Now the IRS wants to be the speech and belief police.
A while back we learned that the Internal Revenue Service had admitted to targeting conservative groups for extra scrutiny, holding lavish parties at taxpayers’ expense and using their business credit cards to make expensive and unnecessary purchases. The tax agency has lost all credibility – if it ever had any – and some lawmakers are now calling for its dismantling.
So it’s not surprising to learn that the agency’s bias against conservative groups led its agents to make unconstitutional remarks to those groups as they attempted to gain tax-exempt status.
An example of these conservative groups is the Alliance Defending Freedom, which was told in both written and oral communications by the IRS that it had to remain neutral on the issue of abortion and that it could not force its religious beliefs on others. The group was criticized for its “prayer and evangelization at abortion clinic sites.”
The organization’s attorney, Erik Stanley, says that the IRS should not place itself in the business of being the speech and belief police.
“What the IRS is doing here is unconstitutional – attempting to tell an organization that it cannot advocate its viewpoint and still be considered educational and gain a tax exemption,” Stanley said.
Admittedly, the IRS is put in the difficult position of trying to determine which groups qualify for tax-exempt status and which do not. But to tell a group that they cannot make their religious beliefs known and that they need to remain neutral on controversial topics such as abortion, well, that goes well beyond the scope of what the IRS was formed to do.
But if you’re a federal agency that spends much of your time showing bias against groups you don’t agree with and wasting taxpayers’ money on parties, then these types of actions should not be surprising.
How do you feel about the IRS actions? Did they surprise you? What do you think should be done about the IRS? Should new people be brought in to run the agency, or should it be dissolved altogether? I’d like to hear from you on this important topic.
You will never get the federal monster to lose its appetite. The only way to starve the beast is for the States to take their sovereignty back. Invoke the Tenth Amendment to tell the IRS, SCOTUS, and the rest of the alphabet soup to stay out of their business. If the Federal government wants to fund some program, let them do what the Constitution still requires and request the money from the States by apportionment. Leave it up to the States to accept or reject the request, and to tax their citizens. And, of course, the total taxation at all levels of government must not equal the 10% that God requires.
Talk about blatant violations of our first amendment rights by a federal agency. Isn’t Obamas Hope and Change such a horrible joke?
It is way past Due that The ris should be closed. I think that if is going to be tax exsemptions then they should all be equal Thanks
I’m not sure what everyone else is going to do, but I’m suing them for a billion dollars here:
http://tinyurl.com/HarropChannel
http://tinyurl.com/HVTPlead
Good for you! Most people are afraid to stand up to those that can imprison us because they don’t like us. Most attorneys are intimidated to go up against the federal government. I had to find that out the hard way.
There have been some great suggestions, but how do we move forward with any of them?!
The I.R.S. and the entire bureaucracy needs to be abolished and the 60,000 pages of tax code that no one understands needs to go with it. It’s long past time for real tax reform and our representatives in Washington need to pass the FairTax!
We do not need the IRS. Set up a flat tax with a $12.000.00 per year base. If you earn less than $12K you pay no taxes on your proverty income. No deductions of any kind for companies or indiviuals. Flush most of Washington DC and any politician that has been in more than 3 terms is out. We the people need to take control of our Government again and try to keep from destroying our country. Being $18 trillion dollars broke I really don’t know what is keeping us going now. That does not even take into consideration the obligations our government has that are underfunded. We have sat on our collective asses far too long already and we are all going to pay the price in the long run. IMO.
A simple sales tax on purchases would eliminate filing any tax returns by individuals. Companies would be responsible for forwarding the tax to govt. Caveat: provided sales tax rate is not confiscatory.
Mr huckabee said it best hang a sign on the door at IRS. OUT OF BUSSNESS.!!!!
Best way to put IRS out of business is to cut their budget.
out of business ,cut there budget
The IRS needs to be dismantled and we need to go to a flat tax. As a Pastor I have studied about this issue a lot and so to comment on Simon’s comment: the only time the IRS can LEGALLY stop a church or pastor from stating their political opinion or endorsing a candidate is if the incorporate. Signing Letters of Incorporation is giving away your rights for certain “protections”. Much like the mafia. Give up your right to a certain amount of money and you will have protection. The gov has become much like the mafia and as the mafia needs to be taken down a peg or two!
