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Irwin Schiff

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The Resume

    (February 24, 1928-October 16, 2015)
    Born in United States
    Tax protester
    Wrote 'The Biggest Con: How The Government Is Fleecing You' (1977), 'How Anyone Can Stop Paying Income Taxes' (1982), 'The Social Security Swindle: How Anyone Can Drop Out' (1984), 'The Great Income Tax Hoax' (1985) and 'Federal Mafia: How It Illegally Imposes and Unlawfully Collects Income Tax' (1992)
    Has three main anti-tax arguments:
    There is no law making anyone liable for a federal income tax
    The word 'income' applies solely to corporate earnings, not wages and salaries
    You can satisfy the law by filing a 'zero return' with $0 entered on each line for income
    Convicted of failing to file returns (1979)
    Granted new trial after appeal, re-convicted (1981)
    Served four years for tax evasion (1989-93)
    Ruled liable for over $2 million in taxes and penalties (2004)
    Convicted of income tax evasion and sentenced to 12 years 7 months in prison (February 24, 2006)

Why he might be annoying:

    None of his anti-tax arguments have legal merit.
    He sells books on how to avoid paying taxes that gloss over the fact that actually following the advice given will land you in jail.
    In an attempt to stay out of jail, he argued that he suffers from a 'delusional disorder' regarding the tax system.
    As a practical matter, if the Department of Justice and federal judiciary really are engaged in a massive, illegal conspiracy like Schiff claims, do you think pointing it out in court is going to make the judge go, 'You found me out! Guess I'll have to let you go'?

Why he might not be annoying:

    When the government obtained an injunction against selling 'The Federal Mafia,' he responded by giving the book away free through his website.
    He finally got a victory against the government: his sentence for contempt of court was reduced from 12 months to 11 months (September 5, 2008).
    Delusional fool vs. the IRS: who to support?

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 28 Votes: 92.86% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 137 Votes: 62.04% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 29 Votes: 20.69% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 65 Votes: 73.85% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 318 Votes: 49.69% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 83 Votes: 63.86% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 94 Votes: 64.89% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 46 Votes: 78.26% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 20 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 51 Votes: 74.51% Annoying