Why live in New Jersey?

I have been paying NJ State Income taxes for over 50 years. I am a 71-year-old veteran in a modest home with a big mortgage payment. I can’t afford to retire thanks to the draconian Income Tax Law of this bankrupt state. Last year, the NJ Tax Division conducted 4 tax audits going back to 2011, within a period of 30 days. One of the tax auditors, stated that this was “random”. The State of New Jersey wants to tax my savings, my pension, contributions to my Thrift Savings Plan BEFORE any withdrawals, contributions to my Health Insurance, my basic income, my contributions to life insurance. They want to limit credit for taxes paid to NY State, limit credit for property taxes, limit credits to charity, medical care, in short, this desperate state wants, through usury and harassment, to assault the most vulnerable class, senior citizens and make them pay for Christie’s intolerable and illegal spending. State government has defrauded its constituency and rewarded its lawmakers with fat salaries and pensions. No State Senator or Councilman would respond to my letters requesting assistance-not one! The State Tax Division delayed for a year in responding to my formal protest all the while letting interest accrue. The State Attorney General refuses to conduct an investigation into the unfair and biased policies of the NJ Tax Division despite clear evidence of their malfeasance and denial of due process. And the bottom line is that the auditors’ MATH is wrong. The evidence I submitted clearly shows the State owes me a refund. However, the State sent Tax Bills before ever sending a Final Determination. They want interest and penalties going back to 2011.

I now must defend myself pro se in Tax Court or extend additional financial resources to retain an attorney to argue the unfair audit determinations and outrageous automatic late fees and charges that continue to accrue as I write this. What recourse do we have to maleficent government? — Tony Zaza, Glen Ridge