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War Tax Resistance: A Guide to Withholding Your Support from the Military
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July 23, 2025
A COMPREHENSIVE & USEFUL RESOURCE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THIS FORM OF PROTEST
Author Ed Hedemann wrote in the Introduction to this 1981 book (4th edition, 1992, Ed. By Ruth Benn), “Ten years ago when this Guide was first published many people became war tax resisters rather than stand aside and watch in horror and frustration as the two superpowers played nuclear chicken. Today, with the 4th edition just off the press, the balance of power has shifted dramatically. The United States stands alone as the world’s nuclear bully. However, in seeking to justify a bloated and festering budget built on the ‘threat’ of international Communism, a desperate Pentagon is more inclined to engage in adventuristic campaigns such as those waged in recent years against Grenada, Panama, and Iraq… This Guide is for … [those] who disagree with the military priorities of the United States, who are not content to wait for the government to make things better, and who are willing to take an initiative against military spending.” (Pg. 5)
He continues, “war tax resistance has an almost magical ability to force a confrontation and make the government pay attention… But what about the HASSLE of those threatening notices from the IRS and the INCONVENIENCE of the IRS trying to seize your bank account or salary, or the FEAR that … you’ll be taken to court just because you tried to follow your conscience? I think about the hassle suffered by a soldier forced to leave his home and job to right in a war not of his making. I think about the inconvenience suffered by a woman in Baghdad who lost her house and all its possessions to a ‘smart’ bomb. I think my greatest fear is that someone---with whom I had no quarrel---has died because I contributed to the military spending of the United States.” (Pg. 6)
He states in the first chapter, “‘If you don’t believe in it, why pay for it?’ This is the title of a flyer that was sent to peace movement people encouraging their participation in war tax resistance activities at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The title also represents the primary reason why people refuse to pay taxes which contribute to war… For many, the only difference between paying for war and physically participating in war is that the former is less messy and more convenient.” (Pg. 8)
He explains, “People become war tax resisters for a variety of reasons. Although not pacifists, some have been motivated to act because of the nuclear war threat and the immoral misuse of government spending... many war tax resisters also do not believe that killing or threatening to kill is an acceptable way to solve social or political problems. New resisters frequently report feeling a gain in personal power over their own lives upon becoming war tax resisters. Historically, war tax resisters have been moved by strong religious convictions… Segments of the Society of Friends, the Church of the Brethren, and the Mennonite church---the historic peace churches---have felt that to pay war taxes is to participate in war, violating the teachings of Jesus. Only since World War II, and especially since the Vietnam War, have there been significant numbers of war tax resisters motivated by political or secular beliefs… The ability to motivate other people makes war tax resistance more than just a personal action. The classic case … is that of Henry David Thoreau… Finally, most resisters want to put their tax money to constructive use. Their nonpayment and redirection of tax money is a way to correct the deficiencies of government spending.” (Pg. 9-10)
He reports (and answers) a variety of ‘Philosophical and Political’ questions posed to war tax resisters: We’re Not at War, Why Resist? Why Use Illegal Methods? If Everyone Were to Obey Only Those Laws They Like, Wouldn’t It Lead to Chaos? What About the Good Things a Taxation System Provides? Doesn’t the Government Eventually Collect? With Interest and Penalties Added, Doesn’t the Resister Pay More to War? Since Other Federal Taxes are Unavoidable, Isn’t Income Tax resistance Inconsistent? Doesn’t ‘Render Unto Caesar’ Mean that Christians Should Pay Taxes? There are Not Enough People to Make War Tax Resistance Effective; Even if Tax Resistance Were Effective, Wouldn’t Domestic Programs Suffer and Not the Military? Will I Go to Jail? (Pg. 11-14)
Here are some examples of his answers: “A war tax resister should anticipate that the government will attempt to collect and may eventually succeed…. Even if the IRS does collect this larger amount [with interest/penalties], it does not necessarily mean that more will be contributed to militarism and war… It is true that war tax resistance ALONE is unlikely to make significant change in society. But tax resistance combined with the other tactics available … can contribute … to achieving change… It is true that the military is among the last to be cut when the government is short of funds… War tax resistance involves little risk of jail. Since World War II, only about twenty people have been jailed for reasons RELATED to war tax resistance---generally not for the resistance itself… It is helpful to remember that the ‘worse-case’ scenario is rarely realized.” (Pg. 11-14)
