People Are Refusing to Pay Their Taxes as a Form of Protest—But It Can Come With Heavy Penalties

Some Americans are protesting the Trump administration by deliberately not paying their taxes.

On March 2, Rachel Cohen, an attorney based in Chicago, announced on social media that she would not be paying the estimated $8,800 she owed to the federal government.

“My federal income tax is going overwhelmingly to disappearing my neighbors to concentration camps and to the military-industrial complex,” said Cohen in a TikTok video. “I have the $8,800, [but] I’m setting it aside in escrow in a high-yield savings account. But I’m not going to send it to the federal government.”

Christina Thompson, coordinator of National Tax Strike, a group that advocates not paying federal income taxes, says the organization has seen an uptick in web traffic and social media engagement over the past few months.

So what exactly happens if you refuse to pay your federal taxes?

According to federal law, refusing to pay federal taxes is illegal. The repercussions can vary widely—from up to five years in prison to significant fines—and they may be more severe if you choose to do it willfully.

“If you willfully do not pay your taxes, you can face a number of consequences including, but not limited to fines, jail time, liens against property and/or wage garnishment, [and] loss of passports,” wrote Leslie Tayne, an attorney and founder of Tayne Law Group, in an email. “In fact, if it’s willful, the IRS can impose higher penalties against someone.”

And if you’re an employee who receives a W-2 form, refusing to pay your taxes may not be the most effective way to protest. Taxes, like payroll and federal income taxes, are generally withheld from your paycheck by your employer anyway.

Tayne said she discourages taxpayers from intentionally withholding payment and points out that it’s still possible to protest even while submitting payments.

The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee—an organization that supports efforts to withhold taxes that fund wars—offers different methods of resistance on its website. The committee suggests including a protest letter with your 1040 tax form and sending copies of that letter to elected officials if you are seeking an alternative to withholding tax payments.

“It is not advisable to protest by not paying your taxes, but you can file and say you’re protesting,” Tayne said.