A TAX TEASER TO SHARE FAR AND WIDE

If you can't solve this riddle, then we suggest you deliver it by EMAIL, FAX, U.S.P.S., or BY HAND to your Tax Professional, preferably one who is an "Enrolled Agent" with the IRS. It will make his day!

1. Please refer to the United States Code Annotated, in your nearest library.

2. Look in the index to the Annotated Code, under 'Citizens' which will refer you to 'Citizenship'.

3. Under 'Citizenship', scan carefully for all the cites which refer to a 26 in bold type. That would be Title 26 United States Code or the Internal Revenue Code.

4. Note that you only find two cites, both for a 'gift tax'. Why no reference to the 'income tax'?

5. Next go to the index heading 'INCOME TAX' and look for a subheading for 'Citizens'.

6. Note that there are only two cites for 'Citizens' under 'INCOME TAX', (a) citizens about to depart U.S. and (b) citizens living abroad.

7. Ask yourself, why under the heading 'INCOME TAX' is there no reference to laws for 'Citizens'?

8. Next, under 'INCOME TAX' see the subheading 'Aliens' and follow the cross-reference to the major heading 'ALIENS' in the index.

9. Under the heading 'ALIENS', see the subheading 'Income tax'. Notice that there are some NINE PAGES of Title 26 laws that apply to 'aliens'.

10. Notice that among the Internal Revenue (Title 26) laws affecting 'aliens' are such familiar tax terms as 'deductions', 'exemptions', 'gross income', 'joint returns', and 'withholding of tax'.

11. Make an appointment with your representative to Congress. Ask him or her why the index of the United States Code Annotated seems to show that the 'income tax' applies only to 'aliens'.

12. Leave your congressional representative with three questions on which to report back to you:

(a) Please provide me with the specific statute and implementing federal regulation that impose upon me a liability for the payment of an income tax. (b) Please provide me with the specific statute and implementing federal regulation that impose upon me a liability for the filing of an 'income tax return'. (c) Please provide me with the specific statute and implementing federal regulation that impose upon me a requirement to join the 'Social Security Program' and/or obtain a Social Security Number.

-- peggy sue (peggysue@aol.com), August 10, 2000

Answers

It is midnight. The blackbirds must have gone to a disco.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), August 10, 2000.

Another good one Peggy.

Reality is a bitch, huh FS?

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), August 10, 2000.

Peggy, you forgot:

(D). Please provide directions and visiting hours for Leavenworth.

-- Ra (tion@l.1), August 10, 2000.

12. Leave your congressional representative with three questions on which to report back to you

So what did your congressional representative report back when you left the three questions with him/her?

I mean, surely you wouldn't be telling us to do something that you aren't even willing to do yourself, would you??

-- (hmm@hmm.hmm), August 10, 2000.

(Uh, yeah, thanks, that STUPID song is on my mind YET AGAIN.)

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), August 10, 2000.

I am thrilled to have my own, personal detractor. Thanks KOFE.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), August 10, 2000.

If you're gonna sling shit; you might get some on youself, FS.

To the rest, this would be a good to continue the "fear" thread.

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), August 10, 2000.