He suggests, “How much you don’t send to the IRS is, of course, your decision… Some resisters begin by refusing a symbolic amount and then in future years resist more… Some tax resisters refuse to send about 30% of their taxes to the IRS, which represents current spending on the military… Many war resisters refuse to send any money to the IRS, even for the so-called ‘good’ parts of the budget.” (Pg. 25)
He notes, “‘File Normally, But Refuse Payment.’ Most war tax resisters use this method. It involves simply filling out your return according to IRS rules and refusing to pay whatever amount you have chosen to resist. Always include a letter of explanation as to why you are refusing to pay… Some refusers decide not to file tax returns at all… This method may be most effective for those who are self-employed or have income which is not reported to the IRS… A number of other methods for war tax resistance were popular in the past, but all carry risks of the $500 frivolous filing fine… Some war tax opponents have chosen to lower their income to below the legally taxable level.” (Pg. 28-29)
He asserts, “It is very rare that the IRS will use the courts and the threat of jail to force payment or punish a war tax resister. A classified IRS directive [from 1980]… told its agents not to pursue felony prosecution of tax refusers for fraud or failure to file unless underpayments average AT LEAST $2,500 a year for three years straight… The IRS expects to handle the vast majority of its cases through civil procedures, since it is (at the moment) more interested in getting payment than punishing war tax resisters.” (Pg. 49-50)
He recounts, “Up until World War II, war tax resistance in the U.S. primarily manifested itself among members of the historic peace churches… As a rule, it was only among a FEW members of these religious groups and usually during time of war. The Quakers were the most active tax resisters of the three groups, though their resistance was generally in the form of personal witness. Those Mennonites who refused payment of war taxes did so primarily as a means for personal salvation and purity. The number of Brethren who resisted taxes was much smaller than among Quakers or Mennonites.” (Pg. 62)
He observes, “war tax resistance takes on a collective aspect through demonstrations, support communities, alternative funds, etc. … Participating with other tax resisters in a public event dispels much of the sense of personal isolation, and the public expression of acts of conscience can have an impact on others that is impossible to measure.” (Pg. 100)
There is a LOT more to this book, including detailed descriptions of ‘The IRS Audit and Appeal Process,’ ‘History of War Tax Resistance in the United States,’ ‘Other Tax Resisters,’ ‘The National Resistance Network,’ ‘War Tax Resistance Resources,’ “War Resisters League and New Society Publishers,’ etc.
Anyone interested in this topic (whether a ‘resister’ or not) will find this book of much interest.
Author Ed Hedemann wrote in the Introduction to this 1981 book (4th edition, 1992, Ed. By Ruth Benn), “Ten years ago when this Guide was first published many people became war tax resisters rather than stand aside and watch in horror and frustration as the two superpowers played nuclear chicken. Today, with the 4th edition just off the press, the balance of power has shifted dramatically. The United States stands alone as the world’s nuclear bully. However, in seeking to justify a bloated and festering budget built on the ‘threat’ of international Communism, a desperate Pentagon is more inclined to engage in adventuristic campaigns such as those waged in recent years against Grenada, Panama, and Iraq… This Guide is for … [those] who disagree with the military priorities of the United States, who are not content to wait for the government to make things better, and who are willing to take an initiative against military spending.” (Pg. 5)
He continues, “war tax resistance has an almost magical ability to force a confrontation and make the government pay attention… But what about the HASSLE of those threatening notices from the IRS and the INCONVENIENCE of the IRS trying to seize your bank account or salary, or the FEAR that … you’ll be taken to court just because you tried to follow your conscience? I think about the hassle suffered by a soldier forced to leave his home and job to right in a war not of his making. I think about the inconvenience suffered by a woman in Baghdad who lost her house and all its possessions to a ‘smart’ bomb. I think my greatest fear is that someone---with whom I had no quarrel---has died because I contributed to the military spending of the United States.” (Pg. 6)
He states in the first chapter, “‘If you don’t believe in it, why pay for it?’ This is the title of a flyer that was sent to peace movement people encouraging their participation in war tax resistance activities at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The title also represents the primary reason why people refuse to pay taxes which contribute to war… For many, the only difference between paying for war and physically participating in war is that the former is less messy and more convenient.” (Pg. 8)
