Do you cheat on your income tax? Just a little bit here and there? If you do, you have lots of company. The IRS Form 1040 probably makes liars out of more Americans than the bathroom scale. Why do otherwise honest people cheat on their taxes? When asked, people will say, "It's just none of the government's business," or "I pay them enough as it is." Such emotional statements are not based upon any knowledge or even worry about what the law may require. People are venting their resentment at an all-powerful government that invades their privacy, raids their paychecks, and keeps them in line with threats of audits, penalties and even prison. Add it up. Most Americans are government slaves two days out of five. Perhaps a little cheating makes that more bearable.

More information here!

Well Paul, I don't cheat on mine and gotta pay back to the Federal. However, I know lots of people that cheat by borrowing other people kids. All they need is the social security number and no one else is claiming them. I kinda understand why they do if they are willing to take the chance, but money is not worth me getting in trouble.

Some of the information in this article is misleading a bit. For example, that part about being refused a job because of failure to provide a ss # ? That only refers to a job APPLICATION.

Once you're offered a job, you have to provide both proof of ID and proof of eligibility to work, which means you HAVE to provide either a ss # or a passport or a work visa (the last one if you're an immigrant). If you don't, it's actually illegal for an employer to hire you, and it's impossible for them to pay you (because your ss # identifies you as a tax payer for FUTA, SUTA, SS and federal withholding taxes paid by the employer).

What I've found in 22 years of doing personal income taxes is that those who cheat and do their own taxes can often get a BIGGER refund if they come to me and let me do it the right way.

(Hey Paul! Time hasn't run out yet! If you can get on base, come on over to NASWI, that's where I work! I'm only 15 minutes north! )