Legal Question in Tax Law in Pennsylvania

Why is there a "Privilege to work" tax? There are several people willing to not work and go on welfare. If I don't work and make money to pay bills the government will come and take what I have worked hard for. Why should I be taxed for the "Privilege" of wanting to support my family and provide a good future for them?


Asked on 6/18/13, 4:59 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Seriously? I am not a tax attorney. There are lots of things that the government does with my taxes that I don't like but simply not paying is not an option if I want to stay out of jail and keep my law licenses. Taxes in theory are a way to fund the government to pay for services that everyone in the public (including those pesky 1%ers) use - whether it be roads, the courts, real estate recordings, ambulances, fire or police, to name a few. It is something that we all must do.

Governments are starved for revenue and have come up with creative new taxes including the business privilege tax. When I lived in Pittsburgh (they have an occupationa/lbusiness privilege tax) I didn't think it was much of a privilege to have an hour and half each way daily commute. Where I live now, there is a business license tax and if I wish to practice law, it has to be paid regardless of my personal feelings about it. That's the way it is and the choice is to pay it or find a line of work that is not subject to this tax.

If you don't like the oxymoronically named tax, then either don't pay and face the legal consequences and you can try to challenge the tax on constitutional grounds or you can get up with your legislator and try to change the law. Not likely to succeed unless you are among the 1% (the 1%ers make sure that those of us in the 99% pay the taxes as the 1%ers have legions of lawyers, lobbyists and cpas who make sure that loopholes are written in so they have to pay as little as possible).

I'm with you but this is not the battle I would choose to fight if I were you. Just my 2 cents.

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Answered on 6/20/13, 7:55 pm


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