Tax resistance facts for kids

Tax resistance is when people choose not to pay taxes. They do this because they disagree with how the government uses their money. It's a way to show they are unhappy or to protest against certain government actions.

Some people are tax resisters because they believe the government is doing something wrong, like fighting wars they don't agree with. Others resist taxes to protest a specific law or policy. Sometimes, people resist taxes to try to make a government change or even step down, like Mahatma Gandhi did in India.

What is Tax Resistance?

Tax resistance means refusing to pay taxes. People might do this for many reasons. It is often a form of civil disobedience. This means peacefully refusing to obey certain laws as a protest.

Why Do People Resist Taxes?

People resist taxes for different reasons. Here are some common ones:

• Protest against war: Many people refuse to pay taxes that they believe will fund wars. They might feel it is wrong to support violence.
• Disagreement with government spending: Some people disagree with how their government spends money. They might not want their taxes to go towards things they don't support.
• Seeking political change: Tax resistance can be a way to pressure a government to change its policies. It can also be used to try and make a government more fair.
• Religious or moral beliefs: For some, not paying taxes is part of their religious or moral beliefs. They might believe that all taxes are wrong.

Famous Examples of Tax Resistance

Throughout history, many people have used tax resistance to bring about change.

Mohandas Gandhi and the Salt March

One of the most famous examples is Mahatma Gandhi in India. In 1930, he led the Salt March. This was a protest against the British salt tax. The British government made it illegal for Indians to collect or sell salt. They forced everyone to buy expensive salt from the British. Gandhi and thousands of Indians marched to the sea to make their own salt. This act of disobedience showed that people would not follow unfair laws. It helped India gain independence from British rule.

The Boston Tea Party

In 1773, American colonists protested a tax on tea. This event is known as the Boston Tea Party. Colonists were angry because they had to pay taxes to the British government but had no say in British laws. They felt this was unfair. To protest, they dressed as Native Americans and dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. This act of resistance was a big step towards the American Revolution.

Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was an American writer and philosopher. In the 1840s, he refused to pay a poll tax. He did this to protest the Mexican-American War and slavery. He believed that if a government was doing something wrong, people should not support it with their money. He wrote an important essay called Civil Disobedience. This essay has inspired many people around the world to protest peacefully.

Images for kids

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  Gandhi making salt and disobeying the British salt production and tax laws.

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  Egyptian peasants seized for non-payment of taxes during the Pyramid Age.

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  Boston Tea Party, 16 December 1773.

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  Henry David Thoreau, author of Civil Disobedience.

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  The White House Peace Vigil, started by Thomas in 1981 and supported by tax resister Ellen Thomas.

See also

In Spanish: Resistencia fiscal para niños