So, while I'm sure that the very wealthy ("plutocrats"? Really?) include some people who actively work to defraud the government, I don't think it's mostly tha

So, while I'm sure that the very wealthy ("plutocrats"? Really?) include some people who actively work to defraud the government, I don't think it's mostly that. Here's the fact: If you have a net worth north of say $20 million, you're going to hire an accountant to do your taxes. Not, like, an H&R Block come down with a box of your documents accountant, a real accountant. That accountant's _job_ is to interact with an incredibly arcane tax code that includes a lot of special cases and exceptions, and come up with the lowest tax burden possible for you. Legally. Even if you don't super care to shave another 5% off your taxes, your accountant will probably do it for you without your asking. How else would it work? Would an accountant say, "Come use me! I'll increase your tax burden!"? If at the end of the process you feel like giving away more of your wealth, then you can always choose to do that.