&gt; It&#x27;s not like the IRS is going to ask for corporate profit tax on Silk Road&#x27;s earnings.<p>Why not?<p>IRS doesn&#x27;t care if the activity is illegal or not.  See for example this slate article describing how sex workers declare income.<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.slate.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;news_and_politics&#x2F;explainer&#x2F;2009&#x2F;09&#x2F;how_do_prostitutes_pay_their_taxes.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.slate.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;news_and_politics&#x2F;explainer&#x2F;20...</a>