Feds Sue Idaho Tax-Protester Rep. Phil Hart

The Idaho Business Review is reporting north Idaho lawmaker Phil Hart is being sued for nearly $550,000 in unpaid income taxes, penalties and interest.  The U.S. government is asking Idaho’s federal district court to sign off on foreclosing some of Hart’s property in Kootenai County.

Hart is a Republican from Hayden, Idaho.  He’s serving his fifth term in the Idaho Legislature.  IBR.com reports Hart also has a state tax lawsuit awaiting trail in the Idaho Supreme Court.

“He’s also faced ethics hearings in the Legislature, though he avoided a vote after stepping down from the vice chairman position of an Idaho House committee.” – Idaho Business Review

The Idaho Business Review says this latest lawsuit is based on income tax assessments from 1996 to 2008.

“Hart has been a tax protestor, claiming that the government can’t constitutionally collect taxes on his wages, since at least the mid 1990s. He’s gone to court over his federal taxes, including an unsuccessful appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. On a personal website, Hart and his supporters have claimed that he’s paid his taxes since 1997 and that his tax protesting is a fight for freedom.” – Idaho Business Review

You can read the entire story here.