GenerousGivings Response
Mr. Rhinehart,

Thank you for writing to us with your question. We are always glad to hear from our readers and answer as best we can. You ask what our position on income taxes is, in light of recent reports of the U.S. government’s inability to name a law that requires citizens to pay a federal income tax.

First of all, if these reports are true, then it is a striking, not to say embarrassing, development in American tax law. One would certainly expect the federal government to be able to identify such a law. And if in fact none exists, one would think the Congress might want to get started drafting one straightaway. It would seem appropriate for citizens to draw the state’s attention to the matter, as some of the web sites you cite do.

But, in response to your question, this strange development in no way changes our position on income taxes, which comes from the Scripture. The apostle Paul says: “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:6-7). As Christians, we obey the spirit (not just the letter) of the law, paying our taxes even when the government foolishly fails to technically require it, and humbly advising our leaders to tend to embarrassing loopholes. I hope you find this answer helpful. We thank you for writing and wish you all the best in your ministry.

Sincerely,
Matt Novenson
Senior Researcher
Generous Giving, Inc.
www.GenerousGiving.org


My Response:
Thank you for responding to my email.

In your statement, “if these reports are true” is true and my research of some 9 years says it is true. And it is quite easy to prove if one would only write their Congressmen, Senators, IRS officials, Tax attorneys and CPA’s and simply asked them “What law that requires individuals to pay and file income tax returns?” The answer one receives will utterly shock you. I have yet to receive an honest answer from anyone in both State and Federal government about this question. And if these individuals can produce a law (or what might sound like the law) then how come United States Attorneys from the Department of Justice cannot convince a jury that there is a law? Thus your statement of “humbly advising our leaders to tend to embarrassing l oopholes” has fallen on deaf ears, as they don’t want to hear it.

Matt, I ask you as a fellow believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to take four minutes out of your time and watch an IRS press conference that occurred on September 16, 2003 concerning tax "scams" and tax "evasion", the lead tax reporter for The New York Times, David Cay Johnston (in reference to the WTP Petitions for Redress) directly, and specifically, questioned IRS Commissioner Mark Everson about what law requires Americans to pay income taxes.

In that clip, below link, you will notice that he cannot answer it legally by but addressing it as a “fundamental concept” “an understood and well accepted one.” And then watch the Assistant Secretary try to answer the question by stating, “There are a number of court cases that have asserted our rights to levy taxes…there are plenty of court cases…” But not once citing the law itself. Why?

http://www.givemeliberty.org/wtp-tv/4MinLinks.htm

Also in your statement, “one would think the Congress might want to get started drafting one straightaway” the truth of the matter is that the law as it is written is correct. As the tax law states that citizens living and working in the United States are exempt from Federal income taxes.

You also stated that, “no way changes our position on income taxes, which comes from the Scripture” as you cite Rom 13:6-7 which also says and is over looked, “if you owe taxes, pay taxes.” Does Americans owe income taxes? Yes some do, those who derived their income from foreign sources, but for the most Americans, we don’t owe income taxes. “As Christians, we obey the spirit (not just the letter) of the law, paying our taxes even when the government foolishly fails to technically require it.” Then I ask, “Why are you go going against God’s Word? “If you owe taxes, pay taxes.” “Paying our taxes” are they “our taxes?” Who says so, if I don’t owe them? You’re paying of taxes is just to appease Caesar? With this type of concept you and others like your ministry will listen to Caesar and do what he says with no questions asked over the Word of God and the Laws of the United States. This would in the eyes of believers question your accountability.

Thus far in my survey, only those ministries that are 501(c)3 sides with the government and will not question the government when it comes to “tax dollars.” Yet these ministries will fight the “abortion” issue, prayer in schools etc, and these have no laws backing them up. Yet when it comes in income taxes, “paying our taxes even when the government foolishly fails to technically require it” is hypocritical when it comes to other issues as above. The saying is true and alive, “Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil,” Caesar is the head of these ministries and not Christ.

GenerousGivings Response:
Mr. Rhinehart,
I see from your email below that my response to your initial question was not of the sort you were hoping for. Even so, I have to stand by my biblical convictions, even as you have to stand by yours. This seems to be an instance of genuine disagreement on the application of Scripture to our situation. I will not waste either of our time quarreling with you. I am sorry you feel the way you do about our organization, but I wish you all the best in your life and ministry.

Sincerely,
Matt Novenson