It is not just the tax code - one can be honest in everything, but the most likely result would be the person is left behind and becomes bitter and unhappy. Because others will break, it at least bend the rules if they can get away with it.<p>In this case it kinda becomes a competitive advantage - all things being the same, if one company does &quot;creative&quot; accounting and the other doesn&#x27;t, chances are the latter can&#x27;t compete effectively.<p>Th worst in all of this is that the general public views these companies as <i>smart</i> for exploring loopholes rather than getting annoyed with them.<p>None of this is to say that one shouldn&#x27;t be honest. Just be aware of what it costs to be honest, in a system full of loopholes