Many of those appointed to Obama administration positions owed back taxes. Now we see that a number of the firms getting stimulus billions also owe millions in back taxes.

I have always paid mine. How does this work. Should I just file, but not pay this year? Why can't I have a pass like these others apparently do? It appears that the IRS doesn't do much about it. Or is it only the big guys that don't have to pay. Anyone have a clarification.

If your fine with hoping you don't get caught, then go for it.

Deane, you are no different than anyone else: if you file but don't pay or make a mistake on your taxes, you will eventually have to pay (with a penalty/interest) if audited. Well, actually, the Obama people weren't audited - they paid on their own (with penalties) after they were vetted by the Obama team, even if it was beyond 3 years. Would you do that? Please stop pretending the Obama appointees are treated any differently by the IRS than anyone else.

And who here can say your tax fillings have all been error-free and if audited the IRS wouldn't catch any mistakes? I can't - I have caught mistakes made on past taxes more than once (sometimes in my favor, sometimes in the government's). I'm guessing most of us have made mistakes on our taxes, even those who hire accountants.

Painfull truth is that even those owing alot less than these companies and wealthy individuals they rarely even throw the little guy in jail. I know of two indviduals personally who owe a shitload of money (on in the 10s and one in the 100s) and all the IRS does is a garnishment. And these people haven't filed taxes in more than a couple of years.

I would bet that it all comes down to a lack of manpower to get to every individual and company that owes or does not file.

IRS is big, bloated, and slow. You also literally get a million chances. Additionally, it's well known that everyone that qualifies for rebate checks, refunds, earned income credit (welfare), still gets them, even if they're in debt to another agency (even if they get a letter in the mail that says "their" refund was applied to said debt).
Having said that, the only legal way to not pay any income taxes is to not have any income! (IMO, not a good option.)