| |
| |
|
Taxes Information |
|
|
|
Keeping Your Own Money - NOT Handing It Over To The Taxman
Most people trying to make a crust online (or offline for that matter) are so focused on doing just that, they ignore taking simple steps to ensure that they hang on to just as much of it as they can. Instead, they hand over large lumps of their hard-earned money in tax, usually in one of two mistaken beliefs. Either: I'd respectfully suggest that those two "reasons" are mutually exclusive. Visiting penal sanctions on citizens because they decline to hand over their money to you could hardly be regarded as the mark of a civilised society. In fact it might more properly be regarded as the mark of a criminal one! So how does this situation arise, and how can the thinking man or woman avoid it? Most e-mails I receive regarding business opportunities trumpet the benefits of being an entrepreneur. Now the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defines "entrepreneur" as follows: "A person who undertakes or controls a business and bears the risk of profit or loss". Yes, that's "risk", "profit" and "loss". All things that people with their own businesses regard as being as inevitable as night following day. Interestingly, the SOED contains no definition of "rentseeker". Still, key the term in to Google and you'll discover that it refers to people who want to be paid to take your money for a "service" that you would not yourself choose to pay for. Now let's just talk this one through: Now, in any other context, this process is known as "robbery", or, more subtly, "fraud". After all, it IS your money, right? Well not according to Uncle Sam, or, depending where you're based, your nearest friendly local equivalent. Governments seem to think that they've generally got a whole lot better set of ideas about what to do with your money than you might have yourself (despite all the evidence to the contrary in front of everyone's eyes). What they've particularly got, however, is a set of excellent ideas for using your income to pay their own salaries and pensions (final salary, index-linked, performance-irrelevant). And these people are known as rentseekers. The legendary investor, Jim Rogers, writing in the Foreword to "Financial Reckoning Day", by Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin, had this to say: "In America, if you have a job, you pay taxes. If you save some money, you pay taxes on the interest. If you buy a stock and get paid a dividend, you pay taxes. If you have a capital gain, you pay taxes again. And when you die, your estate pays taxes. If you live long enough to get social security, they tax your social security income. Remember: you paid taxes on all this money when you earned it originally and yet they tax it again and again". Now wouldn't it just be nice to avoid all of that? Because it's the simplest thing on earth, particularly if your earnings are being generated in that weird nether land called cyberspace, to use a set of perfectly legal arrangements to process your money FREE OF TAX. In other words, you set yourself up a company, a bank account, and a business address somewhere no predatory taxman stalks! That is, OFFSHORE. There are quite a large number of these jurisdictions, and there is not a single Fortune 500 company that doesn't use them. I kinda think that tells you a lot. Once it's all in place it works just like any other company arrangement - you just don't pay any tax! Now no-one's suggesting that it costs nothing to set up these arrangements, and it's true it's not going to figure high in your priorities if you've got a marketing budget of $10 and are wondering how to pay the rent. But, assuming that you're already generating even reasonable income, it just has to make sense to look into this. After all, even if you're not interested in saving yourself a whole lot of money, there's another reason you might wish to avoid all of this. I'll leave you with another quote, this time from Charles Adams, in "For Good And Evil: The Impact Of Taxes On Modern Civilisation": "Tax haven 'refugees' report that they are tired of fighting the taxman. They have had enough of audits, year in and year out, of having their banking and accounting records picked over and questioned. They are tired of having their privacy totally destroyed by inquisitional tax agents. They are tired of appeals, big fees for tax professionals, and endless tax litigation. Many complain that the soak-the-rich philosophy of their homelands was not as intolerable as the harassment and scorn they receive from revenue bureaucrats". Personally, I can relate to that... If what I've been saying strikes any chords at all with you, there's much more at http://www.advent-taxfreedom.com, and a free e-zine too. About The Author Leo Rogers: http://www.advent-taxfreedom.com offshore finance ' tax freedom ' secret banking mailto:leo@advent-taxfreedom.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Taxes - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