The irs is only an insurance agency. Take the MOB for example, they collected Fire Insurance Premiums, just like the irs does. The premiums that the irs collects are just like the ones collected by the MOB and for much the same result, if you DON’T pay the premium…..you just MIGHT have a fire.
It is past time to simplify the tax code or go to a flat tax. Then 3/4 of this monstrous beaurocracy
will not be needed and congress can no longer pick winners and losers. If Congress will not do it, maybe it’s time for the States to call a constitutional convention. Hope I see that in my lifetime.
So you folks are upset about the IRS. You don’t like it when they party on your dime, your quarter, and your dollar. What if you were in their shoes? A public servant, no one likes what you do. You work at a job day in and day out without any fanfare or respect from the general public for you or what you do. Then you are given a chance to go some where, anywhere, where the public picks up the tab because it is a conference. You are going to meet your counterparts from all over the country. You have seminars during the day and you party at night. So what is wrong with that?
The problem is entitlement. These government employees feel that they are entitled to have a good time; a large party if possible, on the public dime. That is the problem, entitlement. Like a bunch of drunken conventioneers, out to make the best of a convention gathering, these civil servants just proved one thing to their employers, the paying tax payer, that in truth these civil servants just don’t respect those of us who are paying their bills. Oh, it isn’t just the IRS that is taking advantage of the U.S. citizen, if you take the time and do a little research you will find that every Federal Government agency does the same thing. The FBI, CIA, IRS, NASA, Homeland Security Agency, Dept. of Justice, Transportation, Defense, Energy, EPA, ICE, Interior, GSA, Parks, and Forestry and others still that you haven’t even heard of. All these different departments and agencies of the federal government go out on your dime and throw a big party at your expense. I am talking about millions of dollars at your expense coming out of your pockets. You pay for their airfare, car rentals, hotel lodgings, food three times a day and the good ole miscellaneous expense. The miscellaneous expense is the catchall for all that you don’t want the Government to know you spent money on or for. You know, booze, broads, and gambling.
These people are without shame, they feel that they are entitled to have this party, until you catch them. That is when these people will hang their heads down low, apologize for taken advantage of your good nature, and promise not to do it ever again – at lease until next years convention.
So, how do we fix this problem? All of these government departments and agencies do need to get together and discuss their particular problems and concerns. Furthermore, it should be at tax payer expense too. But here is the rub, when to do a conference at tax payer’s expense verses taking advantage of the tax payer. Here is my suggestion: Set a spending limit for these conferences and seminars with proof and an itemized receipt of their spending. This includes their per diem for their room and board. If, as a group, they decide to spend more for their comforts; then it should come out of their pockets, starting with the department head first. After all, it is the department head that puts these things together. Once the department head is billed for the excessive party, I can guarantee that he/she will make sure that everybody will comply with the standards for attending a conference, seminar or convention.
I was in the Army for 20 years and I have attended such events at taxpayers expense. The difference was that I was aware of the expense to the taxpayer. I made sure that my group of people that attended these events were made aware of what was expected of them and how to conduct themselves while attending said event. On occasion, I would have a commander that felt that he was entitled to more than was allowed. They would come to me and try to bully me into allowing them to get better accommodations than what was issued them, an upgrade for lack of a better word. For example, I had a 1st Lt. that wanted a bigger room because he had brought his wife along to a conference that was being held in Las Vegas, Nevada. He wanted a bigger room than the one that was provided to him. He took it upon himself to get an upgrade to a $150.00 per night room that had a kitchenette and two queen size beds. When I learned about this, I went to the front desk and told them that the Army would pay only for the $50.00 per night room, but that the 1 Lt. would have to make up the difference. I suggested that they contact the 1st Lt. and inform him of what was decided. Well folks, I can tell you that this 1st Lt. was not a happy camper to say the very lease. He litterly went crying to everyone he thought that was higher in the command structure than me. Every time that he would get his story out that person would say, “you would need to talk to Mr. Cliff A.” Finally, this 1st Lt came to me. He was visibly upset. He demanded that I fix it where he didn’t have to pay for the extra for his room. I told him that the only way that I could help him, is if he would return to the room that he had prior to switching it out. It was big enough for him and his wife; although, it wasn’t very glamorous to compare to what he had tried to upgrade to. I reminded him that he was here on business and not a mini vacation. Furthermore, I reminded him that he was representing our unit, our command and that his total disregard to what was provided him should not get back to our higher command or he would face the consequences. I reminded him that bringing his wife was his idea and not authorized by me, anybody in Command, or the tax payers.
