So, this thread was prompted by a comment in another thread.
For the purposes of the discussion, I have provided my definitions as follows:
Tax Planning: Structuring tax affairs in such a way as to gain a tax advantage, where that advantage is explicitly allowed/encouraged by law. This is legal.
Tax Avoidance: Structuring tax affairs in such a way as to gain a tax advantage where that advantage exploits a loophole or complex structure that exists for the primary purpose of avoiding taxation, that is against the intention of the law, but not explicitly forbidden. This is legal.
Tax Evasion: Structuring tax affairs in such a way to gain a tax advantage that is explicitly forbidden by law, or by simply failing to comply with the law altogether. This is illegal.
So, tax avoidance - legal, but is it moral?
For the purposes of the discussion, I have provided my definitions as follows:
Tax Planning: Structuring tax affairs in such a way as to gain a tax advantage, where that advantage is explicitly allowed/encouraged by law. This is legal.
Tax Avoidance: Structuring tax affairs in such a way as to gain a tax advantage where that advantage exploits a loophole or complex structure that exists for the primary purpose of avoiding taxation, that is against the intention of the law, but not explicitly forbidden. This is legal.
Tax Evasion: Structuring tax affairs in such a way to gain a tax advantage that is explicitly forbidden by law, or by simply failing to comply with the law altogether. This is illegal.
So, tax avoidance - legal, but is it moral?
