you could also sign up for our newsletter, a mostly weekly blog, there are interviews, Tax Day activities, we have gatherings throughout the year.

[00:05:27] We have a list of war tax resistance counselors by state. So if you want to touch base, perhaps even meet for coffee with someone locally in your area who is a war tax resister, go to this list. Those people have gone through some additional training to be able to help guide people through what would be the best fit for you if you’re considering war tax resistance.

[00:05:50] Presenter: You can learn more in person this Saturday, March 8, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Trauma Healing Project, 631 E. 19th.