Do you actually have to pay taxes?

What is the $600 rule in the IRS?

The IRS $600 rule refers to the reporting threshold for third-party payment apps (like PayPal, Venmo, Cash App) for income from goods/services, where they send Form 1099-K to you and the IRS for payments over $600 in a year. While the American Rescue Plan initially set this lower threshold for 2022 and beyond, the IRS delayed implementation, keeping the old rule ($20,000 and 200+ transactions) for 2022 and 2023, then phasing in a $5,000 threshold for 2024, before recent legislation reverted the federal threshold back to the old $20,000 and 200+ transactions for 2023 and future years (as of late 2025/early 2026), aiming to reduce confusion. 

How to become tax exempt in the USA?

Steps for obtaining tax-exempt status for your nonprofit:

1. Incorporate. Nonprofit incorporation creates your nonprofit with your chosen home state. ...
2. Apply for an EIN. ...
3. Provide a detailed business purpose. ...
4. File Form 1023 with the IRS.
5. Most nonprofit corporations apply for tax-exempt status under Sec.

Is the US tax system really voluntary?

No, the U.S. tax system is not voluntary in the sense that it's optional; it's a mandatory system based on "voluntary compliance," meaning taxpayers are legally required to calculate, report, and pay their taxes, but they do so by self-assessing and filing forms themselves, rather than the government assessing it for them. Failure to comply carries significant penalties, including fines, interest, wage garnishment, liens, and even criminal charges, as the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) clearly mandates filing for those who meet income thresholds. 

What is the IRS 7 year rule?

The IRS 7-year rule generally refers to the extended time you need to keep tax records if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or a bad debt deduction, giving you up to 7 years from the due date of the return to claim a refund or credit for those specific issues. While the standard record retention is usually 3 years, this 7-year period ensures you have documentation for these specific, potentially complex, financial losses. 

What happens if US citizens don't pay taxes?

The IRS can file a lien on your property if you don't pay your taxes, including garnishing wages, freezing your bank account, and taking from your 401(k). Failing to file by April 15th will result in a "Failure to File" penalty, which adds significant costs to your tax bill.

Can I stop paying federal taxes?

No, you cannot legally stop paying federal taxes, as it's a legal requirement, but you can reduce your liability or manage owed taxes through legal means like adjusting withholding (W-4), setting up payment plans with the IRS, offers in compromise, or potentially bankruptcy for certain older debts. The IRS imposes significant penalties for non-payment, including fines, interest, liens, and asset levies, and considers frivolous arguments against paying to be a crime. 

How much an hour is $70,000 a year after taxes?

$70,000 a year is about $33.65 per hour before taxes, but after federal, state (varies), FICA, and potential deductions (like 401k, insurance), your take-home hourly pay could be closer to $21-$27 per hour, depending heavily on your location and withholdings, with estimates suggesting annual take-home of $43,500 to $52,000. 

Why do we legally have to pay taxes?

2020. The United States Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1, states, “The Congress shall have the Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States.

Can you refuse to file taxes?

You might not have to file taxes if your income is below the IRS filing threshold (usually tied to the Standard Deduction), you're claimed as a dependent with low earnings, or have specific situations like certain military service. However, you must file if your income, self-employment earnings ($400+ net), or other circumstances (like owing special taxes) trigger a requirement; failing to file when required leads to penalties and interest, and the IRS can pursue it indefinitely. 

How to pay zero taxes legally?

It's quite easy to pay no income taxes if you're extremely rich.

1. health expenses over 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI)
2. charitable contributions.
3. up to $40,000 in state and local taxes (2025), subject to income-based phaseouts.
4. home mortgage interest (subject to limits)

What is the IRS one time forgiveness?

The program essentially gives taxpayers who have a history of compliance a one-time pass on penalties that may have accrued due to an oversight or unforeseen circumstance, and the relief primarily applies to three types of penalties: failure-to-file, failure-to-pay, and failure-to-deposit penalties.

Does IRS forgive after 10 years?

Yes, IRS debt generally goes away after 10 years from the assessment date, known as the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED), but this clock can pause or extend due to various actions like installment agreements, bankruptcy, or court judgments, meaning it doesn't always disappear automatically and can last longer. Key exceptions include fraud, no tax return filed, and specific extensions that stop the clock (tolling), allowing collection indefinitely in some cases. 

What triggers an IRS audit?

IRS audit triggers often involve unreported income, excessive or questionable deductions (especially home office, business vehicle, charitable donations), math errors or inconsistencies, high income levels, complex transactions like crypto or foreign accounts, and mismatches between your return and third-party reporting (W-2s/1099s), all flagged by automated systems comparing returns to statistical norms.
 

How far back can the IRS legally go?

The IRS generally has three years from the date taxpayers file their returns to assess any additional tax for that tax year. There are some limited exceptions to the three-year rule, including when taxpayers fail to file returns for specific years or file false or fraudulent returns.

Is income tax illegal?

Furthermore, after the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the income tax laws. Brushaber v. Union Pacific R.R., 240 U.S. 1 (1916). Since then, courts have consistently upheld the constitutionality of the federal income tax.

What are tax loopholes?

A provision in the laws governing taxation that allows people to reduce their taxes. The term has the connotation of an unintentional omission or obscurity in the law that allows the reduction of tax liability to a point below that intended by the framers of the law.

Is paying taxes involuntary?

The U.S. tax code operates on a system of voluntary compliance. Some taxpayers have used the voluntary nature of the tax system to support their claims that they don't have to pay tax at all. However, it isn't the payment of the tax itself that is voluntary.

How to legally go tax exempt?

Becoming tax-exempt depends on whether you're an individual (claiming exemption from withholding) or an organization (seeking nonprofit status); individuals qualify by having zero tax liability and filing a specific W-4 form yearly, while organizations must incorporate, get an EIN, and apply to the IRS using forms like 1023 (for 501(c)(3)) or 1024, proving they operate for charitable, educational, or other specific purposes. 

Who is exempt from paying taxes in America?

In the U.S., tax exemption generally applies to nonprofit organizations (charities, churches, educational institutions, etc.), certain government entities, and some low-income individuals or U.S. citizens abroad, though exemptions vary by tax type (income, sales, property) and jurisdiction, with the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) defining many charitable and educational exempt organizations. Individuals can also claim exemption from withholding if they owe no tax, and certain income for expats, while specific goods and services (like groceries or farm equipment) are often exempt from sales tax. 

What are exempt purposes for IRS?

The exempt purposes set forth in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) are charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.