"If a thousand men (& women) were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood."
-Henry David Thoreau, "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience."
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- Introduction
- Benefits from the 1040 Club
- How to Join the Club
The 1040 Club is a method of deducting $10.40 from your income tax payment as a protest of the excessive amount of tax dollars that go to the military.
Empowerment in the making a conscious and committed choice in the long process of having the government act reponsibly.
Obedience to morality and higher laws, both religious and legal. (The Nuremburg Principles are a treaty signed by the U.S., and thus part of the supreme law of the land. The treaty requires individuals to obey international law and resist when one's country commits crimes against the peace.)
Being there on the side of history. A small minority standing for conscience (e.g., emancipation) has been at the heart of every movement of social change.
Mutual support in the company of other war tax resisters and redirecters, some of whom are just begining and others of whom have been resisting for many years.
- Fill out your 1040 form.
- Subtract $10.40 from your payment. (If you are due a refund, attach a note acking for an additional $10.40.)
- Enclose a seperate note explaining why you cannot in good conscience voluntarily pay for war. Caution: Do not make your remarks on the IRS form. You could be ubject to a "frivolous filing" charge of $500.
- In your note, you can aso tell the IRS where you are redirecting the symbolic amount of $10.40. Some letters are as simple as:
To the IRS,
I cannot in good conscience voluntarliy contribute to preparation for a global nuclear holocaust or for wars small and large. I have withheld $10.40 from my payment and have redirected it to (name of agency or program).
Yours for a just world at peace,
(name)
- Make out a check to the nonprofit program you wish to support with your withheld taxe money. Some choose to support the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund, which would create a conscientious objector status in the IRS code for war tax resisters, just as the law provides conscientious objector status for young men opposed to military service.
- You may involve one of your elected representatives by sending them a check for $10.40, along with as appropriately addressed and stamped envelpoe, for them to foward to your chosen recipient.
- Write a letter of explanation to your elected representative explaining your actions and motivations.
- You can increase your effectiveness of your action by sending copies of your letter to newspapers, religious or other organizations in which you are active.
This site was constructed by Joshua Chernin
