On Friday, former acting IRS Commissioner Steve Miller, testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee, said that America’s tax system is “voluntary.”
During the hearing, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) said in passing that the U.S. tax code is a “voluntary system.” Miller simply responded, “Agreed.”
This line has been used before by none other than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Interviewed by Jan Helfeld in 2008, this is how the conversation went:
Helfeld: If the government is in the business of forcefully taking money from some people in order to provide welfare benefits to others, how will the people whose money is being taken feel about the government?
Reid: Well, I don’t accept your phraseology. I don’t think we force people-
Helfeld: Taxation is not forceful?
Reid: Well, no ..
Helfeld: It’s voluntary?
Reid: Quite the contrary. Our system of government Is a voluntary tax system
Helfeld: If you don’t want to pay your taxes, you don’t have to?
Reid: Of course you have to pay your taxes
Helfeld: The government will force you to pay or they will fine you or imprison you.
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