For instance, how about a $5000 FEE to file your 1040 with the IRS? Course you could refuse to pay the fee and not be allowed to file the 1040........
Failure to file is a Federal Felony, fine and imprisonment.....
Fees are taxes. I agree. Look at your phone bill, cell phone bill, car registration, etc. They can call em fees all they want but if they take money out of my wallet they are the same as taxes.
If you have no choice but to pay the ‘fee’ (as in your scenario) it is indeed a tax. However, if you have the choice whether or not to use a service, the ‘user fee’ is not a tax. It’s just the cost of something you wanted. OTOH, you’re forced to pay a tax, whether or not you want any government services.
“...Failure to file is a Federal Felony, fine and imprisonment.....”
Oh, you mean the VOLUNTARY income tax???