The Lesser Known People Podcast

Irwin Schiff (1928–2015) was an outspoken and controversial figure in the world of tax protest movements. A self-styled “tax honesty” advocate, Schiff was best known for claiming that paying federal income tax was not legally required for U.S. citizens, a position that led him into repeated legal battles with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and federal courts. Despite earning a degree in accounting, Schiff became a fervent critic of the federal tax system, arguing it was unconstitutional and based on government overreach. He gained notoriety through books like The Federal Mafia: How the Government Illegally Imposes and Unlawfully Collects Income Taxes, in which he outlined his belief that the IRS manipulated Americans into paying taxes they didn’t owe. The book was so controversial that a federal court banned its sale, deeming it misleading and fraudulent. Schiff also conducted seminars and sold kits to promote his tax avoidance strategies, further solidifying his place as a polarizing figure in tax law debates. Schiff’s defiance of the IRS wasn’t just theoretical; he openly refused to pay income taxes and urged others to do the same. Over the years, this resistance led to multiple convictions for tax evasion, fraud, and contempt of court. In 2006, he was sentenced to over 13 years in prison for his repeated offenses. Despite his legal troubles and the lack of legal validation for his theories, Schiff maintained his innocence and stood by his beliefs until his death in 2015 while still incarcerated. Seen by some as a crusader for individual liberty and by others as a dangerous promoter of tax evasion, Irwin Schiff remains a polarizing symbol of the anti-tax movement. His story serves as both a cautionary tale and a rallying cry for those who challenge federal authority.