I will borrow your words that taxation is a necessary evil that has to be done for the state to functional exist and carry out the primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties of the citizens so tax has to be paid from the side of the citizens who are protected them and there business from external agrisors so I am of the view that taxation is not a theft.
Without taxation, there wouldn't be economical progression because how would the government even makes money to provide for all states. The natural resources selling aren't enough to make any country big no matter how abundant the are in supply, it has been reported from many countries that the best place government makes money is through their port, customs are the primary taxes collectors for the government, how will the government survive without this taxes.
What I consider as theft is the system in which the tax is been distributed. Right now in my country, there has been reformation of tax and how added value tax redistribution to the state. The previous system is corrupt, stolen funds and misappropriation of money by many government officials, these are the people that want us to pay tax and it's the same people that are looting the tax for their personal gains and can't even provide adequate security for businesses.