3 ms·

These often tag along in the US as add-on, enhancing or easier to prove items on investigations that have little to do with them. Money was involved but not rep

by creer 2y ago

These often tag along in the US as add-on, enhancing or easier to prove items on investigations that have little to do with them. Money was involved but not reported to the IRS: IRS. Anything at all went through the mail: USPS. It says nothing about the core issues being investigated.

ramesh31 2y ago
Sure, but my whole point is that corruption charges are incredibly hard to bring outside the context of utilizing (or cheating) those two services. Smart criminals pay their taxes.
- creer 2y ago
  Fair. Are there examples documented out there where the smart criminals did pay their taxes and we got details on how exactly they described and categorized these payments? "Misc income (bribes) $123,456" might not be the best solution.
  - ramesh31 2y ago
    >"Misc income (bribes) $123,456" might not be the best solution. You joke, but funny enough that is indeed the official stance from the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525#en_US_2023_publink1000229557 https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525#en_US_2023_publink1000... "Illegal activities. Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8z, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity."
    - creer 2y ago
      Heh. Yes I had noticed this. The problem with "Misc income (bribes)" would be mentioning "bribes" outright. Which then might have a propensity to reach the wrong persons. Confidentially of course. I expect it's more popular to find other, more politically favorable euphemistic ways to still declare and pay taxes even if the description is only marginally or technically correct. Or to disguise the illegal activity as a "separate business". I insufficiently remember cases in Europe where "Consulting services" were provided. Consulting services would be an easy one. I'd say too easy by now, for a politician.
- threatofrain 2y ago
  > Smart criminals pay their taxes. Do they? I wouldn't be so sure of the privacy firewall between the IRS and the rest of government, even if IRS is a very special org.
  - ramesh31 2y ago
    >Do they? I wouldn't be so sure of the privacy firewall between the IRS and the rest of government Not with a line item on their 1040, but through indirect means. It's essentially the entire point of RICO: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Cor...

by creer 2y ago

ramesh31 2y ago

Sure, but my whole point is that corruption charges are incredibly hard to bring outside the context of utilizing (or cheating) those two services. Smart criminals pay their taxes.

creer 2y ago
Fair. Are there examples documented out there where the smart criminals did pay their taxes and we got details on how exactly they described and categorized these payments? "Misc income (bribes) $123,456" might not be the best solution.
- ramesh31 2y ago
  >"Misc income (bribes) $123,456" might not be the best solution. You joke, but funny enough that is indeed the official stance from the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525#en_US_2023_publink1000229557 https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525#en_US_2023_publink1000... "Illegal activities. Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8z, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity."
  - creer 2y ago
    Heh. Yes I had noticed this. The problem with "Misc income (bribes)" would be mentioning "bribes" outright. Which then might have a propensity to reach the wrong persons. Confidentially of course. I expect it's more popular to find other, more politically favorable euphemistic ways to still declare and pay taxes even if the description is only marginally or technically correct. Or to disguise the illegal activity as a "separate business". I insufficiently remember cases in Europe where "Consulting services" were provided. Consulting services would be an easy one. I'd say too easy by now, for a politician.
threatofrain 2y ago
> Smart criminals pay their taxes. Do they? I wouldn't be so sure of the privacy firewall between the IRS and the rest of government, even if IRS is a very special org.
- ramesh31 2y ago
  >Do they? I wouldn't be so sure of the privacy firewall between the IRS and the rest of government Not with a line item on their 1040, but through indirect means. It's essentially the entire point of RICO: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Cor...