What law requires you to pay taxes?

[Dark-Feanor]

Have you ever heard of TAX LAWYERS? I come from a family of all lawyers, and there are huge lawbooks. You say, that there is no law saying that there can be income taxes?

The existence of such as these does not prove the existence of a law.

Its in the constitution.

[MyndFyre]

Have you ever heard of TAX LAWYERS? I come from a family of all lawyers, and there are huge lawbooks. You say, that there is no law saying that there can be income taxes?

The existence of such as these does not prove the existence of a law.

Its in the constitution.

Since you pressed the issue...

First, my reply was simply stating that you're making an illogical connection: the existence of tax lawyers does not necessitate the existence of taxing laws.  Second, I believe he's saying there isn't legislation that requires us to pay taxes -- not that there isn't something that says that the legilature is allowed.

[Dark-Feanor]

I was stating that there are tax laws in a tax law book, that are used by tax lawyers.  
The income tax was started with the 16th amendment. So, I did a google search on laws passed in 1913 and found this: (from http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/income_tax.html)

In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.  It empowered Congress to tax "incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."   The Internal Revenue Code is today embodied as Title 26 of the United States Code (26 U.S.C.) and is a lineal descendant of the income tax act passed in 1913, following ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment.
 
While some states do not have an income tax (Nevada), all residents and all citizens of the United States are subject to the federal income tax.  Not everyone, however, must file a return.  The requirements for filing are found in 26 U.S.C. 6011.  As the largest contributor, its purpose is to generate revenue for the federal budget.  In 1985 for example, the government collected over $450 billion in income tax from a total of $742 billion in total internal revenue receipts.  The funds collected are essential for the shaping and preservation of a free market economy.

Some terms are essential in understanding income tax law.  "Gross income" can be generaly defined as "all income from whatever source derived;" a more complete definition is found in 26 U.S.C. 61.  Other important definitions like "taxable income" and "adjusted gross income" can also be found in Chapter I of Title 26.  These terms are not fixed nor should anyone be confident in understanding their true meaning after a cursory reading because their imputed definitions change with time.  The Supreme Court, through case law, demonstrates the changing meaning of taxable income.

Individuals are not the only ones required to file income tax returns. Corporations do as well.   While they are subject to may of the same rles as are individual taxpayers, they are also covered by an intricate body of rules addressed to the peculiar problems of corporations.

Here are some laws for ya:
The federal statute for "Internal Revene Code" http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/index.html
Legal definition of gross income: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/61.html
And a quote from the IRS website (http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=98137,00.html):

The  United States Code (USC) is prepared and published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. This database is updated once a year and contains the laws of the United States including 26 USC, the Internal Revenue Code. Many other useful reference databases are available on-line via GPO Access and the Legal Information Institute of the Cornell Law School

I guess that it never says that everyone has to pay income taxes. It is stated, however, that taxes must be paid on all taxable income. If you do have a taxable income, then you must pay taxes. Therefore, most people must pay taxes. If you do not pay your taxes, you will go to jail for tax evasion.

[Noodlez]

*bump*
I want to see groks reply to
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=106502,00.html

[Newby]

Go ahead. Don't pay your taxes. Let this country crumble.

Buracracy wouldn't exist...public services wouldn't exist. If it wasn't for taxes.