Should I become a war tax resister?
2025 update
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This is my second year researching and writing about war tax resistance, the act of withholding some or all of your taxes to protest the US government’s military spending.
I want to make one thing clear: I don’t care whether you become a war tax resister or not. I support you no matter what you decide. This guide is not written to sway you one way or another. This guide aims to answer the questions you might have before making your decision.
War tax resistance typically peaks during times of political unrest
The earliest record of tax protest in America dates back to July 23, 1846, when writer, naturalist, and transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau was arrested for nonpayment of his local poll tax because he was morally opposed to the US declaring war on Mexico.
The number of known tax resisters grew from 275 in 1996 to an estimated 20,000 in the early 1970s to protest against the Vietnam War.1
In response to the Black Lives Matter protests, an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people withheld their taxes to protest the disproportionate funding of police compared to social services.2
Lincoln Rice, coordinator at the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC), said in an interview with Queer & Trans Wealth, “Before the invasion of Gaza, it was pretty consistent that we had about 40,000 unique visitors to our website. [In the 2024] tax season, we were averaging over 20,000 unique visitors every month. Our website crashed three times.” He estimates that at least 10,000 people became war tax resisters to protest Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
It’s difficult to get a clear headcount on how many people actually became war tax resisters because, in many instances, this form of resistance is illegal.
This year, Lincoln says that the most common motivation for war tax resistance is to protest the Trump administration.
If you’re on the fence about war tax resistance, here’s everything you need to know.
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How much of our tax dollars fund the military?
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the government spent 13% of the 2023 federal budget — or $872 billion — on national defense activities, like military personnel, weapons, research, development, testing, and more.
To help people calculate exactly how much of their taxes go to funding war, the National Priorities Project created a calculator that shows taxpayers how their tax dollars were spent. You’ll need to provide your total taxes paid, which can be found on line 16 on your Form 1040, labeled “total tax.”
The War Tax Resisters League calculates both past and present military spending at 46% or about $2.61 billion. The War Tax Resisters League estimates that, under Trump’s 2026 fiscal year budget, 4% of the country’s budget will be reallocated from human resources to current military spending.
How do I become a war tax resister?
In simple terms:
You choose a percentage to withhold. For example, you can decide to withhold 21% if you’re protesting current military spending, or the whole 46% if you’re against all military spending, past and present.
You fill out your tax forms to withhold that percentage. For example, if you owe $10,000 and you want to withhold 46%, you’ll pay $5,400 and carry a balance of $4,6000 with the IRS indefinitely.
Self-employed people have an easier time withholding part of their taxes, but W-2 hourly or salaried employees need to fill out their W-4 form in a particular way to withhold part of their taxes.
For hourly or salaried employees (W-2)
Employees who receive a salary or hourly wage are required to fill out a W-4 form when they first start working for a business. The W-4 is a document that determines how much should be withheld from your paycheck for federal income taxes.
Unfortunately, workers receive little to no guidance on filling out the W-4 when they begin working for a new company. Aaron Blaine, CPA, an accountant with 15 years of experience, says, “The W-4 is, quite frankly, the most challenging form. The cloud of mystery that surrounds taxes… it just keeps us in this constant cycle of fear, not having enough understanding of what it means.”
If you plan on withholding money in alignment with war tax resistance, Aaron recommends talking to an accountant first. You can also connect with a coordinator at NWTRCC to get free guidance on filling out your W-4.
War tax resistance happens specifically in step 4, line b. This is the section you use to take “anticipated, legitimate deductions and tax credits,” says Lincoln from NWTRCC.
Here’s a step-by-step process for filling out step 4, line b:
Start by pulling up last year’s tax return (Form 1040). This will help you estimate how much of your income might get taxed this year. You’re looking for the following information:
Your deductions. Use this link to calculate your standard deductions per family size).
Your tax credits, for example, the student loan interest tax credit (Form 1098-E) or the electric vehicle tax credit (Form 8936).