So I escorted this 1st Lt to the front desk whereby he requested that they change the room back to what he had prior. They did so without charging the 1st Lt since he didn’t actually take actual possession of the room. I turned to the 1st Lt. and looked him in the eye and said, “Next time you will be stuck with the bill,”
Now I know that this sounds pretty hard nose of me, but when it comes to money; especially the tax payer’s money, I like to think of it as my money, that I am very frugal and cost conscious.
If need be, perhaps the GSA should put a spending limit on how much can be spent on conferences or perhaps where these events can take place. Should expenses for the event get out of control; then the GSA should go after the department head. Failure to curtail this excessive spending perhaps a law may be needed to enforce a spending limit.
I agree with everything you have said but is the IRS going to police themselves?? There woul t be enough honest, patriotic IRS agents to monitor that crooked group.
AMEN, Cliff A. You nailed it all so thoroughly and eloquently! Now if people would actually understand the meaning of what you said and would heed it… that would be a step in the right direction. Those who abuse our tax-payer’s money, should be punished. MUCH needs to be done to rectify this awful bureaucracy!!
Sure . The IRS has had a gag order on the Churches that have exemption statuses for as long as I know of. Haven’t you ever wondered why churches rarely speak out on certain issues or why if they do ,they do so very timidly?……….I had a pastor show me a list of some fifty something issues they have been forbidden to speak on……..So much for amendment 1 , if you want to exercise it you have to pay the tax on it.
Unfortunately the IRS can put itself in the position of being the speech and belief police.
99% of all churches incorporate themselves as 501c3 entities and under that status of “law” they cannot actually publicly influence people about their beliefs through speech. Read the law … then read
http://www.amazon.com/The-Corporation-Sole-Americas-restrictive/dp/1491291559
Visit http://www.corporationsole.org to discover how churches (and all Christians) can free themselves of being scrutinized by the government using their own laws.
In fact did you know that Lydon B Johnson enacted legislation as a DIRECT RESULT of the Churches (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others) from standing up, speaking freely and rallying to influence positive and much needed changes in America (remember Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 – which ended both segregation here in America and created the fair market housing act) In fact, the Churches influence was so great, that it is said that it was the primary influence of then President Lyndon Johnson in enacting 501c3 laws so that the Church would hopefully never again enter the political fray again … and now they (IRS and the Obama Administration) are enforcing the 501c3 law for its intended purpose.
Thank-You Mr. Johnson for bring this to my attention. I didn’t know. It only adds to another thing that needs to be changed.
David, is that to say that if we were turning into a socialist country slower it would be ok?
Not a comment ,,just a question,,,,If I get a refund this year,which I won’y,does it/a refund have to be listed on my 2014 tax return??
Tax refunds aren’t new income…it’s your previously earned money, so they don’t go towards income for the following year.
Your question does not have a quick and easy answer. The correct answer is “It depends.” Whether the refund check from last year is taxable depends on whether the Local Income Tax Deduction on Schedule A gave you a refund, it MAY be taxable, all or part. There is a worksheet for Schedule A that will help you know if all or part of last year’s refund is taxable.
…,and this only applies to State and Local refunds. Federal refunds are never taxable income.
It depends on which state you live in if it is taxable income by the state. You do not have to claim it on your federal return as income.
First of all he is not my president. Because first you have to be an American citizen, which he is not. So who put him in office? The 1%’ers in the world. WE as Americans need to Wake Up. P.SP. GOD HELP US.
The IRS needs to be abolished. It’s also time to get rid of all these equally corrupt alphabet departments that have been robbing us blind for way too many decades. People need to take a harder look at the Fair Tax as a way to fund the government.
Andy, you should be more careful if you are going to post using another name (Ann Beal). It seems more than a coincidence that Andy Bernard and Ann Beal BOTH post the EXACT statement “it’s time to get rid of all these equally corrupt alphabet departments that have been robbing us blind for way too many decades”. I am no NSA, but I can figure out that somebody with the same initials posts the exact same words in the exact same order is the same person. Be careful!!!
GOTCHA!!!
Did it ever occur to anyone that there are institutions that declare themselves to be churches for the purpose of being tax exempt, such as the one with the word “science” in it’s name? This is one of the world’s wealthiest institutions, which charges it’s members exorbitant fees to take mandatory classes, among other things. Why does the government not examine such practises?
