4 ms·

They couldn't sell it currently, if the law changes in the future (or if it can be moved to another jurisdiction) then it could be sold for a non-zero value.

• Teknoman117 7y ago
  There is no way you could justify assigning value to something on the grounds that "if laws change then it has value."
  • brohee 7y ago
    You do, it's factoring the fact that something that cannot be sold legally can still has black market value, which is definitely the case for stolen art and antiques, protected species etc...
    • yipbub 7y ago
      and stock!
    • taneq 7y ago
      So new parents should be deemed to have received whatever a baby’s worth on the black market?
    • doubletgl 7y ago
      True, but then you're taxing someone for a crime they haven't commited yet and might never commit.
  • kurtisc 7y ago
    I disagree. Markets react to election results.
  • TheOtherHobbes 7y ago
    Value is a very nebulous concept. But laws consistently affect the prices of everything from food to real estate to medical care to weapons to labour. The changes aren't usually zero -> something, but that's a footnote to the general principle.
    • taneq 7y ago
      Prices are real. Value is imaginary until something changes hands.
• ajsnigrutin 7y ago
  So they can tax (the profits, price difference) when they sell it.