You know what today is, right? With a collective sigh, we reply, “Tax Day.” It’s not like you didn’t know this day was coming. You’ve had 366 days since last year to prepare (this was a leap year so you get the extra day!) and 106 days since the beginning of the year. Procrastination doesn’t serve anyone well when it comes to taxes.
The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution says, “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.” This amendment was ratified on February 3, 1913.
“Through a constitutional amendment, [a federal income tax] replaced tariffs with a graduated income tax as the main source of revenue for the U.S. federal government… The first U.S. tax code, as enacted in 1913, was about 400 pages long. Today, the law regulating the assessment and collection of federal income tax spans over 70,000 pages.”1 And, this is why I take my taxes to a professional rather than attempting them myself. Those 70,000 pages contain all sorts of bureaucratic legalese that far exceeds anything I’m interested in learning.
Four countries have NO personal income tax: Bermuda, Monaco, the Bahamas, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). If you are thinking that it would be worth moving there to avoid the tax, think again. Though living elsewhere, you will still have to pay U.S. income tax. The only way out of that is to renounce your citizenship which would require you to pay an expatriation tax. And that’s assuming that the other country would even allow you to become a citizen. Unlike America where we allow anyone citizenship, most other countries require you to prove your value and worth to their nation before the citizenship process can begin. The process itself takes excessive amounts of time and will cost a small fortune.2, 3
Was it really worth it to leave this great country?!?
While we grouse about paying taxes, taxes aren’t anything new. Whether it be called a duty, tariff, levy, tribute, or revenue, it has been around since the beginning of God’s recorded history. Exodus 30:11-13 is the first prescribed census tax. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (12) When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. (13) This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.” In verse 16, this tax is called the “atonement money.”
Perhaps we complain that we don’t want our tax money going to a wicked government, funding their wicked agenda. While that seems like a legitimate complaint, it doesn’t match the instructions of Jesus. In Matthew 22:16-22, we read, “And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. (17) Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? (18) But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (19) Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. (20) And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? (21) They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. (22) When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”
Nobody would ever accuse the Roman government of being righteous and moral, yet this didn’t deter Jesus from telling the people, “Pay your taxes!” Even though Jesus gave crystal clear instruction concerning this, during His passion week trials, false testimony was given against Him. Luke 23:1-2 says, “And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. (2) And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.”
I’m sure that the majority of you have already filed your taxes but might be feeling a bit grumpy concerning what you owed. Instead of letting it get you down, remind yourself that you are following Jesus’ command and thank the Lord that we have been blessed to live in such a great nation – the United States of America.
1https://www.thoughtco.com/us-constitution-16th-amendment-4165999
2https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/100215/5-countries-without-income-taxes.asp
3https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/expatriation-tax.asp
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