Posted on 02/03/2013 10:58:17 AM PST by dynachrome
On February 3rd, 1913, one of the two most historic events in US history took place: the ratification of the 16th amendment, which established Congress' right to impose a Federal income tax on Americans, and overturned Article I, Section 9 of the US Constitution which explicitly prohibited a general income tax. The amendment was brief and to the point, and read as follows: "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration." And with that, the US Federal Income Tax was born and has been with us for precisely 100 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at zerohedge.com ...
Woodrow Wilson was also a “progressive movement” leader, BTW, as most politicians in both political parties today are.
The Constitution mentioned a "direct" taxation power of the fedgov twice. Did that mean something other than taxation of individuals? It may be that the fedgov did not avail itself of the power before 1913.
“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.”
taxes were intended to be leveled at the state, not the individual. taxes due by the state were equal to their portion of the nations population. what tax scheme the state employed to collect the taxes was up to them.
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