archer wrote: To answer your post....I am just curious why so many here think it's OK not to pay your taxes, and to sock away your money in an overseas account which is against US law......I thought being a conservative was all about personal responsibility.
I take it that you meant to say it is illegal to bank illegal money in an overseas account. Owning an overseas account is not against the law.
Being conservative is about personal responsibility. This is why I asked for a distinction to be made by LJ as to how many of the people who are on a payment plan are really criminals as opposed to individuals who simply could not pay their taxes all at once. There are valid not just criminal reasons for payment plans. The article, in typical sensationalistic practice of liberal press, uses broad brush strokes to make it seem so much worse than it really is. Personally, I appreciate honesty above all else. Questioning specifics about the article does not imply condoning not paying taxes. So tell me, am I considered a criminal if I make use of a payment plan, like many other extended individuals?
If you are on a payment plan with the IRS...of course that is not criminal..that is something you have worked out to pay off your tax liability. And you are right, just having an offshore acct is not criminal, hiding money offshore with the intent to avoid your US tax liability is criminal. Since the article was referencing "tax-dodgers who hide their assets in off shore accounts" I assume that would be a criminal offense. I don't see anywhere that the article was referencing those on payment plans with the IRS. I doubt they would call those on payment plans tax cheats, what they are doing is perfectly legal.
It sounds to me like you are looking for a way to diminish the effect of the article by claiming that they were talking about people on a payment plan, not tax cheats who were given an opportunity to pay their taxes and avoid criminal prosecution. The article seemed pretty clear on who they were talking about. Why some think this is a bad idea, or that those who had been hiding their assets so as not to pay taxes on them are the good guys and the IRS agents are the bad guys for expecting people to pay what they owe is beyond me. We all get cheated when some do not pay their taxes.
Seriously, It sounds to me like some are claiming that the wealthy should have different rules? that they shouldn't have to pay taxes on their assets and income if they are smart enough to find a place to put it that the IRS cannot touch it? Or, that if we make them pay those taxes they will take their company out of the USA. That's blackmail by my standards. I just don't understand that mentality. I was raised to pay my bills and obligations, not pass the bill onto someone else.