He explains, “People become war tax resisters for a variety of reasons. Although not pacifists, some have been motivated to act because of the nuclear war threat and the immoral misuse of government spending... many war tax resisters also do not believe that killing or threatening to kill is an acceptable way to solve social or political problems. New resisters frequently report feeling a gain in personal power over their own lives upon becoming war tax resisters. Historically, war tax resisters have been moved by strong religious convictions… Segments of the Society of Friends, the Church of the Brethren, and the Mennonite church---the historic peace churches---have felt that to pay war taxes is to participate in war, violating the teachings of Jesus. Only since World War II, and especially since the Vietnam War, have there been significant numbers of war tax resisters motivated by political or secular beliefs… The ability to motivate other people makes war tax resistance more than just a personal action. The classic case … is that of Henry David Thoreau… Finally, most resisters want to put their tax money to constructive use. Their nonpayment and redirection of tax money is a way to correct the deficiencies of government spending.” (Pg. 9-10)
He reports (and answers) a variety of ‘Philosophical and Political’ questions posed to war tax resisters: We’re Not at War, Why Resist? Why Use Illegal Methods? If Everyone Were to Obey Only Those Laws They Like, Wouldn’t It Lead to Chaos? What About the Good Things a Taxation System Provides? Doesn’t the Government Eventually Collect? With Interest and Penalties Added, Doesn’t the Resister Pay More to War? Since Other Federal Taxes are Unavoidable, Isn’t Income Tax resistance Inconsistent? Doesn’t ‘Render Unto Caesar’ Mean that Christians Should Pay Taxes? There are Not Enough People to Make War Tax Resistance Effective; Even if Tax Resistance Were Effective, Wouldn’t Domestic Programs Suffer and Not the Military? Will I Go to Jail? (Pg. 11-14)
Here are some examples of his answers: “A war tax resister should anticipate that the government will attempt to collect and may eventually succeed…. Even if the IRS does collect this larger amount [with interest/penalties], it does not necessarily mean that more will be contributed to militarism and war… It is true that war tax resistance ALONE is unlikely to make significant change in society. But tax resistance combined with the other tactics available … can contribute … to achieving change… It is true that the military is among the last to be cut when the government is short of funds… War tax resistance involves little risk of jail. Since World War II, only about twenty people have been jailed for reasons RELATED to war tax resistance---generally not for the resistance itself… It is helpful to remember that the ‘worse-case’ scenario is rarely realized.” (Pg. 11-14)
He suggests, “How much you don’t send to the IRS is, of course, your decision… Some resisters begin by refusing a symbolic amount and then in future years resist more… Some tax resisters refuse to send about 30% of their taxes to the IRS, which represents current spending on the military… Many war resisters refuse to send any money to the IRS, even for the so-called ‘good’ parts of the budget.” (Pg. 25)
He notes, “‘File Normally, But Refuse Payment.’ Most war tax resisters use this method. It involves simply filling out your return according to IRS rules and refusing to pay whatever amount you have chosen to resist. Always include a letter of explanation as to why you are refusing to pay… Some refusers decide not to file tax returns at all… This method may be most effective for those who are self-employed or have income which is not reported to the IRS… A number of other methods for war tax resistance were popular in the past, but all carry risks of the $500 frivolous filing fine… Some war tax opponents have chosen to lower their income to below the legally taxable level.” (Pg. 28-29)
He asserts, “It is very rare that the IRS will use the courts and the threat of jail to force payment or punish a war tax resister. A classified IRS directive [from 1980]… told its agents not to pursue felony prosecution of tax refusers for fraud or failure to file unless underpayments average AT LEAST $2,500 a year for three years straight… The IRS expects to handle the vast majority of its cases through civil procedures, since it is (at the moment) more interested in getting payment than punishing war tax resisters.” (Pg. 49-50)
He recounts, “Up until World War II, war tax resistance in the U.S. primarily manifested itself among members of the historic peace churches… As a rule, it was only among a FEW members of these religious groups and usually during time of war. The Quakers were the most active tax resisters of the three groups, though their resistance was generally in the form of personal witness. Those Mennonites who refused payment of war taxes did so primarily as a means for personal salvation and purity. The number of Brethren who resisted taxes was much smaller than among Quakers or Mennonites.” (Pg. 62)
He observes, “war tax resistance takes on a collective aspect through demonstrations, support communities, alternative funds, etc. … Participating with other tax resisters in a public event dispels much of the sense of personal isolation, and the public expression of acts of conscience can have an impact on others that is impossible to measure.” (Pg. 100)
There is a LOT more to this book, including detailed descriptions of ‘The IRS Audit and Appeal Process,’ ‘History of War Tax Resistance in the United States,’ ‘Other Tax Resisters,’ ‘The National Resistance Network,’ ‘War Tax Resistance Resources,’ “War Resisters League and New Society Publishers,’ etc.
Anyone interested in this topic (whether a ‘resister’ or not) will find this book of much interest.
June 3, 2010
Don't want to pay for the government to wage war and prepare to wage war? This book will give you some ideas about non violent civil disobedience and the federal income tax.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews