Is Cheating On Your Taxes Immoral?

[caudicus]

I was wondering how this community feels about cheating the government out of millions of dollars. Do you consider it alright, as long as they pay their tithing? Personally, I don't see too much trouble with the average person cheating a little on their taxes. I do feel, though, that people who make a significant more and pay nothing have an ethical dilemma on their hands.

Do taxes fall under the "law of the land" ideology?

[KevinG]

Paying nothing legally under the current codes and failing to pay what is owed are two different things.

For example General Electric>billions in profits>no federal taxes=legal --- while --- Grandma>social security income>paying no taxes=audit bait.

Fair is not equal is not legal is not moral.

But if you are advocating changing the tax structures to be more equitable than that is open for debate.

(If this is a set up for a Romney gotcha than don't hate the playa' hate the game.)

[KevinG]

Oh and the direct answer is yes - cheating on your taxes is immoral. You wouldn't be able to answer the temple recommend question about being honest in your dealings with a straight face if you were breaking the law through theft.

Render unto Caesar and all that.

[DavidB]

If the US Constitution is a Divine document, which granted Congress the power to tax, then cheating on taxes is wrong.

The Temple recommend question does not provide clear guidance for every situation.

Edited September 5, 2012 by DavidB

[Walden]

I am not mormon, nor am I religious, but I definitely feel that cheating the government out of taxes is unethical and immoral. I have never tried to hide any monetary or financial dealings in order to evade taxes.

I would think that any moral dilemas regarding taxes could be covered by the following scriptures:

Matthew 22:21: Jesus said: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."

Romans 13:1 "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those which exist are established by God."

[robuchan]

Of course

[Duncan]

immoral? no, illegal and unethical, yes!

[KevinG]

I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop...

Is Caudicus wanting to get a temple recommend but wonders if he should file an amended return?

or is this a ramp up to a scathing denunciation of Mitt Romney's overseas tax shelters

or is this an indictment of Geoffry Imelt's tax avoidance practices at GE

or does Caudicus know of a temple recommend holder who took too many deductions last year?

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

As the question is stated, I will take it at face value. Cheating on your taxes is immoral.

[rpn]

Cheating on taxes is immoral, taking all legal deductions is not immoral. And it is shocking that anyone would think differently given that failure to pay one's legal share means someone else has to pick up the burden. It is not honest dealing with one's fellow man.

[KevinG]

This...

Cheating on taxes is immoral, taking all legal deductions is not immoral.

and this...

I don't see too much trouble with the average person cheating a little on their taxes. I do feel, though, that people who make a significant more and pay nothing have an ethical dilemma on their hands.

Seem to be opposite.

I have an issue with considering "a little cheating" moral while condemning those who legally find deductions to be in an ethical dilemma. That smacks of wanting to excuse one's self while condemning others for breaking no laws.

Now the equity of the system we operate under is a whole 'nother discussion.

[DavidB]

Honest with ones fellow man is not a clear standard. Priesthood leaders are by and large not IRS Revenue Agents.

[blackstrap]

Taxes are immoral,but they are legal.( as currently structured)

[Kenngo1969]

I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop...

Is Caudicus wanting to get a temple recommend but wonders if he should file an amended return?

or is this a ramp up to a scathing denunciation of Mitt Romney's overseas tax shelters

or is this an indictment of Geoffry Imelt's tax avoidance practices at GE

or does Caudicus know of a temple recommend holder who took too many deductions last year?

Since Senator Reid has said that "the word is out" that Governor Romney hasn't paid any taxes in the last ten years (Q.E.D.), Caudicus's next question is probably going to have something to do with the latter. In . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

[ANACO]

I was wondering how this community feels about cheating the government out of millions of dollars. Do you consider it alright, as long as they pay their tithing? Personally, I don't see too much trouble with the average person cheating a little on their taxes. I do feel, though, that people who make a significant more and pay nothing have an ethical dilemma on their hands.

Do taxes fall under the "law of the land" ideology?

"average person" - lol

If you're above average or below average, it's not ok to cheat on your taxes, according to Caudicus.

Only as long as you're average. Then the average person has no ethical dilemma. Ha ha ha!

Edited September 6, 2012 by ANACO

[Bernard Gui]

I was wondering how this community feels about cheating the government out of millions of dollars. Do you consider it alright, as long as they pay their tithing? Personally, I don't see too much trouble with the average person cheating a little on their taxes. I do feel, though, that people who make a significant more and pay nothing have an ethical dilemma on their hands.

Do taxes fall under the "law of the land" ideology?

Of course. If someone cheats on their taxes, audit them. Who do you know that makes a lot of money but pays no taxes?

Who writes the tax code?

