If there is to be peace in the Middle East, turning away from the cycle of violence in the entire region is essential. U.S. tax dollars and U.S. weapons help Israel to carry out the current deadly attack on the people of Gaza. U.S. arms sales and weapons deals to countries throughout the region promote ongoing violence. By joining the War Tax Boycott each of us is drawing the line on how our money can be used and joining with others to strengthen our demand that tax dollars be used to build peace and meet human needs at home and abroad, not for killing.

A People’s Campaign to Defund the War

The costs of war keep adding up, in dollars and in lives.

For over six years peace activists have voted, lobbied, marched, and taken direct action to first prevent and then end the illegal war and occupation in Iraq. Courageous soldiers have refused to fight the war. In Iraq and around the world peace-loving people have called for an end to the violence. But the Bush administration and Congress continue to authorize over $8 billion a month for the war on terror while the U.S. economy is in a tailspin and budget cuts are hitting services across the country. Politicians cannot be trusted with our money.

The War Tax Boycott campaign unites taxpayers who oppose this war in a powerful act of nonviolent civil disobedience — saying NO! to war with our money. Thousands of individuals in the U.S. take this stand despite the risks. Uniting our voices and actions through the War Tax Boycott strengthens our demand that Congress cut off the funds for this war and redirect resources to the pressing needs of people.

The War Tax Boycott was initiated in September 2007 by the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC). The 2008 campaign was promoted by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, War Resisters League, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Veterans for Peace, Nonviolent Direct Action Working Group of United for Peace and Justice, and “Don't Buy Bush's War” campaign.

Over 500 people around the U.S. joined the War Tax Boycott during the 2008 tax season, ending April 15, 2008. They redirected over $300,000 to humanitarian programs, including medical aid for Katrina survivors, support for Iraqi refugees in Jordan, food banks, programs for the homeless, books for prisoners, environmental projects, peace groups, and hundreds of other nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

Please contact NWTRCC if your group is interested in co-sponsoring or promoting the 2009 campaign.

click here to learn more about the cost of war ticker.
click here to learn more about Iraq Body Count

Refusal and Redirection

Refusing to pay taxes because of war is an act of civil disobedience, but it also provides the opportunity to use that money for positive, healing, and rebuilding programs. War tax boycott participants are encouraged to plan to redirect their resisted taxes to programs that aid victims of war or provide the services that we wish our tax dollars were supporting.

• The Getting Started in War Tax Resistance guide will help you prepare to refuse to pay for war, to understand the consequences, and to redirect your war taxes.
• The 2009 War Tax Boycott and Redirection is building toward April 15, 2009, Tax Day. If you would like to sign on as a resister or receive more information to prepare for Tax Day 2009, please submit the online Registration Form or download the form here and mail it in.
• A list of public signers will be posted in early 2009.