Of course businesses factor in all "costs" but you don't seem to grasp the fact that income taxes are NOT a "cost."
Introductory Microeconomics might help.
The idea that there are no "bureaucrats" in business is laughable. I have held many jobs in the private sector from Paper Mills, to Laboratory work. I have worked for Sears, construction, Cancer Research labs, industrial laundry, brewery, bag plants, chemical plants, publishing and Banks to name a few.
Income Tax is A COST, they just don't pay it immidiately, but they do factor it into their prices. Ask a business owner, they will back my up.
You mistake accountants with bureaucrats.
Income taxes are as real as rent, electricity, direct materials and direct labor. Any businessman worth his salt factors the tax cost into his calculations.
"...but you don't seem to grasp the fact that income taxes are NOT a 'cost.'"
LOL Amazing spin you have there, jsuati. Ok, there are five major categories of financial transactions: revenue, expense (cost), assets, liabilities, owners equity.
What category would you place taxes in? Assets?
This is priceless.
It doesn't make you look so smart to use language and words that aren't used in the real world - but that's not where your knowledge is... clearly.
You'll go on to give chapter and verse about the "actual economic definition" or something. HA!
Is the light bill a cost? How about the copier lease payment? SHEESH the idiocy!