About 3 years ago I received a tax credit that I shouldn’t have. I was claiming kids that I was legally allowed to claim but received a childcare credit for them also. Their mom paid the childcare fees and the daycare owner admitted to me that she altered the amount paid to be higher. I never had dependents to claim and didn’t know I could just totally forfeit this credit without having to not claim the kids period. I started to not claim the kids period due to this dilemma. I ended up still claiming them and this credit and feel guilty for two reasons.<\/p>\n
I want to file an amended return but wonder will God forgive me by simply amending instead of outright admitting to fraud? I knew when I filed my taxes that the number the owner gave me was incorrect and was too scared to tell her I thought that what she was doing was wrong. She has since been unavailable. This was three years ago and I’m conflicted about how to proceed.<\/p>\n\t
Self-incrimination is not required in the Scriptures. You will need to be honest if you are asked if you did something wrong if you are ever asked, but that would be for a judge to decide whether you need to be asked.<\/p>\n
Thus, you need to file an amended return with the correct numbers. If the results show that you owe the government additional money (some changes don’t always result in additional taxes owed), then you pay the amount owed, which typically includes a hefty interest penalty. You can consider the penalty your punishment for lying on your tax forms.<\/p>\n
Then go to God in prayer, apologize for lying, and resolve to live honestly in the future.<\/p>\n\t
Thank you.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: About 3 years ago I received a tax credit that I shouldn’t have. I was claiming kids that I was legally allowed to claim but received a childcare credit for them also. Their mom paid the childcare fees and the daycare owner admitted to me that she altered the amount paid to be higher.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[310,392],"class_list":["post-33031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-government","tag-lying"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23868,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-we-take-out-a-loan-on-unsellable-land-and-then-let-the-bank-foreclose-on-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":33031,"position":0},"title":"Should we take out a loan on unsellable land and then let the bank foreclose on it?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 21, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My husband is applying for a mortgage loan and is using a piece of land he inherited from his father as collateral.\u00a0 We do not actually need the money.\u00a0 But we want to dispose of the land as soon as possible because there are already other people occupying it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63421,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/salvation-by-grace-through-faith\/","url_meta":{"origin":33031,"position":1},"title":"Salvation by Grace Through Faith","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 17, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When we read Ephesians 2:8-10, there are four important words which stand out: grace, saved, faith, and works. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The gift mentioned in verse 8 is the gift of salvation given to us by God\u2019s grace. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Grace is an unmerited favor. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7556,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-i-tell-you-about-a-way-to-get-married-without-government-involvement\/","url_meta":{"origin":33031,"position":2},"title":"Can I tell you about a way to get married without government involvement?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 19, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I noticed a guy wrote\u00a0a piece about marriage claiming he didn't need a piece of paper. 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I am simply writing this e-mail\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28828,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-god-be-eternal-if-eternity-is-like-a-circle\/","url_meta":{"origin":33031,"position":5},"title":"How can God be eternal if eternity is like a circle?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 4, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Eternity is like a circle (no beginning or end). 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