The Associated Press
Susan Quinlan calculates what she owes in taxes Friday in Berkeley, Calif. Quinlan said she donates the money to groups that "support human needs and peace."

Anti-war activists turn backs on IRS

PAUL GLADER, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Monday, April 15, 2002

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Tax day is here, and Susan Quinlan hasn't filed her form 1040 yet. She doesn't plan to.

As an anti-war activist, she objects to paying taxes that fund the nation's defense budget.

Most of the 10,000 or so conscientious tax resisters nationwide send letters to the Internal Revenue Service each year explaining that they are withholding their cash and putting the money into an interest-earning fund. Then they donate the interest to what they deem life-affirming, peaceful causes.

"We're upset that our tax money is funding militarism," said Larry Harper, a war tax resister from Sebastopol, Calif.

"This is not tax evasion," said Bill Ramsey of St. Louis, a spokesman for the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee. "This is tax refusal and redirection. It's a public act and an act of conscience."

The practice isn't without risk -- the IRS considers resisters to be tax cheats. Harper said the IRS took $1,200 from his bank account the first time he resisted in 1982 but has left him alone ever since. Others say the IRS regularly takes money out of their bank accounts and garnishees their wages.

Critics argue that war tax resisters could take advantage of charity tax credits, already part of the tax system. They also say resisters are selfish because they benefit from government services funded by citizens who do pay taxes.

"The vast majority of salaried employees file and pay voluntarily," IRS spokesman Anthony Burke said. "Most Americans, I think, are law-abiding and honest citizens."

Just days before today's tax filing deadline, Quinlan and Harper led a workshop in Berkeley and dispensed brochures, information and support to 15 tax resister recruits.

The movement started after the Vietnam War and rose again during the Persian Gulf War. Quinlan said interest has been piqued by the war in Afghanistan.

"I wondered after Sept. 11 if we'd be deluged with people," Quinlan said. "We weren't initially. But we are seeing more now."

Instead of putting a check in the mail today, Quinlan and some of her fellow Northern California war resisters will have a party and make contributions to charities from the $10,000 from interest earned on their diverted tax endowment, which they call the People's Life Fund.

Ramsey and 50 resisters in St. Louis have purchased $10,000 in medical equipment for clinics in Afghanistan. Outside the IRS office in St. Louis today, they will give the equipment to nurses who will take the supplies overseas.

Nearly 29 alternative funds across the country plan to use $100,000 in interest this year to make grants to battered women's shelters, homeless programs and AIDS prevention.

Some conscientious objectors keep income below certain levels to avoid paying taxes completely. Some just refuse to pay any federal taxes, while others send about half of what they owe, figuring that about half would have gone to military spending for national defense and veterans benefits.

On the Web

- National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee: www.nwtrcc.org.

- One Million Taxpayers for Peace: www.onemilliontaxpayersforpeace.org.

At a glance

Here are some figures about this year's income tax season, which ends with today's midnight deadline in most of the country:

- Government revenue from individual income tax: $994 billion, about 50 percent.

- IRS budget: $9.4 billion.

- Total projected individual tax returns: 132 million.

- Taxpayers using professional preparers: 69.2 million.

- Taxpayers who itemize deductions: 40.2 million, or 32 percent.

- Number of tax refunds: 93 million.

- Average tax refund: $1,954 through April 5.

- Audit rate for all tax returns in 2001: 0.58 percent.

- Words in U.S. tax code: 2.8 million.

- Words in the Bible: 774,746.

Help with filing

IRS office

The South Sound Internal Revenue Service office is at 402 Legion Way S.E. in downtown Olympia. The office is on the third floor and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Staff at the Olympia office will help you prepare 1040EZ and 1040A forms, and the following 1040 forms: Schedule A/B, Schedule EIC, Schedule H, Schedule R, Form 2441 (child-care credit) and Form 8812 (additional child tax credit).

The office staff will not prepare Schedule C and D forms or partnership or corporate returns.

AARP Tax-Aide

Taxpayers can receive free tax help from more than 70 trained volunteers with the AARP Tax-Aide program. The program focuses on retirees, low-income people, singles, single parents, disabled people and non-English-speaking taxpayers.

Volunteers will be available today at the following locations:

- The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. N.W., Olympia. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Panorama City, 150 Circle Drive Parkway S.W., Lacey. 1 to 4 p.m.

- Tumwater Timberland Regional Library, 7023 New Market St. S.W., Tumwater. 1 to 6 p.m.

- Yelm Moose Lodge, 1117 Yelm Ave. W., Yelm. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On the Web

- IRS: www.irs.gov

- National Taxpayers Union: www.ntu.org

- The AARP also has a Web site at www.aarp.org/taxaide

Extensions

Taxpayers can receive an automatic extension by filing Form 4868 before the April 15 deadline. This year, the IRS has made it easier to get an extra four months -- you can also get the extension by telephone or computer.

While the extension is automatic, the payment of taxes due is not part of the extension.

When you file Form 4868, you must estimate and pay the taxes you owe for 2001.

- By phone: 888-796-1074

- Web site: www.irs.gov

Tax series

The Olympian has published a series of stories on the 2002 income tax filing season.

Previously

- March 3: Changes for 2001 will make filing more complicated

- March 10: Benefits, wrinkles of new law

- March 17: Tax season tricks

- March 24: Tax bite eased on some investment income

- March 31: Maximizing personal deductions

- April 7: Your job, your business

Online

These and other tax-related stories are available on The Olympian's Web site at www.theolympian.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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