"Even worse, I think they would focus their efforts on the ones they could get the most money out of for the least amount of effort. Rich people can afford to have great lawyers who will use every loophole possible and drag the case on forever. Poor people don't have enough money to make it worth their effort.."

I am a middle class person in California that got caught up in an unlawful scheme run by the State's income tax agency to collect more taxes than is actually owed (by their own records). The scheme that I got caught up in targets small business owners and retirees, particularly those who are married. Because a lawyer would have cost more than the amount being disputed, there was no point in hiring a lawyer. I represented myself, but most people just give in and pay the excess taxes.

As I have been fighting back, I have uncovered several more schemes to overcharge taxpayers. Some of the schemes target the poor.

Meanwhile, the State is desperately trying to get everyone who is not required to file a return to file a return anyway, using an assortment of carrots and sticks to try to incentivize/coerce them to file returns. Little do these people know that they are being lured into a trap.

I believe that the state is trying to ensure that people become "trapped in the system" and can't ever pull themselves into a better financial situation by imposing excess taxes, fees, penalties and interest that were never owed, then garnishing wages/cleaning out bank accounts, thus ensuring people are in a bad financial situation.

I guess what I am saying is that I agree with you, that the government will use the lack of filing returns/paying taxes to further "deep state" agendas to force everyone into poverty.

"Even worse, I think they would focus their efforts on the ones they could get the most money out of for the least amount of effort. Rich people can afford to have great lawyers who will use every loophole possible and drag the case on forever. Poor people don't have enough money to make it worth their effort.."

I am a middle class person in California that got caught up in an unlawful scheme run by the State's income tax agency to collect more taxes than is actually owed (by their own records). The scheme that I got caught up in targets small business owners and retirees, particularly those who are married. Because a lawyer would have cost more than the amount being disputed, there was no point in hiring a lawyer. I represented myself, but most people just give in and pay the excess taxes.

As I have been fighting back, I have uncovered several more schemes to overcharge taxpayers. Some of the schemes target the poor.

Meanwhile, the State is desperately trying to get everyone who is not required to file a return to file a return anyway, using an assortment of carrots and sticks to try to incentivize/coerce them to file returns. Little do these people know that they are being lured into a trap.

I believe that the state is trying to ensure that people become "trapped in the system" and can't ever pull themselves into a better financial situation by imposing excess taxes, fees, penalties and interest that were never owed, then garnishing wages/cleaning out bank accounts, thus ensuring people are in a bad financial situation.

I know I didn't answer your question, but I guess I was pointing out that there may be motives beyond financial when it comes to income tax issues.