Americans Refuse to Pay Taxes in Protest of Trump Administration

A growing number of citizens are withholding federal income taxes as a form of civil disobedience against government policies.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:56am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic painting of a solitary mailbox on a city street, with warm sunlight casting long shadows and creating a contemplative, nostalgic mood, conveying the personal and civic consequences of tax resistance.As tax resistance grows, a lone mailbox stands as a symbol of the personal sacrifices some Americans are making to withhold funds from a government they feel has betrayed their values.Albany Today

An increasing number of Americans are refusing to pay federal income taxes as a form of protest against the policies of the Trump administration. This wave of tax resistance, which has surged since the administration returned to office, includes both high-earners and younger individuals who feel morally opposed to funding the government's actions. Organizers say this is unlike anything they've seen in decades, with a shift towards a more diverse demographic of resisters.

Why it matters

Tax resistance has a long history in the U.S., dating back to the Boston Tea Party, and has often been used as a form of civil disobedience against government policies. The current wave of tax resistance reflects growing public opposition to the Trump administration's actions, including its use of military force, immigration policies, and treatment of federal workers. This movement highlights the tensions between citizens' moral convictions and their legal obligations to pay taxes.

The details

Resisters like Ed Hedemann and Clara Vondrich have shaped their lives around not paying federal taxes, either by earning below the filing threshold or redirecting their tax payments to organizations they feel better align with their values. While the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee advises against falsely claiming exemptions, it notes that the typical consequences are wage garnishments or property seizures, rather than jail time. Tax experts warn that there is no legal exemption for refusing to pay taxes due to political disagreement, and willful non-payment can result in fines and even criminal charges.

  • The current wave of tax resistance has surged since the Trump administration returned to office in 2025.
  • On February 28, 2026, the U.S. struck an elementary school in Iran with a Tomahawk missile, killing over 150 girls and teachers, which was a 'watershed moment' for some resisters.

The players

Ed Hedemann

An 81-year-old Brooklyn freelancer who has refused to pay federal income taxes since 1970 as a form of protest against government spending on the military.

Clara Vondrich

A 48-year-old lawyer and climate activist who decided to withhold her federal taxes after the U.S. struck an Iranian elementary school, feeling she could not in good conscience fund the 'war machine'.

Missy Pidgeon

A 32-year-old New Jersey resident who intentionally earns below the federal filing threshold in order to avoid paying taxes that would fund policies she opposes.

Lincoln Rice

The national coordinator at the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, which provides guidance on conscientious tax objection.

Danshera Cords

A tax lawyer and professor emerita at Albany Law School who stresses that the law offers no exemption for people who oppose the government's policies.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was thinking, well, it's a little inconsistent for me to refuse induction, refuse to go into the military, yet pay taxes that would fund other people to go into the military.”

— Ed Hedemann

“I believe that taxes should be used for building lives and not taking them, and so the idea that I would be paying into a war machine was just untenable for me.”

— Clara Vondrich

“I'd rather have the sense of self-determination than know that I was directly funding this.”

— Clara Vondrich

“The average thing that might happen is they might face a wage garnishment or some sort of collection in the future. They most likely won't lose their house, won't go to jail, all those sorts of kind of biggest fears.”

— Lincoln Rice, National Coordinator, National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee

“Some of the promoters of tax resistance often forget that there is a price that comes with protest. There is not a legal option not to pay just because they're frustrated or they don't believe that the tax system is created the way it should be.”

— Danshera Cords, Tax Lawyer and Professor Emerita, Albany Law School

What’s next

The judge in Clara Vondrich's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow her to continue withholding her federal taxes.

The takeaway

This wave of tax resistance highlights the growing tensions between citizens' moral convictions and their legal obligations, as well as the risks that resisters are willing to take in order to voice their opposition to government policies. While the consequences can be serious, the resisters view their actions as a form of civil disobedience that is necessary to uphold their principles.