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Death or Taxes: The Sad Truth About Our American Taxation System

2010
1h 18m

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Death or Taxes: The Sad Truth About Our American Taxation System (2010)

In Death or Taxes you will meet ordinary people whose lives were brought to a screeching halt by tax debt. Some had their paychecks garnished; others had their bank accounts drained; some even faced losing their home. Each story is different, but they all share the white-knuckled terror that comes along with tax debt. These are not high-rollers with offshore accounts conspiring to evade taxes. These are librarians, mechanics, and small business owners; normal, hardworking people who ended up on the wrong side of the most powerful collection agency in the world: the IRS.

The documentary exposes how our broken tax system is systematically destroying millions of lives. It starts with politicians writing tax laws to manipulate voters and appease corporations. Each change to the tax code creates more and more confusion for taxpayers; taxes have become so incomprehensible that even the best financial minds donÂ’t dare to prepare their own tax returns. If the head of the IRS doesnÂ’t do his own taxes, how are the rest of us supposed to do it?

When mistakes happen and they do all the time, IRS agents are under incredible pressure to collect. And when that pressure is combined with virtually limitless power, some agents go off the beaten path claiming paychecks, savings accounts, even peoplesÂ’ homes. What is most disturbing is that tax law allows the IRS to consider you guilty until you can prove your innocence. This system is hurting people, crushing families and in some cases, driving people to suicide.

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Death or Taxes explores the horrifying realities faced by the millions of taxpayers who owe back taxes. Every day good, honest people are forced to make terrible decisions: pay the rent, or ... Read allDeath or Taxes explores the horrifying realities faced by the millions of taxpayers who owe back taxes. Every day good, honest people are forced to make terrible decisions: pay the rent, or pay the IRS? Put food on the table, or make your tax payment? Facing these awful situation... Read allDeath or Taxes explores the horrifying realities faced by the millions of taxpayers who owe back taxes. Every day good, honest people are forced to make terrible decisions: pay the rent, or pay the IRS? Put food on the table, or make your tax payment? Facing these awful situations, some people are pushed beyond the point of hope, into the last decision they'll ever ma... Read all