I AM NOT A CROOK

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2 total messages Started by Tom Gross Tue, 18 Mar 1986 18:07

#896

Author: Tom Gross
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1986 18:07

45 lines
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>>        "When in doubt, deduct it!"
>>
>>    If you just follow that rule you will ALWAYS come out
>>    ahead.

>   Doesn't it bother you at all to break the law?  And to steal (yes,
>*steal*) from other Americans.  I don't see how you can give any other
>name to knowingly (or at least negligently) filing a false income tax
>return.

    Who said anything about breaking the law or *stealing* or
    filing a false return?

>    From the point of view above you should lie through your teeth.
> Your chances of even being audited are no more than one in 50-100;
> the penalties would have to be pretty steep to make your expected
> return negative.

    Look, the government isn't going figure out all your deductions
    FOR you; you have to CLAIM them.  All I said was if you're not
    sure if a given deduction is valid, go ahead and take it.  I'm
    NOT suggesting that you deduct your Brandy consumption as a 
    contribution to "Christian Brothers" (supposedly that has been
    done) because chances are you KNOW that's not legal.  I am saying
    that if you move and change jobs, for example, and are not sure
    if the change in commuting distance is exactly enough but you
    thinks it's close, GO AHEAD and claim the deduction.

>    I really do despise you.  You seem to have no sense of personal
> integrity or honor.  And it doesn't bother you to steal from others.
> Pretty sick in my view.  Fortunately the majority (at least for the
> moment) seem to agree with me, so the whole society of the United
> States doesn't collapse...
>

    Okay, so you're NOT serious.  On the odd chance that you are
    NOT kidding about this, or that someone else thinks I am 
    a crook, I hope my clarification above will clear this up.


    Tom Gross
    Apollo Computer, Inc.
    Chelmsford, MA

Re: I AM NOT A CROOK

#905

Author: Jeffrey W Percival
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1986 23:26

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In article <2c91e314.2a75@apollo.uucp> tbg@apollo.uucp (Tom Gross) writes:
>
>>>        "When in doubt, deduct it!"
>>>
>>   Doesn't it bother you at all to break the law?
>
>    Who said anything about breaking the law or *stealing* or
>    filing a false return?
>
I fully agree with Mr Gross here.  There's a world of difference
between claiming something you know is false (mortgage points,
for example, when you didn't pay any) and claiming something
about which you have a legitimate uncertainty (points on refinancing,
for example).  The average taxpayer is not a tax lawyer, and cannot
be expected to consult one on every ambiguous point because the
average tax payer may not even be able to *recognise* an ambiguous
point.  I try to make the best possible determination of all my
claims, without adopting the obsequious strategy of always caving in
when I have the slightest doubt.  If I later learn that I mis-judged,
then I expect to pay the difference.  That is *not* stealing.
-- 
	Jeff Percival ...!uwvax!uwmacc!jwp

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