DZ}<|>#mKnl2͠aT})1Q`'eqPk îV كRک؇Y!)ȽĘtb U2Lv-4O^JgI*kKx9_z}4=h 0Ww&- ˦:#"؎GaxmȀxtٔ%_vyvފ0AL M=;¼n_,T"f "30ȿ>SV/?솢 w.M$Wb^y^'_P3!Y;/FoyF /1%{՟tc8xtq Z?_ ̃(lˀR|Q=ïCw^g9;C}x]$O 9L2xmuwQjp̖t8ߔ"Pa+i$~)ZCfjt.# +ߊCC鈨|gw>,S_̓ɧ# cJg`s!V~ j@xcd*XB{Yh/ַxz/DKaIYzT^;DZp$Ϯ{si \KFO?[an̦ 3KTM.Khsj7}r两LgL~axP/|Pz]&P~N f6dpI95Fr)$r]]7\,FDž֘ j4,KծlLe82ݛ> ~8 4_BkӀWC9K&Ϧ@"Y51*5!)A3k;i3!f ݜWODq6VGn9H|}t{ zvOAllbr'4ɼСT_t| c[z雔˷6{/j  dETZ/VջR)IY sZf$)1FHԘ.հ5Ͽ2XإO*i&_hZY d*y/5gG[(`VIݔ>/ikPABː- μ;:EiӽUï=zGIiT^f~(r3Il_4BFRb.vN_}b(k<3+"X1Q"yPd;Ɖ 1.QҘ,ѳGH:z;рc~m[1p"1vp@C4_b7gͮaw'iƘD%loa.DZlI#(zoa{&ΦUX?dsW)=ڬĝRqɤkV7Pjw K&ei ̊5d?`6 !36gZR̳T'pVTW9a%,F|2iC'bΎxbnHwjQc qZbo<?{tI4;R/Uäbu @J$SU)ԝoR ;BSAǩ~zZV]UR+tٸHO,z-5јc{1|34C_xw%ȃ˯B`8E6'W_s< Wdb,-{[t˯Zo蕚w0VgAiF]~*8ĮY}zV=%KؼbcՆG#ۊSq +І=n m͍fOak8jYW`%e0_5}|GZ-V8'K!Ə3uo65]02S`"p[^ S,fV}eۙ1ʍ>H7yѵ\̧gpSQj΃vW3kĊ楴_].q 9"ōRP݉zF) zU$Ҭ0TQR8?H/oZJJz("בhOcErEWfChj@6g*@{|MO@q f,Bᛲhи C 4`vqI\E"""U AN..+-aQ4#,SΜEc&}O(jTBɲB>N^N4o1l$n~x? /dFҵNuN~v|(LC/G~V1aYbԺ$v3AZ{Z8r?:h 9Uhh.o0lZ#`q uI$>wPӜщė-[~o P(=KZc4Ȱ,!Rz]Ge gZ;LN͘0AazW%;OC+p۬&YiɾX5j_%M?xB`;.F벹J:XEo=GiD` d r5g#8F:fh3؅?pؾ.SOX1EB{cZmI8Iv(t[ ]Z$AyNzQz՗J)Wa3p:sz(C3ՙr2~VqM1SXo*h V&%pT"L`4ڒ[c^$-R}`!6|:r6%wDH 3_]Ә$#_x{ˑ'rJ2Vy@V!•$: NHl?JPE Mp0EP*Ke۩|'ZVQ$p,-Gx8UзƠ(h.nҘDdHϣj4N-#=|:I#``"bI{ˑO=E{) e"g+O42o/6íݥ)!`e.dµmqD_hE GEzQ^.Y ڥEbfZ#[7*? m\4Go|fZ { zқ5[p n֋QQ?wB&\sDt&/nn)VC̢N}A(z'92LcƑ@tkyWiߙ>ֲA #g}, since the cost of collecting the refused taxes would greatly exceed the amounts withheld. You may receive letters from the IRS asking for payment, and in very rare cases they may seize the amount owed plus interest and penalties from bank accounts or garnish wages. A few people have had the amount owed deducted from Income Tax refunds. The vast majority of telephone tax refusers, however, have never been contacted by the IRS. There is no history of anyone being charged with a criminal offense for withholding Telephone Taxes. Telephone Tax Resistance is a low-risk action for peace.

Generally, your phone company cannot legally disconnect your phone service for non-payment of the Tax, and could be subject to Federal Cornmunications Commission action if it does, including fines for each day that your service is interrupted. There have been problems (especially recently with regards to cell phone service) -- typically delayed crediting that you need to call about. If you'd like help doing this, feel free to contact the NACC office.