A no exemption, Federal Sales Tax, would make the IRS and all it requires in time and forms, unneccessary. A Federal Sales Tax cannot discriminate against anyone. Every retail purchase, including the Internet, would require Federal Sales Tax.
Tax Payers = 100%, not 50% as it is now. Every one would pay. National Debt would become $0.00. We need a transparent Tax, not the existing IRS taxes that can decide who pays and who doesn’t pay.
I completely agree — rich or poor, we all need fire, police protection, education, road and street care — and we ALL use these services, therefore ALL should pay.
You really don’t understand anything about taxes. Our “taxes” are not used to fund police, fire, or road work for that matter. Police and fire are state run, so yes state taxes may pay for that, but the gas taxes are used for road work. What does that leave the IRS taxes to do? Steal from us and give to them! So keel paying the elite’s bills for extravagent parties, trips around the world, and just living the grandiose life, cause that’s exactly what your doing when you pay the IRS!
Maybe the IRS needs a big ole party bus instead of going to a conference and staying at a hotel. Just a suggestion.
Not necessarily so…….I live in the rural county and rarely to never use any of what you refer to……..I have never seen a law enforcement come down my road in 18 years ……if one did come it would be a Deputy Sheriff and and it would take them a half hour minimum or more coming from the county seat…..30 miles away ……..The county sends a road grader out from their barn once a month to sharpen the rocks so that if you don’t have at least six ply tires you are guaranteed puncture flats if you exceed 15mph,so what benefit is there to it. Fire protection is private and volunteer …….and comes with a membership charge and is 15 miles away . I have never seen them come down our road . If I do decide to travel in to the city I have to use a turnpike so that is a pay per use.
There is an iron stob US geological post at the corner of my property where three counties come together ,meaning that walking a few feet in three directions you could be in a different county and I have never seen any LEO’s from any of the three counties on my road and have never heard the neighbors mention one being out.
I have called the 911 emergency administrative office for my county twice a year for the last three years and they never answer the phone and they have a message machine that I have left six messages on telling them who I am and where my land parcel is and my phone number and requesting they contact me so that I can get whatever 911 address it is that they have assigned to me and I have never been contacted in three years …….LOL……so I don’t know what my address is and LOL apparently they don’t either and they don’t even know how to use a telephone . thankfully I do have spotted cellular service and I don’t have to drive three miles and climb a telephone pole anymore and tap the wires……..lol. The county tax assessor has had a heck of a time trying to decide whether there was a structure on the property or not ,maybe the signage I have on the gate frightens them……but they have changed my parcel status three times guessing at it.
When I first acquired the property I use to see Black helicopters be scrambled out from 40 miles away by the DEA that would show up and blow dirt in my face while pointing 50 caliber machine guns at me while I was trying to hunt during Bow season…….They stopped doing it after I called them up and assured them I wasn’t cultivating anything and cursed them out for ruining my hunts.
I don’t have any water or gas utility available and the rural electric coop can never find my property even though they placed a service pole 300 feet in on my property …….I have to show them where the pole is every time they come out……..
The post office in the wide spot of the old highway 7 miles away is only open half the day M-th.
If we need assistance we go over to our neighbors or they come to us if they have a need.
This is the way we like it ……..and this is the way we want to keep it…….if a stranger comes down the road we know it .
We don’t require or desire Social services of any type …….when the electric goes out mine is the last to come back on because it is the last pole on the line …..that doesn’t extend beyond us w/o our written consent. we pay our County taxes but we don’t expect anything in return for it.
The water comes out of the ground or out of a spring and there isn’t any sewage lines .
I don’t have to use the Electric unless I choose to.
in our state County taxes are apportioned a percentage to the roads and yet they don’t provide tin horns in front of peoples gates and if for some reason they don’t think you are using the gate they will just scratch a drainage ditch in front of it and you might return and find you have to shovel it back in to get through your gate …..I called down to the county barn and cursed them out three times for it just after I first got the property until they got it straight in their heads . It’s nice to be up on an elevation where you can see forever it’s nice to be able to know and trust your neighbors ……it’s nice to be able to shoot the stars out of the sky all night long if you want to and nobody complain or show up to tell you not to.
it’s nice not to hear ambulances or emergency responders all night long or trains and planes and traffic. I thank God to be so privileged to not have any Socialistic services and to be able to harvest my own groceries w/o ever going to town.
it is nice to be able to condition your eyes to see in total darkness by starlight . it’s nice to not have to see another human being for six months at a time if you don’t want to. It’s nice to be tuned in to the natural and the creator instead of human calamity. Sorry for the rant. God Bless the Republic and God Bless all.
