Legal Definitions - tax optimization

Definition: Tax optimization is the process of reducing the amount of taxes you owe by using legal methods to take advantage of tax laws and regulations. This can be done by both individuals and companies to lower their tax liabilities and charges.

It's important to note that tax optimization is legal and different from tax fraud, which is illegal. Tax optimization is also different from tax evasion, which involves using illegal means to avoid paying taxes.

For example, some yacht-owners register their boats in countries where registration is cheap and foreign income is tax-exempt. This is a legal way to reduce their tax liability. Another example is income deferral, where individuals keep their money in pension plans, retirement savings plans, and universal life insurance to avoid paying taxes until they are in a lower tax bracket.

These examples illustrate how tax optimization works by using legal methods to reduce the amount of taxes owed. By taking advantage of tax laws and regulations, individuals and companies can lower their tax liabilities and charges.