What To Do With Resisted Telephone Taxes
The other side of withholding the tax money from the militarism of the U.S. government is redirecting it for life-affirming purposes. This makes a positive statement about our priorities and increases our effectiveness.

One way to redirect your Telephone Taxes is to give them to groups performing needed social services or anti-militarism activities. NACC's annual Grant Cycle is one such example. Those wishing to donate their resisted Telephone Taxes to this end are welcomed to do so!

If you wish your funds to be returnable, rather than donating you can deposit them in NACC's CMTC Escrow Account. Escrow Account funds are invested in socially responsible institutions assisting low-income and minority communities; while the great majority of the income from interest and donations is used to fund the Grant pro-gram (the remainder being used to fund NACC's all-volunteer office, and to promote War Tax Resistance).


The Hang Up on War Campaign
The Hang Up on War Campaign was initiated as a response to the second Gulf War and the so-called "War On Terror". A joint project of the Iraq Pledge of Resistance, the War Resisters League, and the National War Tax Resistance Coordinat-ing Committee, the campaign has initiated a new push for increased Telephone Tax Resistance publicity and action. For more information, feel free to log on to http://www.hanguponwar.org/.


History Of The Telephone Tax
The Telephone Excise Tax was first introduced in 1898, when the United States declared war on Spain. Telephones were relatively rare at that time, so the Tax was a luxury-tax on each call costing 15 cents or more. The Tax was withdrawn after three years, but the government reinstated it for World War I. The telephone was by then no longer a luxury item, and many people pointed out the regressive nature of the Tax. Nevertheless, Congress continued to extend it.

Congress raised the Telephone Tax to a whopping 25% on long distance calls during World War II, along with a 14% Tax on local service. Although lawmakers continued to label the tax as temporary, they extended it every few years. It raised extra dollars for the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and then for the military build-up of the Reagan years.

In 1990, the Tax was finally made permanent, at 3%. The act which made the Tax permanent stipulated that the revenue would be used to fund childcare programs. However, Telephone Taxes are not set aside for childcare, but continue to go into the General Fund about 50% of which is used for military spending.


War Tax Resistance Resources

NACC Services
• The Conscience and Military Tax Campaign Escrow Account The nation's largest fund of resisted War Taxes. For more information, see the NACC flyer "Conscience & Military Tax Campaign Escrow Account for Resisted War Taxes". Copies are also available from the NACC office.

• Counseling, Workshops, Literature, and other information to support War Tax Resisters and their allies. Get in touch with the NACC office to set up a presentation for your organization or group of friends, to speak with a WTR counselor, or with any questions regarding Tax Resistance or the CMTC Escrow Account.

• An annual Grant Cycle, allocating most of the interest generated by the CMTC Escrow account to local, national, and international Peace & Justice organizations. To be added to the notifications list for upcoming dates of significance regarding the next grant cycle, pass your e-mail address along to the NACC office. For a list of the most recent recipients, see here.


Other Resources
• The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, a national coalition of local War Tax Resistance organizations; with a very helpful full-time staffperson, excellent literature, a newsletter, and a national contacts and counselors list. NWTRCC, P.O. Box 150553, Brooklyn, NY 11215; (800) 269-7464.

• The War Resisters League in New York City recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. The WRL publishes War Tax Resistance: A Guide to Withholding Your Support from the Military, a highly recommended, 130-page basic War Tax Resistance handbook (also available for $15 from the NACC office), as well as the annual "Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes" pie-chart leaflet. War Resisters League, 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012; (212) 228-0450.

• The War Tax Resisters Penalty Fund. Established in 1982 to spread out among the entire WTR community the costs of penalties and interest imposed by the IRS. Each member of the fund generally ends up paying less than $20 per year. WTRPF, P.O. Box 25, North Manchester, IN 46962; (260) 982-2971.

• The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund "advocates for U.S. federal legislation enabling conscientious objectors to war to have their federal income taxes directed to a special fund which could be used for non-military purposes only." National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund and the Peace Tax Foundation, 2121 Decatur Place NW, Washington, DC 20008; (202) 483-3751; (888) PEACE-TAX.



Note: This flyer is also available in PDF format. Feel free to download, copy, and distribute. If you'd like us to send you a PDF with customized local contact info, just let us know!




The Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia
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4554-12th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105. An affiliate of the War Resisters League and NWTRCC
Tel: (206) 547-0952, Fax: (206) 547-2631. E-mail: nacc (at) drizzle (dot) com