# Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act

This bill would let people who have religious or moral objections to war redirect their federal taxes away from military spending. Here's how it would work: if you believe that participating in war violates your deeply held religious or ethical beliefs, you could officially register as a "designated conscientious objector" with the Treasury Department. Your income taxes, estate taxes, and gift taxes would then go into a separate fund called the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund instead of the general Treasury. The money in this fund would only be used for non-military government programs—things like education, infrastructure, healthcare, or environmental protection—rather than defense spending.

The bill is rooted in the idea that the government already recognizes conscientious objection in other contexts. For example, people with religious objections to military service can do alternative civilian service instead. This bill extends that same principle to taxes. The bill's supporters argue that forcing people to fund military activities through taxes violates their religious freedom, especially when they have sincere moral or religious beliefs against war. The bill also claims that according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, this system would actually increase federal revenue because people who currently refuse to pay taxes on principle would be willing to pay if their money went to non-military purposes.

In practical terms, if this bill passed, you would need to formally declare your conscientious objector status in writing to the Treasury Department. The process would be designed to be as simple as possible for taxpayers. Your taxes would still be collected—you wouldn't pay less—but they'd be earmarked for different government programs. The Treasury would report annually to Congress about how much money went into the fund and where it was spent, though your individual privacy would be protected.

Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act

McGovern, James P.

Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to establish the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund for the deposit of income, gift, and estate taxes paid by or on behalf of taxpayers (1) who are designated conscientious objectors opposed to participation in war in any form based upon their sincerely held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs or training (within the meaning of the Military Selective Service Act); and (2) who have certified their beliefs in writing. Amounts deposited in the fund shall be allocated annually to any appropriation not for a military purpose. Treasury shall report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on the total amount transferred into the fund during the preceding fiscal year and the purposes for which such amount was allocated. The privacy of individuals using the fund shall be protected.