should I feel quilty

[aimhigh]

humm still considering

[jug]

No need to ever feel guilty about most things as long as your not robbing some poor widow trying to make ends meet.

You are simply following the book on avoiding income tax, no big deal, every thief in the Senate and House, and the big time thief in the White House does it, do they look like they feel guilty?

The system is designed by those on top to benefit those raking in top dollar with minimal effort. *You *are just taking advantage of some of their loopholes, along with other loopholes, EIC, designed by the same uppity folks to the keep the masses who are barely making it from knocking on their doors with sledgehammers.

This "guilt and shame" system is taught to us early on to keep our collective noses to the grindstone, not step out of bounds, to obey and keep silent, in order not to disrupt the "system". The "system" be it be communist, capitalist, socialist, or sexist, is run by the "golden rule" and those wit de gold shall rule. Get the picture?

We are schooled to be good suckers, soldiers

You bought it, just like we all bought it. *Nothing ever to feel guilty about, you are doing an honorable job in the military, so you should feel proud, not guilty.

I used to also be a good soldier, until I looked around and learned de golden rule and saw who really reaps the big benefits.

My hat is off to you, and get rid of that guilt thing fast

Guilt is nothing but a useless feeling keeping a person from doing what he should be doing, and that is living spontaneously.

jug, insane and guilt free, yipppeeeeeeee!!!!!!

[MJ]

Originally Posted by jug

jug, insane and guilt free, yipppeeeeeeee!!!!!!

my life continues to be controlled by guilt at a number of levels.

soon after (when, I'm not sure) I cease to exist, I too, will guilt freeeeee.

[thefed]

short answer: no


long answer: see above

[. . . Yrs to Go]

No, you should not feel guilty. The tax laws are the tax laws. If they are written in such a way as to allow you to pay no taxes - congratulations. Consider your alternative . . . pay taxes you don't owe to assuage your guilt?

I live in Alexandria Virginia. Near the Supreme Court Chambers is a toll bridge across the Potomac. When in a rush, I pay the dollar toll and get home early. However, I usually drive outside the downtown section of the city and cross the Potomac on a free bridge. This bridge was placed outside the downtown Washington, DC area to serve a useful social service, getting drivers to drive the extra mile and to help alleviate congestion during the rush hour.

If I went over the toll bridge and through the barrier without paying the toll, I would be committing tax evasion. If, however, I drive the extra mile and drive outside the city of Washington to the free bridge, I am using a legitimate, logical, and suitable method of tax avoidance, and I am performing a useful social service by doing so.

For my tax evasion, I should be punished. For my tax avoidance, I should be commended. The tragedy of life today is that so few people know that the free bridge even exists."

-- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis

[aimhigh]

that is a great analogy

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Wow have we done the OP a disservice.

He asks if he should feel quilty and we all go off on this guilt thing.

I'm feeling exceptionally quilty today, and I wish everyone a bright and quilty day!

[REWahoo]

Originally Posted by ()

Wow have we done the OP a disservice.

He asks if he should feel quilty and we all go off on this guilt thing.

Don't guibble.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

At least I do it guickly and guietly.

[free4now]

I definitely don't think there is any need to feel guilty over not paying taxes that you don't owe. As others have said there is no moral, patriotic, or legal reason to pay more taxes than you owe. I take advantage of every IRS loophole I can find.

But I will note that there are some times that I choose to pay more tax than I have to, just because paying the tax is beneficial to society. For instance if I can mail order a $100 item from an out of state seller and pay $15 shipping it costs me $115 total. Lets say the same item from in state costs $100 plus $8 tax plus $8 shipping, for a total price of $116.

I will sometimes pay the $116 because then society gets $8 dollars of tax that it wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I know this example is probably not ideal because legally I should pay the tax on the out of state purchase too and choose not to. But lets ignore that for this discussion since in practice hardly anyone considers it an ethical lapse to buy out of state without paying sales tax.

If it works out about the same to me I'll rather have the money go to our country, even if that means paying a little more. I don't think anyone including myself has any obligation to do this, and this is a different issue from what the OP raised.

-FireMe

[MasterBlaster]

For what it's worth, many large internet sellers are charging out of state sales taxes for internet purchases.