The Obama administration
announced a few days ago that it would interpret
the somewhat ambiguous existing law in such a way that would allow it to
seize money from “Thrift Savings Plan” accounts to settle tax debts.
These plans are a variety of 401k-like retirement savings account that are
available to employees of the federal government.
The big health industry legislation that passed a while back included a
little-noticed (at the time) provision that would dramatically expand the
requirements of businesses to file 1099 forms to report their payments to
other businesses. The
IRS
recently announced
that, for now anyway, it plans not to require quite as much paperwork as the
law at first glance seems to require.
“We plan to use our
administrative authority to exempt from this new requirement business
transactions conducted using payment cards such as credit and debit cards,”
said IRS
Commissioner Douglas Shulman. “These transactions will already be covered by
reporting requirements on payment card processors, so there is no need for
businesses to report them as well. So, whenever a business uses a credit or
debit card, there will be no new burden under the law.”
The federal government also is expanding its use of direct deposit for
payments it makes, and hopes to mostly phase out sending checks to people.
From here on out if you want your
Social Security, unemployment insurance, veterans benefits, railroad
retirement, and so forth, you’ll either have to give Uncle Sam your
routing and account numbers or you’ll have to settle for getting your money in
the form of a debit card.
This is being billed as a cost-saving measure (how expensive to mail all those
checks!) but mailing out those plastic cards can’t be any cheaper, so I
suspect it has more to do with being able to keep a closer eye on people’s
money so as to narrow the size of the underground economy and make it easier
to seize funds from people.
We learn from Miss Mary Anderson that her house has been “entered” by the
authorities, and that some of her goods, among them a copy of the famous
picture, “Hope,” by G.F. Watts, have been seized to pay the taxes claimed by
a Government which denies representation to women. The sale will take place
at Woldingham on , and will be followed by a meeting in the Public Hall. All friends
are cordially invited to be present, especially those living in Croydon,
Thornton Heath and South London district.
On
Dr. [Elizabeth] Knight was
summoned to appear at the Woodbridge Police-court for non-payment of her
dog-tax. As it was not convenient for her to attend, Miss [Constance] Andrews
went in her place again to protest against taxation without representation.
She was supported by Miss Bobby and Miss Pratt. The Woodbridge Police-court
compares very favourably with the London ones, and patience is not lacking in
the way it was at Marlborough-street. When our case came on Miss Andrews
asked to be allowed to make a statement; this was refused, but she made it
all the same, and it took the form of a Suffrage tax-resistance speech. In
reply to a question why Dr.
Knight did not appear, it was pointed out she had professional duties to
attend to, and they might take the form of certifying a man to be insane
thereby depriving him of his vote, while she herself was not counted capable
of exercising one. After some consultation a fine of
30s. and
14s. cost was levied;
failing this, distraint and in default 7 days’ imprisonment. Whereupon the
Suffragists made a further protest in court, and then held a meeting outside.
Miss Andrews addressed an orderly crowd for forty minutes, one man who tried
to create a disturbance being promptly ejected. The next act of this annual
drama will be the sale of the wagon which has become historic in the history
of tax-resistance.
At Balham.
On , Miss Helen Smith’s
goods were sold for tax-resistance at Philip’s Auction Rooms, Balham. Mrs.
Tanner spoke on behalf of the Freedom League, of which Miss Smith is a
member. Mrs. [Leonora?] Tyson took the chair. Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes
and Mrs. Teresa Gough also spoke. The crowd was very large and quite orderly.
The speakers had an excellent hearing. The resolution of protest was passed
with only a few dissentients.
Women’s Tax Resistance League
Our members are still protesting against the sale of their goods to pay King’s
taxes. On , goods belonging
to Miss [Ina] Moncrieff were sold at Harding’s Auction Rooms, near Victoria
Station. Miss Hicks and Mrs. Kineton Parkes spoke at the meeting, and a
neighbourhood that was once distinctly hostile has become thoroughly
sympathetic.
On , Mrs. Portrey’s goods
were sold at the Harrow. A garden-party was given by Mrs. Huntsman, of the
Women’s Freedom League, and the procession to the auction-room started from
her house, it being a joint demonstration of the Tax Resistance and Freedom
Leagues. Mrs. Kineton Parkes presided, and Mrs. [Charlotte] Despard and Mr.
Laurence Housman spoke at the open-air meeting to a large crowd, which was
gradually won over to sympathy with the arguments of the resisters, and
finally passed a resolution approving tax-resistance.
The Branch wishes to express its very hearty thanks to our President and Mr.
Laurence Housman for the splendid speeches they made at our garden meeting on
. Six new members were
enrolled, and £4 8s. taken
in collection. A large crowd assembled and the meeting was in every way a
great success. After tea a procession was formed up to go to the protest
meeting which was to be held after the sale of Mrs. Portrey’s goods for
tax-resistance. Mrs. Kineton Parkes made a splendid protest in the
auction-room, and an open-air meeting followed, at which Mrs. Despard, Mrs.
Parkes and Mr. Housman all spoke again. The tax-resistance banners and the
W.F.L.
pennons marching down in procession created a great effect in Wealdstone.
Scotland — Edinburgh.
Suffrage Shop, 90, Lothian-road.
We have not yet quite arrived at the happy state of “not even being asked
to pay our taxes.” About ten days ago we received once more the Sheriff
Officer’s intimation that if the tax be not paid within three days our goods
would be seized and sold, and now await developments, as needless to say the
tax remains unpaid.…
