Underground Economy???

[RipChord929]

I was wondering if any of you ppl participate in the "underground economy"???
There has been alot of talk about it at the local town pub lately... There are alot
of ppl who are fiercely independant around my area.. (West coast of Oly Peninsula
WA St.) Thats why I have found my home here, 16yrs.. I fit right in, LOL!!!
The way things are going, (and by the scuttlebutt) It looks like this is going to be
a fairly important aspect of life around here in the near future...

If you already participate, how so?  And any Ideas that would further this movement
would be very interesting to hear...
(If you already do, and don't really want to talk about it, I understand!!!)
But give a thumbs up, to show your feelings about it...

Example: About a month ago, I swapped a full grown steer,(on the hoof) for a fillup of
my home fuel tanks.. about 350gallons gasoline, and 100gallons of diesel... No tax!!!

I'm not talking about drugs, and don't really want to hear about that..

   RC

[thrila]

I don't think it is wise to discuss the participation of illegal activities and to enquire how to go about doing it.  I would edit you post before an employee of  HTC see it.

[Strip]

I don't think it is wise to discuss the participation of illegal activities and how to go about doing it.  I would edit you post before an employee of  HTC see it.

My thoughts exactly....

"Underground economy" might as well read "illegal economy".

[RTHolmes]

doesnt have to be illegal activities (apart from the tax evasion aspect.) in fact with a pure barter economy there may be no tax liability at all.

eg. I grow vegetables and farm goats, then exchange those for labour from a chippie and a brickie to build me a new barn.

then again the guys at the pub might be talking about selling crack...

[Strip]

doesnt have to be illegal activities (apart from the tax evasion aspect.) in fact with a pure barter economy there may be no tax liability at all.

eg. I grow vegetables and farm goats, then exchange those for labour from a chippie and a brickie to build me a new barn.

That doesnt really fall under underground economy according to last couple of economics classes I took.

[RTHolmes]

well I can pop over to france, load up a van with booze and studmuffins then sell them at home. thats black/grey marketeering although selling booze and studmuffins isnt illegal per se, the illegality comes from avoiding duty/taxes.

i could do the same with weed from holland, but possessing then distributing it would be a criminal offense.

any underground economic activity is illegal by definition, but thats the distinction I was trying to make


edit: lol@ studmuffins, in the uk f.a.g.s is slang for cigarettes 

[Anaxogoras]

So it's illegal for us to trade our tomatoes for the neighbor's cucumbers?

[RTHolmes]

well if you work for a farmer and instead of a salary you were "paid" in the equivalent value of tomatos, I'm pretty sure the govt would still want the same amount of income tax from you (benefits in kind.)

if you grow tomatos and sell them, thats taxable income. if you grow them then barter them you've still generated income, although in the form of cucumbers.

"If it moves, tax it..."

[Anaxogoras]

I always wanted to be a rebel.

[Getback]

My thoughts exactly....

"Underground economy" might as well read "illegal economy".

Ditto! You may want to go to Flamewarriors.com to post this and get some real feedback.

[sluggish]

Any attempt at evading the tax system is indeed illegal.  While bartering in and of itself is legal, not reporting income of said barter is illegal.  For example,if you are an electrician and you agree to do an electrical job for someone at $500 and then they agree to give you a computer with a market value of $500, then that $500 is taxable income to you.

[Maverick]

Barter is legal. Taxes are not due when items of equal value are exchanged between parties.

[sluggish]

Barter is legal. Taxes are not due when items of equal value are exchanged between parties.

So, what you're saying is I should only be taxed on the portion of my wages that I save?  Interesting...





(I think the IRS disagrees...)

[BigPlay]

I don't think it is wise to discuss the participation of illegal activities and to enquire how to go about doing it.  I would edit you post before an employee of  HTC see it.

 



the longer this sham errr stimulus continues the more you will see this sort of thing. I seriously doubt that the Gov has the time to go after people struggling to get by, don't they have the rich people to chase around first?

[Die Hard]

Rich people can afford effective legal representation.