Next, make a list of your deductions and tax credits. Update the deduction and tax credit amounts for the current tax year.
If you weren’t planning on becoming a war tax resister, you would take that updated deduction and tax credit amount and put that total on step 4, line b. To withhold some of your taxes to protest military spending, increase the deductions you plan on taking on this line.
The math gets complicated here because the amount of taxes withheld also depends on your tax bracket. If you were to talk to a tax professional or a coordinator at NWTRCC, I recommend having the information from your 1040 before scheduling an appointment.
For self-employed workers (1099)
Self-employed workers have a simpler route to war tax resistance. Self-employed workers don’t file a W-4 and receive pre-tax payments from clients. To become a war tax resister, you simply have to underpay your quarterly estimated taxes.
The general rule of thumb for people who receive a 1099 tax form from clients is that you will owe between 30-35% of your profit (revenue minus expenses) to the IRS due each quarter. For example, if you earned a profit of $10,000, you will likely owe $3,500 in taxes.
Many war tax resisters are withholding between 46% of their taxes owed this year. In this example, you’ll withhold 46% of $3,500, which means you’ll write a check worth $1,890 — 54% of your taxes owed — to the IRS.
Please note: These numbers are simply estimates and hypothetical examples. Everything here is for educational purposes, NOT advice.
For gig workers (1099-K)
Gig workers like rideshare drivers or food delivery workers receive a 1099-K. Like a self-employed 1099 worker, you receive your wages pre-tax. To become a war tax resister, you must follow the same steps as 1099 workers.
The main difference is that Uber, Lyft, Postmates, or whichever app handles your payment, has reported your income for you in one report, versus a regular 1099 from multiple clients that may be harder for the IRS to track because they come in asynchronously. This makes 1099-K employees slightly more vulnerable to risk and consequences.
Is there a legal way to become a war tax resister?
The only legal way to become a war tax resister is to earn less than the minimum taxable income. According the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the 2024 income threshold is $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for those married filing jointly.
I am owed a tax refund this year. Should I still become a war tax resister?
There’s a big difference between filing your taxes and paying your taxes. While some war tax resisters choose not to file their taxes at all, many still do — especially if they are owed a tax refund.
The Tax Resistance Collective says in a video, “We are NOT trying to push people to not file at all, especially if you’re in the case of owing little to nothing or are in line for a refund. Even if you’re somebody who decides that you want to withhold all of your taxes owed, you can and probably still should file. It’s safer down the line.”
I already filed my taxes. Is it too late to become a war tax resister?
Again, filing your taxes is different from paying your taxes. If you owe taxes and you still haven’t paid, you are in a position to withhold your taxes, if you choose. If you received a return, the best course of action is to change your withholding for future years.
Will I go to jail? Will the IRS take my house or car? What’s the worst that can happen?
The last record of someone going to jail for being a war tax resister was in 1974, says Lincoln Rice of the NWTRCC. Martha Tranquilli of Sacramento, California was convicted for “tax fraud” because she claimed six peace groups as dependents on her Form 1040.3 Lincoln also says that the IRS stopped prosecuting war tax resisters because the government found that it only heightened publicity and interest for the cause.
Additionally, the last time the IRS has seized property, like a house or a car, was in 1998.
I asked Lincoln if any of the estimated 10,000+ war tax resisters from the 2023 tax season had faced any repercussions. He said only two people faced consequences, and those two people are long-term tax resisters.
He says, “One person had their bank account levied, and another person had an investment account levied. Both individuals were people who have been war tax resisters for over 30 years. Both of them have been previously collected on, but it had been 15 to 20 years since they’ve been collected upon.”
That being said, the legal repercussions of going to jail or having your property seized still remain in place. While the risk is always there, the occurrence of these consequences is statistically rare.
What are the actual risks?
After withholding your taxes to become a war tax resister, you’ll likely receive computer-generated letters from the IRS demanding that you pay what you owe.
