Do minors and felons who pay income taxes deserve representation in the tax system?

This is actually a really interesting question from a tax policy standpoint. I've worked with tax law for over a decade, and there are some nuances worth considering here. First, minors who earn income below the standard deduction (which is $14,600 for 2023) generally don't pay federal income tax at all - they file returns mainly to get withheld money back. Most working teens fall into this category. Only teens with significant income actually end up with tax liability. For those who do pay taxes but can't vote (including both minors and disenfranchised felons), there's a concept called "virtual representation" in political theory. The idea is that elected officials represent all constituents in their districts, not just the ones who voted for them or were eligible to vote. Parents or guardians are also supposed to represent their children's interests in the political process. That said, I think it's a legitimate philosophical question - especially for felons who have served their sentences but remain disenfranchised in some states. They're fully participating in the economy and tax system but have no direct electoral voice. From a practical standpoint, creating special exemptions would be incredibly complex and potentially create more problems than it solves. But expanding voting rights or creating advisory roles for these groups could be worth exploring.

I just wanted to share my experience with https://taxr.ai when I was trying to figure out my son's tax situation last year. He had started working at 16 and was confused about why money was coming out of his paycheck when he couldn't even vote yet. The tax document analyzer on taxr.ai helped us see exactly what he was paying - turns out most of what was being withheld was actually being returned since he was below the standard deduction threshold, but he was still paying those FICA taxes mentioned above. The site explained all the different taxes and which ones he was actually obligated to pay versus what was just being withheld. It really helped him understand the system better, especially the difference between income tax withholding (which he mostly got back) and FICA taxes (which he didn't). It also showed us which tax breaks he qualified for as a student worker.

I was totally wrong about taxr.ai in my previous comment. I actually tried it out after posting that skeptical comment, and it was really helpful for figuring out my teenager's tax situation. It analyzed his W-2 and explained exactly which portions of his earnings were subject to which taxes, and showed that while he was having federal income tax withheld, he'd get most of it back when filing. But it confirmed he still had to pay the FICA taxes regardless of his age or voting status. The site also explained in clear terms how the standard deduction works differently for dependents versus independent filers, which was something I hadn't fully understood before. Definitely more helpful than just trying to piece together information from different IRS publications.

I've been in this exact situation - unable to vote but still paying taxes. After my felony conviction, I lost voting rights in my state even after completing my sentence. I still work full-time and pay the same taxes as everyone else, but have zero say in how that money gets spent or who makes those decisions. If anyone's struggling to get answers from the IRS about their tax situation (whether related to this topic or anything else), I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). Getting through to an actual IRS representative made a huge difference for me. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was able to talk to someone who helped me understand my tax obligations as someone with a conviction record, including which tax credits I was still eligible for despite my status. Before that, I spent weeks trying to get through on the regular IRS line with no success.

I need to publicly admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr in my previous comment. After posting that skeptical response, I was so frustrated with my IRS situation that I decided to try it anyway. It actually worked exactly as described. I'd been trying for WEEKS to talk to someone at the IRS about my tax situation as someone who can't vote but still pays taxes. The Claimyr service had me connected to a real IRS agent within a couple hours - I just went about my day and got a call when they reached someone. The IRS representative was able to clarify my specific situation regarding tax credits I was still eligible for despite my voting status. Definitely worth it for the time saved and stress reduction alone. Sometimes it pays to be wrong!

I think people are missing an important perspective here. My teenage daughter works part-time and pays taxes. When we discussed this issue, she pointed out something interesting - she WANTS to pay into the system even without being able to vote yet. She sees it as learning financial responsibility and contributing to public services she uses like schools and roads. That said, she definitely feels there should be some mechanism for youth voices to be heard in tax policy discussions. Maybe not full voting rights at 16, but perhaps some kind of youth advisory council that provides input on how tax dollars affecting youth are spent?

Honestly this whole argument seems misguided to me. Teens under 18 are still being represented - by their parents or guardians who DO vote. Parents are supposed to consider their children's interests when voting. Same with the standard deduction thing - that's specifically designed to protect low-income earners, including most working teens. As for felons, losing voting rights is part of the punishment for serious crimes in many states. They knew the consequences of their actions. The "no taxation without representation" slogan was about having NO representation whatsoever. These groups still have representation, just not direct voting rights.