I have decided to start a new activist group called the Ministry of Slow Compliance (on Facebook). Officially starting with the 2008 tax year, I have implemented this plan to begin slow compliance. In case you weren't aware, in the event that you are not able to file your income tax return by April 15th, both the IRS and states allow you to extend your filing deadline by six months. Keep in mind, an extension to file is not an extension to pay. Penalties, including fines and interest, may be assessed for a payment made after April 15th. To request an extension to file, submit Form 4868 to the IRS by April 15, 2009.
Here in California, state taxes are extended six months automagically if returns are not filed by April 15th.
Fun fact: On this day in 1944, Donald Duck made $2,501. Today, that would be around $30,000. As result, he owed $13 in 1944, which is about $150 today. Donald Duck was paying a tax of about 1/2 of 1 percent in 1944, check it out!
Here in California, state taxes are extended six months automagically if returns are not filed by April 15th.
Fun fact: On this day in 1944, Donald Duck made $2,501. Today, that would be around $30,000. As result, he owed $13 in 1944, which is about $150 today. Donald Duck was paying a tax of about 1/2 of 1 percent in 1944, check it out!
Mr. Duck's income tax was about one silver dollar each month, which would be one ounce of silver. Today, it comes to about the same number of ounces, only now we would have to pay in gold.
Isn't it interesting Donald Duck faced World War II with a lower population and less percentage in taxes? Yet today, with a population explosion and 50 times the taxes, we have a longer war fighting against far fewer men in caves wearing sandals holding AK-47's.
Whether or not taxes really were voluntary then, 1/2 of 1 percent is tiny, compliance wouldn't have been a big deal (though still morally wrong). Taxes are clearly more oppressive and compliance is certainly not perceived as voluntary at all anymore. The only form of protest most of us have left is slow compliance.
If you haven't figured it out, the Ministry of Slow Compliance is just an approach to elaborate procrastination. But if you procrastinate, you may as well do it correctly, using the proper forms.
The name is inspired by George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. This book depicts four ministries called the Ministries of Truth, Love, Plenty, and Peace. The name of all four of these ministries are actually misnomers because they actually do the exact opposite.
My ministry is a misnomer as well. Compliance is not the goal.
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