Search Members Help

» Welcome Guest
[ Log In :: Register ]


Question: Have/Do you ever cheat on taxes? :: Total Votes:4
Poll choices Votes Statistics
Hell no. I'm honest/Fear the IRS. 0  [0.00%]
Only a little. 0  [0.00%]
Things are grey. 2  [50.00%]
Only with what I can get away with. 1  [25.00%]
Hell yes. 1  [25.00%]
Guests cannot vote
 

[ Track This Topic :: Email This Topic :: Print this topic ]

reply to topic new topic new poll
Topic: Have/Do you ever cheat on taxes?< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
 Post Number: 1
TheCatt Search for posts by this member.
Top 2%
Avatar



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 05 2016,08:46  Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

Just curious....

--------------
It's not me, it's someone else.
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 2
TPRJones Search for posts by this member.
I saw The Fault in our Stars opening night.
Avatar



Group: Privateers
Posts: 12384
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 05 2016,09:26 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

When I find a loophole I use it.  My capital investments aren't a big percentage of my income but they do provide the occasional opportunity here and there to shave some off the totals.

--------------
Vidi Perfutui Veni
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 3
Malcolm Search for posts by this member.
I disagree.
Avatar



Group: Privateers
Posts: 27168
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 05 2016,09:49 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

Anything you can get away with on taxes isn't cheating.

cheating = illegal/forbidden action that causes a disciplinary reaction
not cheating = everything else

Any time I have a question about where to draw that line, I look at charts like this ...

... and conclude the gov't can go fuck itself.


Edited by Malcolm on Mar. 05 2016,09:52

--------------
Diogenes of Sinope:

"It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."

"Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I bite also my friends in order to save them."

Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC:

"Better dead than smeg."
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 4
TheCatt Search for posts by this member.
Top 2%
Avatar



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 05 2016,10:32 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

I have friends who will fill out their taxes with multiple software packages, then take whichever gives them the biggest return.  Interestingly enough, the tax code is pretty deterministic about these people's situations... it's interesting to see how many of the software packages therefore must have bugs.

Years ago I accidentally mis-reported some Schedule D stuff (cap gains), so I cheated the government, but it was a mistake I didn't realize until a year later.

Currently, I own a business, and so there are some things I do that are probably grey.  I feel like I could defend them well enough (more likely than not to be valid), but also feel there's a chance the IRS would say no if they audited me.


--------------
It's not me, it's someone else.
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 5
GORDON Search for posts by this member.
90%
Avatar



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 36125
Joined: Jun. 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 05 2016,15:23 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

There are a few things you can deduct that the IRS does not require proof for, until a certain level, and there are some excuses they will accept if they catch you in certain other things that also do not require proof.

So, hell yes.

Theoretically.  I of course say this just to encourage conversation because I would never cheat on my taxes because that is bad and wrong.  It's b'd'ong.


--------------
I don't give a fuck!
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 6
TheCatt Search for posts by this member.
Top 2%
Avatar



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 05 2016,16:11 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE


(GORDON @ Mar. 05 2016,18:23)
QUOTE
There are a few things you can deduct that the IRS does not require proof for, until a certain level, and there are some excuses they will accept if they catch you in certain other things that also do not require proof.

Now my curiosity is itching...

--------------
It's not me, it's someone else.
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 7
GORDON Search for posts by this member.
90%
Avatar



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 36125
Joined: Jun. 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 05 2016,18:16 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

Charitable donations, for example.  I believe the limit is $500, without needing receipts.  

And apparently "all my records were on my smart phone and I lost them when it crashed" is an acceptable excuse for he IRS.  I was told.  By the IRS enrolled agent.


--------------
I don't give a fuck!
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 8
Malcolm Search for posts by this member.
I disagree.
Avatar



Group: Privateers
Posts: 27168
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 06 2016,10:27 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE


(GORDON @ Mar. 05 2016,20:16)
QUOTE
Charitable donations, for example.  I believe the limit is $500, without needing receipts.  

And apparently "all my records were on my smart phone and I lost them when it crashed" is an acceptable excuse for he IRS.  I was told.  By the IRS enrolled agent.

That's not cheating, that's an accepted lie with no repercussions.

--------------
Diogenes of Sinope:

"It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."

"Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I bite also my friends in order to save them."

Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC:

"Better dead than smeg."
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 9
GORDON Search for posts by this member.
90%
Avatar



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 36125
Joined: Jun. 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 06 2016,11:29 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE


(Malcolm @ Mar. 06 2016,13:27)
QUOTE

(GORDON @ Mar. 05 2016,20:16)
QUOTE
Charitable donations, for example.  I believe the limit is $500, without needing receipts.  

And apparently "all my records were on my smart phone and I lost them when it crashed" is an acceptable excuse for he IRS.  I was told.  By the IRS enrolled agent.

That's not cheating, that's an accepted lie with no repercussions.

Well then I'd change my answer, but it all seems to be the same level of illegality no matter what you call it.

--------------
I don't give a fuck!
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 10
Alhazad Search for posts by this member.
Custom titles are for closers.
Avatar



Group: "Members"
Posts: 959
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 07 2016,09:28 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE


(Malcolm @ Mar. 06 2016,10:27)
QUOTE

(GORDON @ Mar. 05 2016,20:16)
QUOTE
Charitable donations, for example.  I believe the limit is $500, without needing receipts.  

And apparently "all my records were on my smart phone and I lost them when it crashed" is an acceptable excuse for he IRS.  I was told.  By the IRS enrolled agent.

That's not cheating, that's an accepted lie with no repercussions.

One assumes it gets noted on your file to catch habitual users.

--------------
We're Back: A Dinosaur's Story
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 11
Malcolm Search for posts by this member.
I disagree.
Avatar



Group: Privateers
Posts: 27168
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 07 2016,09:32 Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE


(Alhazad @ Mar. 07 2016,11:28)
QUOTE

(Malcolm @ Mar. 06 2016,10:27)
QUOTE

(GORDON @ Mar. 05 2016,20:16)
QUOTE
Charitable donations, for example.  I believe the limit is $500, without needing receipts.  

And apparently "all my records were on my smart phone and I lost them when it crashed" is an acceptable excuse for he IRS.  I was told.  By the IRS enrolled agent.

That's not cheating, that's an accepted lie with no repercussions.

One assumes it gets noted on your file to catch habitual users.

They generally don't send out auditors unless there's profit to be made.

--------------
Diogenes of Sinope:

"It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."

"Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I bite also my friends in order to save them."

Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC:

"Better dead than smeg."
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
 Post Number: 12
TheCatt Search for posts by this member.
Top 2%
Avatar



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
PostIcon Posted on: Mar. 07 2016,10:33 Skip to the previous post in this topic.  Ignore posts   QUOTE

If you make less than $200k, your odds are being audited are less than 1%.

Auditing/staffing funding at the IRS is way down.  Their computer system is ancient and can only catch the most obvious issues (mismatched 1099s or W2s, etc).  There is no/little big data analysis there.  They can't catch much.


--------------
It's not me, it's someone else.
Offline
Top of Page Profile Contact Info 
11 replies since Mar. 05 2016,08:46 < Next Oldest | Next Newest >

[ Track This Topic :: Email This Topic :: Print this topic ]


 
reply to topic new topic new poll

» Quick Reply Have/Do you ever cheat on taxes?
iB Code Buttons
You are posting as:

Do you wish to enable your signature for this post?
Do you wish to enable emoticons for this post?
Track this topic
View All Emoticons
View iB Code