That’s what the IRS is telling tax payers. The IRS has a number of things they consider “frivolous” when it comes to tax returns. Taxpayers filing “frivolous” returns are fined $5,000–raised from $500 by Congress in 2006.

The newest additions to the list of things you can put on your tax return if you want to pay a hefty fee include “misinterpretation of the 9th Amendment regarding objections to military spending” as well as certain specific invalid deductions related to meals.

Accounting web has the details here. Embedded in the story are links to PDFs of the other things the IRS has ruled “frivolous” in the past. I have to say, honestly, a number of them LOOK on the surface like legit reasons not to pay taxes, things like the fact the IRS Tax Code is not an actual law, etc. Both my practical and cynical sides know that these arguments are fruitless, Big Brother will win.

I am curious, though, as to the answers to these objections. I could see something like “I don’t have to pay taxes because I’m a brunette–If blondes have more fun then we brunettes ought to have less taxes,” being ruled a frivolous reason to not pay taxes, but the objections based on quasi-legal stances, those I’d like to see answered. I would also like to know why the IRS gets to decide what is a frivolous reason. That seems a slippery slope…

What if somewhere down the line they make a frivolous ruling–who will be able to stop them? For example, say the IRS decides to rule that since most people lie on their taxes they are going to rule all Americans liars and automatically add 10% to the tax amount shown on the return?

How do you argue with someone who gets to both make the rules and enforce them?

*sigh* I’m waxing political. But, just in case, better go make sure none of your favorite deductions are on any of the frivolous lists.