No, not legally, of course, but because they are choosing not to pay as an act of protest. 71-year-old multi-millionaire Charles Merrill (cousin of Merrill Lynch founder Charles Merrill) and his partner have not payed federal income tax since 2004 because they have been “paying first-class taxes to be treated like second-class citizens.”
Paying taxes certainly sucks for everyone, but especially for rich people, so we think it’s great the Mr. Merrill and his partner are simply not paying at all instead of voting Republican, which is what most wealthy people with no conscience do to save a few bucks.
The couple so far has been more fortunate than Survivor winner Richard Hatch and has not been thrown in jail, plus they even got a shout-out in Page Six back in February. Keep on going, guys. We might just join you next year depending on how bad our own taxes are looking. Read Mr. Merrill’s complete letter to the IRS after the jump.
Gay Tax Protest [Official Site via TaxProf]
LETTER TO THE IRS
How about we take this to the next level?
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May 2, 2006
IRS
Department of Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
PO BOX 7906
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-0906
Dear Sir or Madam,
I have received your correspondence dated May 01,
2006, Form letter CP-531.
I resist paying taxes; I am not evading taxes. Like Henry
David Thoreau, also a tax resister, I expect to suffer the
penalty of my civil disobedience. I am open to all about
my tax refusal, I work to implement justice for all citizens,
and I am willing to suffer the consequences of breaking
the US law.
I am enclosing a press article from the New York Post,
February 18, 2006, which explains my position. You may
also visit my web site for more details.
www.merrillcharles.com
Yours sincerely
Charles Merrill
Rt. 1, Box 163A, Spicer Cove Road
Hendersonville, N.C. 28792
