Brian Doherty on the IRS’s Creative Interpretations of Tax Law

In “‘It’s So
Simple, It’s Ridiculous'” (May 2004), Brian Doherty explored the
exotic world of tax rebels-Americans who believe citizens have no
legal obligation to pay income tax. They describe themselves not as
mere “tax protestors” but as a “tax honesty” movement, since they
believe honesty about the income tax means admitting that none of
us legally owe it.

While tax protestors fare no better nowadays, reports Doherty,
it’s the tax collectors who are today making headlines by quibbling
about how to interpret various tax laws. Congress has been
investigating reports that the Internal Revenue Service may have
aimed unusually abusive information requests, denials of status,
and bureaucratic foot-dragging at nonprofit groups with a
conservative bent.

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