When doing research on Social Security, I stumbled on an Amish website. I found that the self employed Amish are exempt from paying social security tax. I am self employed. I did some checking and if you are a member of a religion that is conscientiously objected to accepting social security benefits you can be exempted. Wow! I wish we all could give ourselves a 15.4% raise. The requirements are:
1. You must file Form 4029, discussed later under Requesting exemption—Form 4029.
2. As a follower of the established teachings of the sect or division, you must be conscientiously opposed to accepting benefits of any private or public insurance that makes payments for death, disability, old age, retirement, or medical care, or provides services for medical care. You must waive all rights to receive any social security payment or benefit and agree that no benefits or payments will be made to anyone else based on your wages and self-employment income.
3. The Commissioner of Social Security must determine that:
- a. Your sect or division has the established teachings as in (2) above,
- b. It is the practice, and has been for a substantial period of time, for members of the sect or division to provide for their dependent members in a manner that is reasonable in view of the members’ general level of living.
I object to the idea of social security at a deep fundamental level so I looked into creating my own religion. I want the one that says: “You’re an adult; live like one.” I found several religious texts that I could believe in principally enough to become; it would be easier than creating my own divinely inspired texts. I met or could meet all of the requirements. I downloaded the pdf for the tax forms to fill out requesting exemption. I was all pumped up to actually talk to a lawyer, but then:
c. The sect or division has existed at all times since December 31, 1950.
The struggle for liberty continues...