The Southern California War Tax Resistance supports nonviolent refusal to pay for war. The ultimate vote of the populace is whether they give their lives and labor and earnings to the war system. People affiliated with SCWTR hold a variety of opinions about specific wars and war in general, and practice various forms of war tax resistance. We oppose the destruction warfare wreaks on civilians, on soldiers, on the environment, and on the societies and economies war touches, and we favor redirection of those energies and materiel to peaceable fulfillment of human and environmental needs.
SCWTR provides counseling on war tax resistance, education about the methods and consequences of various acts of refusal, public presentations, and activities such as the Southern California War Tax Alternative Fund. The Fund grants interest earned on a fund of refused taxes to many constructive projects and organizations (see more detailed description).
SCWTR was established in 1979. It is an affiliate of the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.
One of SCWTR’s goals is to make war tax resistance a known option for the many who march or work for peace – but pay for war.
Some supporters of SCWTR are not themselves refusers. Others refuse small amounts of income or excise tax. All are welcome.
REMINDER:
How wtr activities continue and grow depends on your suggestions for outreach opportunities and your participation. Please send you ideas (and offers of help) to:
scwtr@yahoo.com
The War Tax Alternative Fund
The Southern California War Tax Alternative Fund (SCWTAF) is made up of money not paid as taxes by people who have not paid part or all of our federal income and/or telephone excise taxes due to the belief that since we work for peace we ought to refuse to pay for war. The Alternative Fund serves in the following purposes:
- A Holding Account for Unpaid Taxes: The money may be recovered from the Fund at any time by the war tax refuser, or if she/he experiences a wage, fund, or property seizure by the Internal Revenue Service.
- Distribution of Interest on the SCWTAF: Depositors make a positive statement that we favor funding human needs while we refuse to fund warfare and destruction, by donating the interest generated by the Fund. SCWTAF is held in a bank in a low-income area; the interest the Fund “earns” is granted to organizations and programs serving peace, justice, and human needs. Grantees are selected by Fund depositors.
- Confirmation of Sincerity: Many Fund members inform the public and/or the IRS that they are willing to pay their refused tax money to peaceful social purposes, but not for war or preparation for war. For them, depositing the “war tax” in the Alternative Fund demonstrates that they are motivated by a conscientious opposition to war, and that they are engaged in war tax resistance, not tax avoidance.
April 14th, 2009
The costs of war keep adding up, in dollars and in lives.
For over six years peace activists have voted, lobbied, marched, and taken direct action to first prevent and then end the illegal war and occupation in Iraq. Courageous soldiers have refused to fight the war. In Iraq and around the world peace-loving people have called for an end to the violence. But the Bush administration and Congress continue to authorize over $8 billion a month for the war on terror while the U.S. economy is in a tailspin and budget cuts are hitting services across the country. Politicians cannot be trusted with our money.
The War Tax Boycott campaign unites taxpayers who oppose this war in a powerful act of nonviolent civil disobedience — saying NO! to war with our money. Thousands of individuals in the U.S. take this stand despite the risks. Uniting our voices and actions through the War Tax Boycott strengthens our demand that Congress cut off the funds for this war and redirect resources to the pressing needs of people.
Read More at: http://wartaxboycott.org/
April 1st, 2009
Each year War Resisters League analyzes federal funds outlays as presented in detailed tables in "Analytical Perspectives" of the Budget of the United States Government. The analysis is based on federal funds, which do not include trust funds — such as Social Security — that are raised separately from income taxes for specific purposes. What you pay (or don’t pay) by April 15, 2009, goes to the federal funds portion of the budget.
While we do not expect the military percentage to change much, Obama’s 2010 budget presentation should include funding for the bank bailout, takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the stimulus package. The Bush administration (with little Congressional opposition) refused to budget for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the wider war on terror, intentionally hiding the full monetary costs of their criminal activities. We must demand that all future administration present a more complete and honest budget than we have seen in recent years.
The largest spending bill in history is going to turn out to be the war in Iraq... I don't understand why... building a road, building a school, helping somebody get health care, that's wasteful spending, but that war in Iraq... is going to cost us over $1 trillion before we're through...
Congressman Barney Frank on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, ABC, February 1, 2009.
April 1st, 2009
The War Tax Resisters Penalty Fund began more than 20 years ago when Ronald Reagan was president, the US-backed Contras were hard at work on our behalf, nuclear disarmament was a hot topic, and US Marines had been bombed in Beirut.
Military tax resisters were refusing to pay all or a portion of their income taxes to support mad (and MAD!) military policies of the United States, and were being socked with large penalties, interest, liens, garnishments, and at times, seizure of their property to settle accounts. As a result of widespread tax fraud, the IRS would soon create the “frivolous penalty,” charging $500 for claiming extra dependents on the W-4 form.
A core group of 83 people decided we could easily share $463.14 in penalties incurred by a few military tax resisters if we divided their penalties and interest between us. The more people we could recruit to pay a resisterms costs over and above his ore her tax liability, the lighter the burden for everyone. With the little help we could provide, resisters were able to keep on.
How the Penalty Fund Works
Send us your name and address and we’ll add you to the list of supporters who are willing to share tax resisters penalties. Periodically we review requests from resisters against whom the IRS has moved and divide what they’ve paid in penalties and interest among the people on our mailing list. Shares have been as high as $30 but are usually less than $10. Contributors pay all if they can, or whatever they can afford. Some pay more than their share. We divide what we get from our appeal among the needy resisters. If we canmt cover all their indebtedness, we cover as much as we can. On average, wemve reimbursed 80% of the amounts requested.
Contributors who decide to become resisters may also apply to the fund for assistance after they have paid assessed fines or the IRS has seized penalties and interest. All we ask is that resisters provide us with copies of tax forms, any correspondence theymve had with the IRS, and a copy of their letter of conscience submitted with their income tax returns.
Who Administers the Fund?
Our mailing list includes people from all over the country, but for convenience mostly, our mailbox is located in North Manchester, Indiana, where the idea for the penalty fund was hatched. Members of our steering committee are from in and around this burg. We have tried at times to share the rewards of the job with others, but members felt it was working well the way it was. We even encouraged other communities to develop regional penalty funds, and a few exist around the country. The beauty of the fund is that it could be done anywhere.
The address for the Penalty Fund is:
War Tax Resisters Penalty Fund
PO Box 25,
N. Manchester, IN, 46962.
March 15th, 2009
The refusal to pay my taxes … is not a means. It is an end. I do not know if my refusal, and the refusal of others, will be effective in halting these wars. All I know is that it is worth doing. The alternative, a complacency bred from cynicism and despair, is worse. Refusing to actively resist injustice and flagrant violations of international law, refusing to attempt to turn back the tide of American tyranny, is surrender. It is the death of hope.
From “Why We Resist” posted on Truthdig.com, December 10, 2007.
December 10th, 2007
I have about had it!
The Bush Criminal Mob is asking Congress for $123 billion more dollars to fund their total demolition of Iraq and their future crime sprees in such places as Iran and perhaps, Syria.
. . .
Our elected officials have failed us miserably. We elected them to oppose George and his war, not support him. We are not being represented properly and I, for one, refuse to be taxed by them.
From “No Taxation Without Representation” posted on Democracy In Action, March 22, 2007.
March 22nd, 2007
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