Tax avoidance is NOT illegal or immoral. Tax evasion IS.
When FDR raised taxes the expected increase did not materialize. The US Treasury dragged any entity it could into court. Judge Learned Hand gave my favorite quote:
“Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.”
Sorry about that. I really should read until the end of the thread, but I like your taste in quotes.