Edited September 6, 2012 by Bernard Gui

[Storm Rider]

I was wondering how this community feels about cheating the government out of millions of dollars. Do you consider it alright, as long as they pay their tithing? Personally, I don't see too much trouble with the average person cheating a little on their taxes. I do feel, though, that people who make a significant more and pay nothing have an ethical dilemma on their hands.

Do taxes fall under the "law of the land" ideology?

Cheating is immoral whether it is on income taxes or anything else. Expecting individuals to not avail themselves of the tax code i.e. use as many deductions or tax loop holes as possible, is not appropriate.

I see no problem with someone who makes a lot of money and pays an accounting firm to avoid as much income taxes as possible. This is just being smart with your own money. However, if that same person is caught cheating on this taxes, then he should go to jail.

I dont' really see a moral dilemma.

[JarMan]

If the US Constitution is a Divine document, which granted Congress the power to tax, then cheating on taxes is wrong.

The Temple recommend question does not provide clear guidance for every situation.

You are aware that it required a constitutional amendment to implement the income tax aren't you? Are you implying that all amendment are inspired as well? What about prohibition? Or the repeal of prohibition? Both inspired?

[DavidB]

You are aware that it required a constitutional amendment to implement the income tax aren't you? Are you implying that all amendment are inspired as well? What about prohibition? Or the repeal of prohibition? Both inspired?

Article I section 8

[bluebell]

Cheating on your taxes is immoral (it's the same as lying, right?) but whether or not someone is cheating on their taxes has nothing to do with how much or if they pay. A person can pay nothing for taxes and not be cheating, if they are doing so legally.

[William Schryver]

I was wondering how this community feels about cheating the government out of millions of dollars. Do you consider it alright, as long as they pay their tithing? Personally, I don't see too much trouble with the average person cheating a little on their taxes. I do feel, though, that people who make a significant more and pay nothing have an ethical dilemma on their hands.

Do taxes fall under the "law of the land" ideology?

I hired an accountant to tell me what is moral or immoral in terms of my taxes. I have now granted unto him all of my free agency in respect to the United States Tax Code.

I do think it is VERY moral that he will be saving me over $15,000 this year.

[Alan]

Is paying taxes when you know some of them are being used for immoral purposes moral?

[ERayR]

Is paying taxes when you know some of them are being used for immoral purposes moral?

Not paying is not one of the legal option's. If you slip over into the illegal option's then you must worry about the morality of your choices in other areas.

I wonder, we had "JCNowandForever" advocating writing conditions on the back of our tithing checks with a refund if those conditions were not met. You could try that approach and see how the IRS handles it.

Edited September 6, 2012 by ERayR

[ERayR]

You are aware that it required a constitutional amendment to implement the income tax aren't you? Are you implying that all amendment are inspired as well? What about prohibition? Or the repeal of prohibition? Both inspired?

Nope but it was passed legally and became law.

[caudicus]

I hadn't given it too much thought, honestly. There is no other shoe, though the Romney Tax Return hack did get me thinking.

I think our government relies on our money to accomplish good things, but also uses it to accomplish very, very bad things.

When I was living in Belgium, I noticed that the money is allocated the opposite of what we have in the US. Most of your money goes to the local level, then to the regional, then to the federal, then a tiny piece goes to the King. In the US, most of our money goes to the federal level, which seems crazy after having experienced it the other way. I was much less bothered by paying 50% when I could see everyday how the money was helping my community and the people around me.

For a country that is so concerned about preventing the termination of human life in the realm of abortion, I find it hugely hypocritical that we don't think twice about killing innocent women and children overseas. If I could, I would not allow any of my tax money to go towards such efforts. Or towards covering up police brutality or unnecessarily spying on our own citizens. In general, our money pays for a lot of corruption and a lot of immorality.

On the other hand, there are people that really and truly need help. If I knew that my money was being used wisely to help people in need, I would not mind paying a great deal more in taxes. If I knew that money was being used to develop and implement free (or as close as possible) water and power for the private citizens of our country, or even Africa, I'd be okay with paying extra.

This is why I say that cheating a little is okay, in my book. As an individual, we all cheat in our favor in a million different ways in every system we participate in. It is human nature. In the big picture, as individuals, we aren't harming anyone by withholding a little bit, and, if you are genuinely struggling, I don't see that you should bare the burden of murdering people overseas so that large corporations can make money and not pay taxes on it.

If, however, you are a large entity, your intentional cheat is causing the problems that are directly contribute to the degradation of the quality of life of honest, hard-working people... poverty, lack of social programs, record wealth inequality, etc... then I think that is pretty indefensible. In general, I feel that companies aren't people, and they shouldn't be treated like they have hunger and depression and such. Just my opinion.

I wasn't trying to set anyone up to make a greater argument. I was genuinely curious how Mormons feel about it. The Romney tax stuff in the news just got me thinking, is all. I don't have an opinion on the forgiveness loophole, the hack, or the lack of showing the returns, himself. I am curious to see how it all shakes out, though.