Seattle PI: Many refuse to pay 'war tax' on phone bill

[RSchewe]

By M.L. LYKE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

For Seattle peace activist Bert Sacks, the monthly act of resistance adds up to only 59 cents. Symbolically, however, refusing to pay the "war tax" on his Qwest phone bill represents a pocketbook protest against what he sees as misuse of U.S. military power.

"I object to the U.S. government policy of using famine and epidemic as tools against civilian populations. That's wrong," says the retired engineer, who has fought for a decade to get economic sanctions against Iraq lifted.

Sacks is one of thousands of Americans believed to be refusing to pay the federal taxes attached to their monthly phone bills -- money that helps fund military operations overseas.

Many are taking the step as a protest against the war in Iraq. And in many cases, the phone companies are helping them do it.

"We oppose the policies of 'pre-emptive war' and an 'endless' war on terrorism, which led to the Iraq war, which violate human rights and international law, and which have cost us hundreds of billions of dollars while our states and cities face unprecedented deficits, and cutbacks of vital services and programs," reads the statement on a Web site called hanguponwar.org.

more...


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/251575_wartax10.html

[GrumpyGreg]

1. Not exactly news. This has been going on for many years. I

worked for a telephone company and it goes back at least 35 years,maybe longer.

[RSchewe]

2. Is it legal and an option for everyone, or just customers of certain

particular phone companies in certain areas?

[GrumpyGreg]

3. During WW II a "war tax" was put on telephone bills and they just never

bothered to remove it.

In our office when we received a payment with the "war tax" withheld we adjusted it from the customer's bill and then filled in a form that went to our accounting office and then ,I assume,they notified the IRS.

Some people did it for years so whether the IRS did anything about it I am not sure.

This was just for federal tax,not state and local tax.

[Xenotime]

4. I'll have to check my phone bill...

Why should I pay for this unauthorized and illegal war.