Author Topic: Underpaid taxes (Read 2527 times)

poche · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2019, 02:08:46 AM »

Quote from: Ladislaus on April 25, 2019, 10:58:57 AM

I would also discuss the moral implications of the situation with a priest.

I believe that there's some dispute about whether underpaying taxes is akin to theft. One could make a strong case that the government does not have a legal/constitutional right to take parts of our incomes. I believe this to be true. Also, the fact that the government spends our money on myriad immoral purposes might justify withholding our taxes. If it weren't for the risk of going to jail, I would withhold my taxes in principles due to government funding of abortion, the immoral activities of Israel, prosecuting unjust wars, various levels of corruption, etc. But the risk of jeopardizing my family by ending up in jail deters me from doing so. So that's where the accountant would come into play. There are companies that can help you settle the past debt with the government for a much smaller amount than what is owed.

That would depend if the underpayment was deliberate or if it was an honest mistake.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2019, 08:29:01 AM »

Quote from: poche on April 28, 2019, 02:08:46 AM

That would depend if the underpayment was deliberate or if it was an honest mistake.

Mistakes are still meant to be amended. If your brother lent you something and you forgot all about it, only remembering years later, would you not return it then rather than decide "eh, too late"?

Anyway, moral implications aside, you don't want to f*** with the government when it comes to taxes.

poche · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2019, 10:30:44 PM »

Quote from: Anonymous on April 28, 2019, 08:29:01 AM

Mistakes are still meant to be amended. If your brother lent you something and you forgot all about it, only remembering years later, would you not return it then rather than decide "eh, too late"?

Anyway, moral implications aside, you don't want to f*** with the government when it comes to taxes.

There is a difference between deliberately stealing and an honest accounting error.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2019, 08:55:25 AM »

Quote from: poche on April 28, 2019, 10:30:44 PM

There is a difference between deliberately stealing and an honest accounting error.

Yes, but the issue is whether withholding amounts from an entity that could be construed as stealing and misappropriating counts as theft. That was my point. We see the government robbing people blind (income taxes are unconstitutional) and then spending the money on various immoral or unjust purposes. That's different than stealing it from someone. If someone came into my home trying to rob me, and I quickly hid some of my cash inside my mattress, is that theft?

That again is the separate question from whether you should risk the fines and other consequences of getting caught. If I am risking getting killed by trying to hide the money in my mattress (along the lines of the previous example), then I could be committing a sin by jeopardizing my life.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2019, 04:18:36 PM »

Quote from: poche on April 28, 2019, 10:30:44 PM

There is a difference between deliberately stealing and an honest accounting error.

The latter becomes the former if you don't make every effort to correct the error once you become aware of it.

That is of course under the assumption that the government has the right to tax you in the first place, but sadly that's a bit of an irrelevant question because we don't really have much choice regardless. Pay the taxes or the government will come after you and your family. That's just the way things are.

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Author Topic: Underpaid taxes (Read 2527 times)

poche

Re: Underpaid taxes

Änσnymσus

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poche

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Ladislaus

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Änσnymσus

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