Petition to Restore Americans' Right to Lawful Taxation & Reform the IRS and Income Tax System

Addressed To:

• The United States Congress

• The President of the United States

• The United States Supreme Court

• The Department of the Treasury

• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

• The Government Accountability Office (GAO)

• The Department of Justice (DOJ)

• All State Legislatures & Governors

• All Oversight Committees on Taxation and Government Spending

We, the undersigned, exercise our sacred right to petition for redress of grievances under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, demanding the full restoration of lawful, constitutional taxation in the United States and the reformation of the IRS and all systems associated with unlawful income taxation. This petition calls for a return to an honorable, transparent, and limited tax system aligned with the original intent of the Founding Fathers, and an end to the private corporate enforcement structure that has enslaved generations of Americans under the false color of law.

Grievance:

The Unlawful Transformation of Taxation Into Financial Slavery

The original, Constitutional framework for taxation was designed to be: voluntary through consumption, not forcefully extracted from wages; transparent, not hidden behind bureaucratic threats; and limited, not weaponized against the people.

The Constitution authorizes only:

1. Duties, Imposts, and Excises (Article I, Sec. 8, Cl. 1) — Indirect, voluntary, uniform taxes.

2. Apportioned Direct Taxes (Article I, Sec. 9, Cl. 4) — Rare, proportionally divided by population.

3. No income tax on labor or wages. (Upheld in Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan & Trust Co., 1895)

   
   

The Constitution was designed to limit the taxing power of the federal government, not expand it. The Founders had just fought a war over taxation without representation and were deeply skeptical of centralized power. They understood that excessive taxation is tyranny.

In 1913, the 16th Amendment allegedly authorized income tax without apportionment. However, Bill Benson’s historic investigation, documented in The Law That Never Was, shows it was never legally ratified. Many states rejected or altered the amendment in violation of Article V ratification procedures. Certified state records prove it was fraudulently declared adopted. For exposing this truth, Benson was unlawfully prosecuted, censored, and imprisoned—not for fraud or violence, but for revealing historical fact.

The IRS is not a government agency in the constitutional sense. It functions as the collection arm of the Federal Reserve, a private banking cartel. Whistleblowers like Sherry Peel Jackson, a former IRS agent, exposed that: there is no law requiring the average American to pay federal income tax; and Income Tax revenue does not fund public services—it pays interest on national debt to private bankers. For telling the truth, she was targeted and imprisoned for four years.

Former IRS Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent Joseph Banister serves as a powerful example of unlawful retaliation and abuse of power. Banister conducted independent legal research while employed at the IRS, compiling a 95-page report questioning the constitutional authority of the federal income tax. Rather than answer his questions, the IRS demanded his resignation. In 2005, he was criminally indicted, yet acquitted on all counts after his own supervisor testified under oath that he could not cite any law requiring average Americans to pay income tax. Following his acquittal, Banister was targeted again—this time through civil penalties, amounting to $6,000 for so-called infractions. This violated his Fifth Amendment protections against double jeopardy and due process. It also infringed upon his First Amendment rights by punishing him for lawfully questioning the system. His case exemplifies the government’s misuse of civil law to punish those who expose truth—further proving the need for immediate reform.

President Reagan’s audit confirmed the fraud. The Grace Commission Report (1984) stated “100% of what is collected is absorbed solely by interest on the federal debt and by transfer payments. Not one penny goes to reduce the debt or finance government.” Your federal income tax dollars do not build roads, fund schools, or support communities—they serve banking cartels and unconstitutional systems.

Legal Standing:

Constitutional & Case Law Precedents

1.  The U.S. Constitution

The First Amendment; patriots like Bill Benson, Sherry Peel Jackson, and Joe Banister were unlawfully silenced for exercising free speech and educationally exposing corruption to the public. The Fourth and Fifth Amendments; forced taxation on wages without apportionment or due process is a seizure of property without just compensation. The Tenth Amendment; taxation systems not listed in the Constitution are unlawful federal overreach.

2.  Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan & Trust Co., 157 U.S. 429 (1895)

Held that income taxes on wages and personal property are unconstitutional unless apportioned.

3.  Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803)

“A law repugnant to the Constitution is void.”

4.  Brushaber v. Union Pacific R.R. Co., 240 U.S. 1 (1916)

Confirmed that the 16th Amendment did not authorize any new taxing powers.

5.  Flora v. United States, 362 U.S. 145 (1960)

Recognized that the tax system operates only under the “voluntary compliance” principle, which implies consent is required.

Redress of Grievance:

Our Demands

1. Abolish the IRS as a Corporate Enforcement Arm

Dissolve the IRS in its current form. Create a non-corporate, constitutional revenue office accountable to the People and restricted to lawful taxes only.

2. End Federal Income Tax on Wages, Labor, and Property

Return to indirect taxation through tariffs, duties, and excises only. Abolish any direct, unapportioned taxes on personal labor.

3. Public Audit and Nullification of the 16th Amendment

Reopen and legally review Bill Benson’s documented findings. Declare the 16th Amendment unlawful if proven not ratified.

4. Protect Whistleblowers and Truth-Tellers

Enact federal protections for those exposing fraud and unconstitutional practices in government and finance. Investigate retaliatory actions against Banister post-acquittal. Posthumously vindicate and honor patriots like Benson, Jackson, and Banister.

5. Full Public Disclosure of All Tax Revenue and Spending

Every dollar collected must be publicly traceable. Create a public digital ledger of all taxation and spending.

6. End All Tax Enforcement Based on Fear, Threat, or Coercion

Peaceful Americans should never face jail, wage garnishment, or property seizure for refusing to participate in an unlawful, fraudulent, or misrepresented system.

Affirmation:

By signing below, I affirm and declare that I am a living man or woman of sound mind, acting of my own free will.

I have read and understand the contents of this petition, and I sign it knowingly, willingly, and without coercion.

I understand that this petition is a lawful expression of the People’s right to petition for redress of grievances, and I add my signature as evidence of support and standing for the actions, remedies, and demands stated above.

I reserve all of my unalienable rights, waive none, and stand in honor, peace, and truth.