Should ethics rules for local, state and federal governments require that the elected or appointed employee pay taxes?

In my state (Georgia) there are 22 of 236 current state Legislature members who have not filed tax returns or have not paid taxes due. See ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2009/... most of us pay our taxes, with the majority paying through payroll deductions. Most Americans feel paying taxes is an obligation: accountingweb.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=10... "The IRS Oversight Board has released its 2008 Taxpayer Attitude Survey.

The survey has been conducted annually by the Board since 2002 to gain an understanding of taxpayers' attitudes on tax issues. According to this year's survey, the vast majority of Americans find it unacceptable to cheat on one's income taxes."So how can we convince lawmakers to have strict ethics rules requiring timely filing tax returns and payment of taxes? Shouldn't those who make or administer laws follow the law?

Asked by charlie95 33 months ago Similar questions: ethics rules local state federal governments require elected appointed employee pay taxes Business > Taxes.

Similar questions: ethics rules local state federal governments require elected appointed employee pay taxes.

Government officials are legally required to pay taxes. Any who don't should be prosecuted. Being an elected or appointed government employee does not make one exempt from paying taxes.

Government officials are legally required to pay taxes. Any who don't should be prosecuted. There is no room for rule-bending for these people.

Sources: It it my opinion.

1 Well, as a fellow citizen of the great state of GA (Go Sonny! And I mean leave...) we do have to be careful here. NOT filing taxes is pretty darn obvious and easy to fix but the other isn't.

People may have filed incorrectly accidently (rather than because they are rotten sneaky bastiches) and it may take some time to be incompliance. They may have set up a payment plan but not paid all the taxes yet. We had to deal with two estates where filing errors were made, one by the IRS and one by the person... we still paid in both cases because it was easier than fighting with them!

It does depress me mightily though... not as much as not being allowed to vote on local Sunday liquor sales, but a lot.

Well, as a fellow citizen of the great state of GA (Go Sonny! And I mean leave...) we do have to be careful here. NOT filing taxes is pretty darn obvious and easy to fix but the other isn't.

People may have filed incorrectly accidently (rather than because they are rotten sneaky bastiches) and it may take some time to be incompliance. They may have set up a payment plan but not paid all the taxes yet. We had to deal with two estates where filing errors were made, one by the IRS and one by the person... we still paid in both cases because it was easier than fighting with them!

It does depress me mightily though... not as much as not being allowed to vote on local Sunday liquor sales, but a lot.

2 If you write the tax laws you should pay them. I could be a lot more lenient with an ordinary individual that missed by lack of understanding or even more arbitrary reasons but not those that write the laws. It seems to work the other way in our system.

Those that write the laws are excused because they are too complex. We need to send a message and jail time seems to be an appropriate message.

If you write the tax laws you should pay them. I could be a lot more lenient with an ordinary individual that missed by lack of understanding or even more arbitrary reasons but not those that write the laws. It seems to work the other way in our system.

Those that write the laws are excused because they are too complex. We need to send a message and jail time seems to be an appropriate message.

Unixcorn replied to post #2: 3 The Georgia lawmakers I mentioned above are not necessarily ones who write tax laws. In GA, the state senators and representatives are all part time. Some of them are scoflaws, some make honest mistakes and so on.

Judging by how badly a number of laws HAVE been written, I think they are right to worry about penalizing people (with an ethics violation) who made a tax mistake and are paying off their debt. Now, anyone who hasn't filed... the tax folk should be after right away. The laws apply to them just as they do to the rest of us.

The Georgia lawmakers I mentioned above are not necessarily ones who write tax laws. In GA, the state senators and representatives are all part time. Some of them are scoflaws, some make honest mistakes and so on.

Judging by how badly a number of laws HAVE been written, I think they are right to worry about penalizing people (with an ethics violation) who made a tax mistake and are paying off their debt. Now, anyone who hasn't filed... the tax folk should be after right away. The laws apply to them just as they do to the rest of us.

Murstein replied to post #2: 4 Jaxk raises an interesting point. Perhaps, when one files to run for election, or re-election, one should get an automatic audit from the IRS and/or State equivalents? Perhaps I'm overly optimistic, but I wonder if it would result in some real enthusiasm among legislators for some serious simplification of the tax code.

Jaxk raises an interesting point. Perhaps, when one files to run for election, or re-election, one should get an automatic audit from the IRS and/or State equivalents? Perhaps I'm overly optimistic, but I wonder if it would result in some real enthusiasm among legislators for some serious simplification of the tax code.

Says not. " "I wish that I had earned billions this past year and not only didn't pay ANY federal taxes but actually receive a refund" "can I claim my expenses for working out of town if I did not have federal taxes withheld from my pay?" "What % of federal income taxes do the top 10% of income earners pay? " "Do you feel that combat veterans should not have to pay federal taxes?

" "Is it true that Americans permanently living and working abroad pay taxes to two governments?" "MY WIFE AND I ARE RETIRED AND COLLECTING PENSION AND SS DO I STILL HAVE TO PAY FEDERAL TAXES" "I am 55, self-employed, with one dependent. Can I withdraw SS early to pay my federal taxes I owe? " "I am self-employed, never had to pay taxes before, do I have to pay state taxes?

I wish that I had earned billions this past year and not only didn't pay ANY federal taxes but actually receive a refund.

My wife and I are retired and collecting pension and ss do I still have to pay federal taxes.

I am 55, self-employed, with one dependent. Can I withdraw SS early to pay my federal taxes I owe?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.