Judge Learned Hand: Not Bound to Best Pay
on Monday, April 4, 2016Judge Learned Hand Money Quote saying we all have the right to make certain we pay lowest level of taxes. Judge Learned Hand said:
“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” — Judge Learned Hand
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In this quote, Judge Learned Hand is expressing the view that individuals and businesses have the right to legally minimize their tax burden through savvy planning and structuring of financial affairs. While paying taxes funds important government services, Hand suggests taxpayers are not obligated to simply maximize their tax payments if there are legal means available to lessen the tax impact.
His perspective implies that optimizing one’s tax situation through allowable deductions, credits, exemptions or other strategies should not be seen as unethical or problematic behavior as long as it follows tax rules.
Overall, the quote conveys Hand’s position that citizens acting in their own self-interest to keep taxes as low as possible through compliant tax planning is a reasonable and acceptable approach according to both the letter and spirit of the tax code.
Birthday: January 27, 1872 – Death: August 18, 1961