The most basic principle of justice is that the punishment should be proportional to the crime. A murderer forfits the right to his own life and so become liable to the death penalty. But for the State this is no big deal. The state grants itself the rights of God and shows mercy to the criminal and punishes the victim. The murderer get out of jail in less than 10 years and the victim's family sufferes the consequences for the rest of their lives.
So what truely offends the State? Whatever the State punishes most sevearly. Murder 50 people and you may get 100 years in jail. Don't pay your taxes and you'll get 288 years. The only thing that matters to the State is that it gets our money.
Yes, pay the taxes, but remember the true nature of the State.