Peter Schiff challenges IRS on taxes, quoting father who called April 15th 'real April Fool's Day'.
From Yahoo Finance: 2025-04-21 08:30:00
Renowned economist Peter Schiff challenges conventional wisdom on taxes, quoting his late father who called April 15th the real April Fool’s Day, criticizing the IRS for ‘fooling’ Americans into filing tax returns. Schiff’s father, Irwin Schiff, was a vocal critic of federal income tax, claiming it was unconstitutional and teaching others how to avoid it.
Despite court rulings dismissing his claims, Schiff persisted with his views, leading to prison sentences for failing to file returns and promoting tax evasion schemes. While Peter Schiff praises his father’s arguments, he admits to filing taxes voluntarily to avoid jail time, acknowledging the practical enforcement of income tax through threats of punishment.
The debate surrounding the Schiffs’ views on taxes continues to spark strong opinions, with some viewing April 15th as a civic duty and others as government overreach. Whether seen as a legal obligation or a choice, the Schiffs’ stance on taxes challenges the status quo and provokes discussion on tax laws and enforcement.