Lincoln Rice of NWTRCC says, “I’ve been a war tax resister since 1998, and every year, when I get my letters from the IRS, my heart still skips a beat. That just seems to be ingrained in our DNA. If you were raised in the United States, you fear the IRS. The IRS knows that [that fear is] effective.”
Many people irrationally fear the worst: Getting arrested or having your assets seized if you don’t pay taxes. These two outcomes rarely happen, but here are more common and immediate consequences:
You may receive computer-generated letters from the IRS demanding that you pay what you owe.
Your wages or Social Security benefits may be garnished by 15% within a year.
Your retirement or investment accounts may be levied. A levy is a legal seizure of your property to satisfy a tax debt.
Interest or penalties are charged – you’ll probably see your tax debt double.
You might have difficulty getting student loans
Public lien that can affect your credit
You may lose your passport for debts over $64,000
Is the IRS using AI?
The IRS has been using artificial intelligence since 2023 with funding through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. According to a September 2023 press release, the IRS has been using AI to identify “sophisticated tax schemes” that wealthy people use to avoid paying taxes. Part of the agency’s AI strategy is to track tax filing inaccuracies.
The IRS also said it would ensure that audit rates don’t increase for those earning less than $400,000 per year, and that it would add “fairness safeguards” to its use of AI for people who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, a tax break for low- to moderate-income workers and families.
As of March 14, 2025, the IRS paused its use of AI to reevaluate effectiveness. The announcement that the IRS would pause using AI coincides with the timing of DOGE laying off 20 to 25% of the IRS workforce. According to Reuters, the US Treasury Scott Bessent said many times that the IRS will be able to rely on “the great AI revolution” to improve tax collections and customer service. It’s unclear how AI will be used by the IRS in the near future.
Some people who are considering becoming war tax resisters are concerned about the use of AI by the IRS. What if the IRS begins targeting lower-income people who are outspoken about being war tax resisters?
It’s a valid fear.
Lincoln from NWTRCC says, “We always recommend, in most cases, to file accurately. Since war tax resisters normally file accurately, [the use of AI by the IRS] wouldn’t affect them.”
Will I lose my EBT, Medicare, or Social Security benefits?
In some cases, you may lose your EBT or Medicare benefits. You won’t lose all of your Social Security benefits, but your benefits may be levied by the IRS. This means that the IRS will take the amount that you owe from your Social Security benefits.
The Tax Resistance Collective has compiled a mutual aid directory with services and organizations that could replace EBT or Medicare benefits.
How will war tax resistance affect my student loans?
If you’re paying back your student loans, your monthly payment is calculated based on your most recent adjusted gross income (AGI) on your Form 1040, line 11. From my research, war tax resistance does not affect your eligibility for income-driven repayment plans, but it affects the amount you owe each month.
How do I talk to my accountant about war tax resistance?
Lincoln Rice at NWTRCC says that most accountants don’t really know about war tax resistance. Accountants may fear legal repercussions of filing taxes “incorrectly.” In this instance, it might be beneficial to talk to a war tax resistance counselor through NWTRCC in addition to your accountant.
Does withholding my taxes actually make an impact on the IRS?
It’s difficult to track how many people are actually war tax resisters because this is an act of civil disobedience punishable by law and because people owe such varying amounts each year. This makes it almost impossible to discern whether or not war tax resistance is making enough of a “financial impact” to actually stop sending weapons to Israel or to stop the Trump regime from enacting any more harm to marginalized communities.
In my work as an anti-capitalist financial coach, I help my clients hold the complex reality of how much their values-aligned actions impact their own financial wellbeing versus the systems at large. It is completely understandable to feel like war tax resistance might not be worth it if we can’t measure how it’s affecting the American empire.
Source: War Tax Resistance League
Source: Waging Non-Violence
This is invaluable to information. I have googled protesting through taxes and all that comes up is how it’s illegal. There is so much more to know!
This is really good. Thank you for putting this together. I shared it on BlueSky.