In the US tax system, which is the only one I'm familiar with, instead of accounting for survival expenses the way businesses do, individuals get the Standard Deduction, with additional allowances for dependents. This is a substitute for having to account for every penny spent on food, rent, etc. For example this year the Standard Deduction is $15,000. Seems a little low to me, and I don't know how they come up with that number - maybe it's what they define as the "poverty line" I dunno. But that's the concept. If you live better than you would on that much, the additional is your "little getaway" you don't get to call an expense. Now I'm not disagreeing with you saying the system is rigged in favor of the rich, just clarifying that one particular point.

[–] Critical_Thinker@lemm.ee 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

the standard deduction doesn't work on a national level. The cost to survive in boston is not the same as rural louisiana.

Everything is designed to maximize taxes on the poor and working class, especially the new tariff tax plan.

That being said... the 'little getaway' is easily classified as a business expense in a business. "I traveled to meet with a client" - maybe my getaway was to interview with a potential employer. I can make up bullshit all day and nobody can prove it one way or another.

I've personally seen multiple CFOs do illegal shit like embezzlement. I've seen internal audit things swept under the rug like fucking crazy.

On the small business side there's all the blue collar workers gladly taking cash without receipts and never recording it as income. Props up the 'business' owners, hurts the working class unless they do side gigs for cash. It's all broken.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Hence my last sentence, which probably should have been the first since it's freaking social media.