Bruce and Ruth K. Graves v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue

Sixth Circuit

Bruce and Ruth K. Graves v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue

579 F.2d 392, 42 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5379, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 10288

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

DecidedJuly 7, 1978

Docket77-1188

StatusPublished

Cited by34 cases

This text of 579 F.2d 392 (Bruce and Ruth K. Graves v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Bruce and Ruth K. Graves v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 579 F.2d 392, 42 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5379, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 10288 (6th Cir. 1978).

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Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The petitioners appeal from a decision of the Tax Court upholding an income tax deficiency for the year 1973. The petitioners claimed a “war tax credit” of 50% of the tax due as disclosed by their joint 1973 return. The petitioners are Quakers who adhere to the principle of total nonviolence. The question which they raise on appeal is stated in their brief as follows: Would compelling the petitioners to pay taxes to support American military involvement in Vietnam be violative of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States?

The appeal has been referred to a panel of the Court pursuant to Rule 9, Rules of the Sixth Circuit. The levying of taxes is entrusted to the legislative branch of government by our Constitution and general attacks on the taxing scheme adopted by Congress do not raise justiciable issues. Farmer v. Rountree, 149 F.Supp. 327 (M.D. Tenn. 1956), aff’d., 252 F.2d 490 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 357 U.S. 906, 78 S.Ct. 1150, 2 L.Ed.2d 1156 (1958). Presented as a constitutional issue the arguments of the petitioners are no more compelling. The income tax is neutral as to religion. It is levied uniformly against persons of various beliefs, and those of no belief. The fact that Congress and the executive branch choose to spend a portion of the revenues of the government for military operations reflects political decisions in areas specifically delegated to them by the Constitution. The requirement that petitioners, along with others having taxable income, pay taxes thereon does not constitute an unreasonable burden on the free exercise of their religious beliefs.

As did the Tax Court, we accept without question the sincerity of petitioners’ beliefs and arguments. Nevertheless, we conclude that it is manifest that questions upon which decision of this case depends are so *394 unsubstantial as not to require further argument. Rule 9(b)3, Rules of the Sixth Circuit. The decision of the Tax Court is affirmed.

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PER CURIAM.

The petitioners appeal from a decision of the Tax Court upholding an income tax deficiency for the year 1973. The petitioners claimed a “war tax credit” of 50% of the tax due as disclosed by their joint 1973 return. The petitioners are Quakers who adhere to the principle of total nonviolence. The question which they raise on appeal is stated in their brief as follows: Would compelling the petitioners to pay taxes to support American military involvement in Vietnam be violative of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States?

The appeal has been referred to a panel of the Court pursuant to Rule 9, Rules of the Sixth Circuit. The levying of taxes is entrusted to the legislative branch of government by our Constitution and general attacks on the taxing scheme adopted by Congress do not raise justiciable issues. Farmer v. Rountree, 149 F.Supp. 327 (M.D. Tenn. 1956), aff’d., 252 F.2d 490 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 357 U.S. 906, 78 S.Ct. 1150, 2 L.Ed.2d 1156 (1958). Presented as a constitutional issue the arguments of the petitioners are no more compelling. The income tax is neutral as to religion. It is levied uniformly against persons of various beliefs, and those of no belief. The fact that Congress and the executive branch choose to spend a portion of the revenues of the government for military operations reflects political decisions in areas specifically delegated to them by the Constitution. The requirement that petitioners, along with others having taxable income, pay taxes thereon does not constitute an unreasonable burden on the free exercise of their religious beliefs.

As did the Tax Court, we accept without question the sincerity of petitioners’ beliefs and arguments. Nevertheless, we conclude that it is manifest that questions upon which decision of this case depends are so *394 unsubstantial as not to require further argument. Rule 9(b)3, Rules of the Sixth Circuit. The decision of the Tax Court is affirmed.

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579 F.2d 392, 42 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5379, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 10288, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bruce-and-ruth-k-graves-v-commissioner-of-internal-revenue-ca6-1978.

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