Beyond mandatory compliance
Tomorrow, April 17, is the deadline for the filing of the annual income tax return and the payment of the tax due thereon.
Those who have been in business know fully well that taxes due on income earned from business or practice of a profession are not paid every 15th of April only. The obligation is year-round and must be paid while a person or a business entity continues to receive income from his endeavors.
Some taxpayers may cite corruption issues in refusing to pay their taxes. They ratiocinate that their money may just be put to waste without bringing public good. So, they are justified in not contributing to the cost of running the affairs of the government.
Taxation would have been a form of robbery committed by the government if the money collected were used to benefit private individuals or disbursed for private purposes. But this is not the case when the state exercises its inherent power of taxation.
Tax money is used to finance the entire system of government, the same system that enables and protects individuals in the practice of their profession and business entities in the conduct of their businesses.
Without the protection guaranteed by the state, it would be impossible to enforce property rights that include the right to practice a profession or to do business.
So, every time we part with our money to pay our taxes, we should not do it reluctantly or under compulsion. Rather, let us do it as cheerful givers who give what our hearts desire.