Is taxation theft?

And moreover, from the day you are born you reap the benefits of taxation.
Every day of our lives we experience the results of public service spending. It’s impossible not to.

We are paying for a service which is provided.
OP, if you don’t pay taxes and still reap the benefits of public spending, you are reaping the benefits of tax payers money without contributing yourself. How is that not a form of theft? Especially when you consider that that is illegal, whilst paying taxes is not.

It’s impossible not to benefit from public spending, in terms of using our road systems with traffic control measures, using our surfaces roads and pavements, using waste bins etc. You can’t avoid it and still be a member of society.

I'm an advocate of an anarcho-capitalist country, and I've never heard an argument to prove that taxation ISN'T theft. Please provide your responses below

This is too broad a philosophical question to answer in any meaningful way - all you can do is provide argument.

Personally, I think all you can do is argue at what point taxation becomes legitimate. The state is going to exist - that's a given. The state is always going to provide certain minimums -that's also a given. Everything else is an argument as to what those minimums are, and what the state should provide beyond that. Any other argument on taxation is an extension of those.

If you ask me, the issue at hand is the debate over whether citizens should expect high taxation or low taxation as a norm. Should the state be trying to maximise services or minimise taxation?

Erm, if someone is extracting labour by force then that is slavery, not employment, which is a voluntary contract.

I suggest you have not quite understood the issue.

For me it's not about whether or not it's theft. I think you could make a reasonable case it is. It's a question of whether or not it's justified; I think theft can be justified (for instance, stealing food from a shop because otherwise you'll starve). If it's taxation for the ends of healthcare, education, housing, etc then I think that's a justified theft because it improves and even saves lives. It's why I support taxing the rich more than the poor; taxing people who have little to give is unjustified because it could potentially ruin them, but taxing people with a surplus of money (more than is needed to live a decent quality-of-life) is not immoral because you're not going to kill them or ruin their life by taking money unless you take so much that you make them poor (then it becomes unjustified)

It's a pretty basic utilitarian argument

So it's ok for me to point a gun at a wealthy man, demand some of his money, and donate it to charity.

Utilitarians should have no problem with this. At the expense of an individual, I'm helping many. Tax is the same. The government points a gun/prison at many individuals and demands money, funnelling it into stuff that is 'good' like healthcare and education.

If you think scenario 1 and 2 are both unjust - congrats, you're a libertarian (/s)

If you think 1 of those is justified, and the other isn't - congrats, you're a hypocrite. (/s) But seriously, why? What is the difference?

It's a rather pointless debate because apart from a few people at the extreme, we all agree that you need some level of taxation for public service provision in order to have a civilised society.

Doesn't matter if the debate seems to be pointless or not, its interesting.


The debate is on whether taxation is theft or not, and so far, nobody has actually been able to prove that it's not.

You can claim it's needed all you want, I agree it is, but it needs reforming certainly. Once the notion that tax is theft is established, we can go about reforming to tax to incorporate this view.

It is pointless though because there's always going to be tax. We may as well debate if the moon is a good thing, it doesn't get you anywhere. You can't prove it either way because it's a totally philosophical issue with no clear answer either way.

It's an overly philosophical approach to what is a very practical issue. We all believe in some level of taxation, the question is whether we believe the state should provide a greater or more basic standard of public services.

It's not black and white. Just because tax is theft does not mean I, or anybody else who believes so wants to get rid of it entirely.

Let's say tax is established as theft. There are usually 3 ways to go about incorporating this information In tax policy.

1. The hardcore Libertarian approach.

Libertarians believe in the NAP in which consent is a cornerstone. What makes consensual sex not rape? Consent. What makes a transaction not robbery? Consent. What makes a job nor slavery? Consent. What makes tax not theft - uhh...Consent!

Some believe the government is a service, and should ask you if you want to be taxed. If you don't, you can leave the country. I personally don't agree with this approach as it's simply too outlandish, requires increased bureaucracy and is generally a bit far fetched.

2. The consumption tax:

The fairest way about taxing people. Taxing their consumption, not their income. Charging them for what they use, not what they have

I disagree with this model as it's not really feasible, but it could work with a very limited government. This can also work with the consent model.

3. A flat tax:

This is one I support.

I believe tax is theft, so it's myself belief that everyone should be charged at the same rate. Why should the rich pay 60% of their income and the poor pay 25%. This utilitarian perspective makes no sense whatsoever to me. So a flat tax seems more feasible, fair and sustainable.

It can also be incorporation with a consent model.


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So, it certainly isn't as black and white as you make it out to be. Just because people believe tax is theft, doesn't mean they want to get rid of tax altogether.

I'm an advocate of an anarcho-capitalist country, and I've never heard an argument to prove that taxation ISN'T theft. Please provide your responses below

I'm an advocate of an anarcho-capitalist country, and I've never heard an argument to prove that taxation ISN'T theft. Please provide your responses below

Hello friends, I have considered your arguments for over two years and have finally come to a conclusion: I am now an anarcho-communist.