I think the statement in the OP that the income tax in 1913 was supposed to be temporary is not true for the income tax in 1913, but IS true for the employee withholding tax in 1943.

I think that is when most people were deceived.

THAT WAS a "temporary provision" for the "war effort."

Corporations were instructed to withhold taxes from paychecks -- especially in the government-contracted factories that were producing goods for the war -- and it was only supposed to last until the war ended.

But they just kept on doing it, and that is really when MOST people who pay income taxes started believing it was a legal requirement.

Prior to that, not that many people paid income (or employment) taxes. But after, more and more people thought they were required to, and especially the companies were brow beaten into thinking they had to withhold.

Even today, there is NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT to withhold.

There is only a legal requirement by an employer to ASK an employee to fill out a W2 form and STATE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY that they agree to withholding.

But if the employer asks and the employee refuses, that is supposed to be the end of that. But their accountants and attorneys will tell them otherwise, because the gravy train feeds them, too, and the ONLY source of information they bother to read comes from the IRS.

I haven't looked in awhile, but I know that it is (or was, if it has been changed) a measly $50 penalty if the employer does not ask for the employee's tax ID. And if they do ask, they have no penalty if the employee will not provide it.

But everyone acts like lemmings and just goes along with it "because it's easier that way."

Just like the Covid vaxx.