IRS Lock-In Letters - What's An Employer To Do? Employers often ask employees to designate the amount of tax withholdings for paychecks. Occasionally, employees will fail to withhold a sufficient amount in the eyes of the IRS. Need a Copy of Your Tax Return Information? Taxpayers have two easy and convenient options for getting copies of their federal tax return information - tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts - by phone or by mail.A tax return transcript shows most line items from the tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. 10 Thoughts on Tax Offer in Compromise Beware of advertisements that claim to settle tax debts for "pennies on the dollar". Check the Offer In Compromise requirements to see if it is right for you. How to Check the Status of Your Tax Refund Online So, you were pleasantly surprised to learn that you are getting a refund on your taxes. Congratulations! The question for most taxpayers expecting a return is, "Where is my refund?"Check Your Refund Status OnlineThe easiest way to check on your refund is to ask the IRS through IRS. The Annual Gift Tax Exclusion: Getting The Edge Whether helping the kids with a down payment on their first home, paying the premiums on a life insurance policy in an irrevocable trust, or moving appreciated assets to a younger generation, annual gifting will touch the lives of millions of Americans. But before the transfer is made, an investor should spend some time looking at the investment and the tax ramifications of the property to be passed. The Seven Deadly Tax Sins: Commonly Missed Deductions It's that time again, the April 15 tax deadline is looming large. If youre like most people, you havent gathered all of your tax records, let alone filled your return. Knock-Knock-Knock Knock-Knock-KnockWho's there?The IRS!The next quarterly payment of estimated income tax for the self-employed is not far off. Network marketers who receive a form 1099 at the end of the year, and/or who are expected to owe $1,000 or more in taxes, must file a form 1040-ES Payment Voucher quarterly to avoid paying a penalty. Fraudulent Tax Shelters - KMPG Goes Down Hard In the largest criminal tax case ever filed, KMPG has copped a plea to using fraudulent tax shelters to bilk the government out of 2.5 billion dollars. Tax Tips - Which Tax Form Is Right For Me? IRS Tax forms can be confusing.Am I a 1099 or a W-2. Tax Trap #1 -- Waiting to Incorporate: What A Difference A Date Can Make NOTE: This is the first in a series of 5 articles: "Small Business Tax Traps and How To Avoid Them"If you're a sole proprietor, perhaps you've considered incorporating your small business or self-employment activity.And so maybe you've been wondering, "When is the best time to incorporate?"From a legal standpoint, any time is the best time. Truly Bizarre Taxes: The Tax on Illegal Drugs One can never underestimate the enthusiasm that politicians have for trying to hunt up tax revenues. The creativity of some politicians can lead to bizarre taxes and unfortunate results. State Tax Information All states also have their own tax system. Typically there is a tax on real estate, and there may be additional income taxes, sales taxes, and excise taxes. SFR Substitute for Returns: IRS Action on Non-Filers In the latest Star Wars episode, the evil empire executes a brutal revenge on the Jedi. While the IRS is not an evil empire (and due to the Revenue Reform Act of 1998 not very brutal anymore); it too is executing revenge on those who do not comply with filing their tax returns. Understanding Basic Tax Terms If your like many, you don't always understand what people are talking about when it comes to Taxes. It's important to know the main tax terminology, especially when tax season comes around. Insider Guides to IRS Audits! Ever wish that, as a business owner, you knew exactly what would raise "red flags" at the IRS? Or how to make an IRS audit go as smoothly and painlessly as possible?If you're in the right type of business, you can get that information, directly from the IRS!Traditionally, IRS examiners have been responsible for auditing many types of businesses. An examiner might audit a grocery store one week and a construction company the next. IRS Certifies 2006 Toyota Hybrid for Clean Fuel Deduction The Internal Revenue Service has certified the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid as being eligible for the clean-burning fuel deduction. This certification means that taxpayers who purchase one of these hybrid vehicles new during calendar year 2005 may claim a tax deduction of up to $2000 on Form 1040. Tax Trap #2 -- Double Taxation: Isnt Once Enough? Have you been thinking about incorporating your small business or self-employment activity? The advantages are many!For starters, you'll be protecting yourself and your family from the possible of a business ending lawsuit. Forming a corporation is Step One on the path known as "Asset Protection" -- you are moving from the world of unlimited liability to the world of limited liability. Tax Jokes and Quotes Do you realize that some tax forms ask you to check a box if you are BLIND?Quote: "Two years ago it was impossible to get through on the phone to the IRS. Now it's just hard to get through. Alas! In E-Commerce Taxland In trying to comply with tax laws for your e-business, you may find yourself falling down the rabbit-hole, going through the looking glass, and attending a Mad Tea-Party.Common sense, logic, and fairness never did apply fully to the field of taxation but this is especially true of e-commerce transactions. E-commerce Taxation The means and types of businesses have transformed with advent of era of e-commerce, resulting in global seller and buyer. The Internet offers consumer choice, business efficiency and recreation.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
