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'NOT GUILTY' DOESN'T MEAN 'NOT TAXABLE'

July 27, 2007

The Tax Prof notes the acquittal of tax-protesting lawyer Tom Cryer on criminal tax charges. The Tax Girl has also noted this.

Whenever a tax protester wins wins acquittal on criminal tax charges, tax protesters say it "proves" that "there is no law" requiring them to pay taxes. By the same logic, the O.J. Simpson acquittal proves there is no law against multiple homicides. All it really proves is that you sometimes get a strange result from a jury.

As Fed-Ex pilot Vernice Kuglin learned, though, beating the rap still leaves you on the hook for your taxes. The same goes for Mr. Cryer.

And if any readers think "You do taxes for a living. Of course you believe this - it's in your interest" - think about this for a second. If this stuff actually worked, I would sit down with my biggest clients and work out a deal - I would say the magic words, they would never pay tax again, and in turn, I would get 5% of their income for life. I'd retire a rich man that afternoon. It would beat the heck out of working tax seasons. Don't you think any number of practitioners would do the same thing?

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