You are completely off base when you compare your story to Uber and Lyft. There is no 'loophole' to be exploited. People are free to use the app to make some $$ or not. They can come and go ( turn on the app or turn off the app) as they please. That is the textbook definition of a 1099 Contractor. However, you have summed up the scam that is the federal tax code. It is purposely written in such a way that the average taxpayer cannot possibly understand it and must hire a professional tax preparer to fill out their tax forms in April. The tax code is the 'jelly' and the tax preparers are the 'jelly removers'. The government further raises the prices the consumers must pay by regulating the tax preparation industry. This continues until coders get into the game and provide 'free' tax prep software (TaxAct, TurboTax, Freetax, etc). Free, that is, if you are only filing a simple return. That's for unmarried kids with no deductions. Everyone else has to pay and also put in the time to full in the online forms.
The government creates and entire industry out of thin air just by writing tax code. That's the bullshit you write about here. Uber and Lyft don't fit into your narrative like you think they do. By the way, local pizza delivery in the five boroughs and other densely populated areas has operated this way for more than fifty years and no one complained.
The loophole being exploited is the tax code and policies both in terms of comp and in terms of what constitutes a full time worker. I think we're actually speaking the same language, but different interpretations.
You are completely off base when you compare your story to Uber and Lyft. There is no 'loophole' to be exploited. People are free to use the app to make some $$ or not. They can come and go ( turn on the app or turn off the app) as they please. That is the textbook definition of a 1099 Contractor. However, you have summed up the scam that is the federal tax code. It is purposely written in such a way that the average taxpayer cannot possibly understand it and must hire a professional tax preparer to fill out their tax forms in April. The tax code is the 'jelly' and the tax preparers are the 'jelly removers'. The government further raises the prices the consumers must pay by regulating the tax preparation industry. This continues until coders get into the game and provide 'free' tax prep software (TaxAct, TurboTax, Freetax, etc). Free, that is, if you are only filing a simple return. That's for unmarried kids with no deductions. Everyone else has to pay and also put in the time to full in the online forms.
The government creates and entire industry out of thin air just by writing tax code. That's the bullshit you write about here. Uber and Lyft don't fit into your narrative like you think they do. By the way, local pizza delivery in the five boroughs and other densely populated areas has operated this way for more than fifty years and no one complained.
The loophole being exploited is the tax code and policies both in terms of comp and in terms of what constitutes a full time worker. I think we're actually speaking the same language, but different interpretations.
Perfectly articulated. The intricate intermix of economic principles and policy at a cultural and social level is fascinating.
Thanks for reading, Josh. Stick with me for more.