(Tax Avoidance != Tax Evasion)

[beercohol]

When I was just a lud, I oft heard elders insist upon the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. The simple distinction was made, obviously in defense of tax mitigation measures and went simply as:

"Tax Evasion is illegal, Tax Avoidance is smart, legal tax management."

This simple observation became my adopted understanding of the matter. After all, in those days, one would respect the wisdom of one's elders.

So who shares my impression that the terms are being deliberately smudged together in an effort to get rid of the destinction and tarnish 'Avoidance' with Evasion's brush?

Furthermore, who shares my even wilder hallucination that the masses, baying like sheep, are falling for it?

[ratewhore]

When I was just a lud, I oft heard elders insist upon the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. The simple distinction was made, obviously in defense of tax mitigation measures and went simply as:

"Tax Evasion is illegal, Tax Avoidance is smart, legal tax management."

This simple observation became my adopted understanding of the matter. After all, in those days, one would respect the wisdom of one's elders.

So who shares my impression that the terms are being deliberately smudged together in an effort to get rid of the destinction and tarnish 'Avoidance' with Evasion's brush?

Furthermore, who shares my even wilder hallucination that the masses, baying like sheep, are falling for it?

I'm not convinced the masses care about tax avoidance measures by IT contractors...

[MrRobin]

No but they care about tax avoidance on the grand scale, and beercohol is right, I think 'avoidance' has become synonomous with 'evasion' when talking about tax... I call it tax 'planning'

[BrilloPad]

So who shares my impression that the terms are being deliberately smudged together in an effort to get rid of the destinction and tarnish 'Avoidance' with Evasion's brush?

by HMRC?

Furthermore, who shares my even wilder hallucination that the masses, baying like sheep, are falling for it?

As long as the plebs have the sun and big brother they will be happy.

[Tingles]

I think I heard the news this morning describing Wesley Snipes conviction as 'tax advoidance'.....



T

[beercohol]

I think I heard the news this morning describing Wesley Snipes conviction as 'tax advoidance'.....
T

See, See!!!!! Evoidance and avasion all mixed together in a evil beverage!

[Likely]

See, See!!!!! Evoidance and avasion all mixed together in a evil beverage!

Have you been avoiding a lot ?

[beercohol]

Have you been avoiding a lot ?

Yes, of course. Haven't you?

[Likely]

Yes, of course. Haven't you?

Just a few months. But it has been with one of those loan thingies. I think I am jumping off next contract. It is smelly.

[beercohol]

famously impregnable and authentic

Aha, Wikipedia (famously impregnable and authentic):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_evasion

"Public Opinion on Tax Avoidance

Tax avoidance may be considered to be the dodging of one's duties to society, or alternatively the right of every citizen to structure one's affairs in a manner allowed by law, to pay no more tax than what is required. Attitudes vary from approval through neutrality to outright hostility. Attitudes may vary depending on the steps taken in the avoidance scheme, or the perceived unfairness of the tax being avoided.

In the judiciary, different judges have taken different attitudes. As a generalization, for example, judges in the United Kingdom before the 1970s regarded tax avoidance with neutrality; but nowadays they regard it with increasing hostility."