Sound simply perfect. I was raised like you are living. I was healthy and happy until I had to go to school and was “locked up” for 10+ hours . There I became sick and sickly in every way. Moving to the city to attend college and staying to work and raise children – My soul died long ago. My body iand heart are both broken. I have lost all hope to live again as you do. Stay where you are. Live strong and free.
Mr. Jones, are you kidding me? Without the National Debt the government could not function. They need to owe money so that that can collect taxes to pay the interest on this debt. If as a nation we were to pay off our debt we would end up with a surplus amount of cash that would be sitting in the vaults collecting dust and no interest. The government is built on debt.
But it would be nice if we as a nation was debt free.
The GOP can’t take the Senate fast enough. I know it’s unlikely, but nothing would would please me more than for president Oba-Mao to lose his rubber stamp senate majority and be reduced to the lamest of lame ducks, as he and his precious legacy is dismantled and tossed into the burning trash-heap of history by a filibuster-proof conservative majority in the Senate and veto-proof conservative majority in the House like Gollum and his Precious, The Ring of Power into the fires of Mt. Doom. I like to picture Gollum with Obama’s face in an expression of rapturous joy holding The One Ring high in a vain attempt to keep it out of the lava as his body is consumed.
Then, as the Ring comes to rest on the surface of the lava, the heat reveals the word, “ObamaCare” and the names of whatever other “achievements” he’s most proud of.
Seriously, you think the GOP taking the senate will stop the President’s rubber stamp? The GOP are just liberal lite with few exceptions. Trust me, the GOP may slow things down, but they’re on the same road to the same place. Big government, fat politicians, ruling the rest of us. Wake up, the GOP will not save us. It is up to us now. Question is, will we?
The IRS more guilty of doing what they are accusimg the Tea Party and other religious groups of doing. Their mandates for these groups reflect their religious views and they demamd compliamce by everyone else to their views. They would evem demamd that God himself should follow their mandates. They are sick people for whom I have mo respect.
The whole IRS should be dismantled and their should be a flat tax rate across the board no more deductions no more loop holes. That I feel would be the fairest way, rich or poor everybody pays the same.
The ONLY WAY to put a stop to Obama and what he is doing with our Country ; is for people to turn back to God! We sadly have allowed “the few” who choose not to believe, to take God out of EVERYTHING and what this Country was founded on! People WAKE UP! Before it’s too late!!!!
In view of the fact that the IRS is illegal, as the 16th Amendment was NOT legally ratified, indeed was fraudulently declared to be ratified in 1913 by then Secretary of State Philander Knox, it should be abolished. More information here: http://www.givemeliberty.org/features/taxes/notratified.htm
Also, there is neither law nor regulation that requires citizens to file returns and pay income taxes. IRS laws are being applied illegally…what a surprise! More information here:
http://livefreenow.tv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=35.
This is why the notorious IRS, President Clinton & the Heads of Congress failed to show up to the showdown with 4 Income Tax Experts who proved The Federal Income Tax has been enforced on the American People without any lawful basis. These elites don’t want to discuss this because they have nothing to stand on.
It’s not just the IRS that needs to be abolished; it’s time to get rid of all these equally corrupt alphabet departments that have been robbing us blind for way too many decades.
First of all, I know that you like to bash Obama. BUT, the IRS is NOT governed by Obama, his administration, the Democrats not the Republicans. They are privately owned. YES PRIVATELY OWNED and are governed by only themselves. Go ahead and look it up. The IRS along with the Federal Reserve are PRIVATELY owned. They are owned by the Illuminati and their cohorts. THEY are the ones that are ruining this country and the rest of the world. They run the banks, wall street and anything else connected to wealth.
I think people need to take a harder look at the Fair Tax as a way to fund the government. If passed this would make the IRS unnecessary.
That fraud sitting in the white house has broken so many constitional laws, that I do not understand WHY is he still in office. WHY has he not been impeached.
Obama is not following the Constitution and we need to stop his agenda now
All taxes should be collected by the state, and then the states would send money to federal government for those things the federal government is constitutionally allowed to collect taxes for.
President is turning our country into a Socialist type country way to fast.
Becoming a Socialist type country way to fast. President is taking our country down hill way to fast.