I'll tell you how it has worked for me. The thing is when you file a tax return, you are swearing under penalty of perjury that all the information you submitted is true and correct, and you are effectively waiving your 5th Amendment right to not self-incriminate. There is no law that can compel ordinary citizens to provide ANY information that could potentially incriminate them. Its a fallacy that taxes are mandatory. Its actually a donation and when you file a tax return you are declaring your gift to the federal government.