sunandoghosh - 10:27 am on Apr 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

hi gerd...i think am not competent enough to answer ur answer as such...

i have basic tax knowledge...

but then one of the fundamental canons of taxation proposed by adam smith on which tax structure of most countries are based is "direct taxes have no quid pro quo" which means:

u do not derive any direct benefit for paying taxes...that means that if u pay x amount of money as taxes u cannot get x amout equivalent of benefit from Govt. flowing to u...

This is unlike say a particular tax like toll where govt taxes for providing a particular benefit to u everytime u enjoy a particular service...

this is the legal position...which means i am not talking about the ethical side of it, whether it is justified or not...

but as a measure of abundant precaution atleast pay some taxes even if u intend not to pay full taxes so that u r a taxpayer atleast...

this means when u r caught for avoiding taxes atleast u can take a plea that u always had intention to pay taxes and u did pay something to the best of ur ability and knowledge...its just u did not compute proper amount...so u should be treated favourably and a chance should be given...this way u will have a basis to defend yourself...

(i guess there is no govt official here hahaha...)