Pay your taxes, honor the law

Tax is known to be a burden to every taxpayer. If you earn an income, whether from business or employment, you generally need to pay an income tax. If you do business, whether you gain or loss, you are normally required to remit business taxes. Taxes can be local or can be national. Income tax and business taxes (e.g., value added tax, percentage tax and excise tax) are examples of national taxes imposed on taxpayers. On the other hand, local taxes include permits, licenses and other taxes imposed by local government units. Thus, taxes may initially give unfavorable impressions and impact in our daily lives. But why our government imposed such burdens?

Taxation has four main purposes – revenue, redistribution, repricing and representation. The main purpose, revenue, raises money to spend on infrastructures (roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, et cetera), systems and government regulations. The second, which is redistribution, means transferring wealth from the richer sections (big companies and individual) to poorer sections. The third purpose, repricing, is imposed to discourage activities like smoking, drunkenness and pollution. Representation, the fourth purpose, came from the American revolutionary slogan “no taxation without representation”. This implied that rulers tax citizens, and citizens demand accountability from their rulers as the other part of this bargain.

The law was created to bring regulation, harmony and equality among people throughout the land. Taxes are imposed with clear purposes as cited in the previous paragraph. But what makes people liars and tax evaders? Is it the tax law? The law is good. The law protects the nation’s welfare. The evils are not in the law. Those evils are found in the hearts of men.

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.  Proverbs 12:20

If you are a “taxpayer” you should pay tax as your name suggests. A person who does not pay his tax dues cannot be called a taxpayer but a “tax evader”. As for the “tax collectors” you should collect taxes for the government welfare.  People who collect taxes for their own and selfish consumption can be called “thieves”. Therefore my brothers, let us stop these lies and greediness in our hearts before our God and the law of our lands punish and condemn us. The government has created laws that need our respect. We shall all (taxpayers, tax collectors and government officials) obey them.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Romans 13:1-7

And the words of God were delivered unto you. Let us not forget them.

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:1-4

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12

No related posts.