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Buy, Borrow, Die: How America's Ultrawealthy Stay That Way

Buy, Borrow, Die: How America's Ultrawealthy Stay That Way on HackerTube: recommended by 1 Hacker News commenter across 1 month, 2021–2022.

ProPublica

explainer · dated

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A short ProPublica video explaining the "Buy, Borrow, Die" strategy wealthy Americans use to cut taxes. They borrow against appreciating assets instead of selling, and the gains are never taxed at death.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Shared as a clearer explanation of the tax loophole than the accompanying article.

people recommended it
1
separate months
1
strong recommendations
0
discussed on HN
2021–2022
“This video does a better job at explaining the tax loophole”
— 29athrowaway, Jun 2021, in “IRS records reveal how the wealthiest avoid income tax”

What HN commenters said

5 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

29athrowawayJun 2021Recommends

A better way to structure the article would be: - explain how much tax evasion took place - explain how the tax evasion happens - who is doing it - what to do next. Only then, compare the situation to the average person. Everyone knows how much they pay in taxes themselves. This video does a better job at explaining the tax loophole: ▶ this video

in “IRS records reveal how the wealthiest avoid income tax” · View on HN

toomuchtodoApr 2022Cites it

Tax the proceeds at loan origination (1099-whatever filed by whomever is providing the cash based on pledged assets). How you pay the loan back if the collateral declines in value is your problem (or the bank’s problem, depending on the amount in question). High level, it closes a financial engineering loophole (buy, borrow, die [1]). The taxable event is when you get liquid, and a loan is liquidity. The tax code requires a patch, that’s all. [1] ▶ this video

in “Musk announces funding secured for Twitter buy” · View on HN

toomuchtodoOct 2021Cites it

It's more like the wealthy's "buy, borrow, die" strategy [1] without the cumbersome "buy" part. Japan's debt to gdp is almost 200% as the population decline continues. Confidence won’t evaporate until the market determines productivity can’t meet the yield bought. Somebody is going to be left holding the bag, but it ain’t anybody investing today. [1] ▶ this video

in “U.S. Government already projects $1T deficit every year for the next 10 years [pdf]” · View on HN

dakial1Jun 2021Cites it

▶ this video They never sell, they borrow over that invested money and pay 3% (interest) instead of 37% (income tax)

in “We are publishing the tax secrets of the .001%” · View on HN

drobertJun 2021Cites it

In the video attached to the article they mention the rich loan money and live off that. They don't explain how they are paying that loan. ▶ this video I felt the article was not very inspiring since it emphasised the tax the rich pay in relation to their wealth not their income. Which is irrelevant. Of course they are not going to spend all their wealth and pay tax on it.

in “IRS records reveal how the wealthiest avoid income tax” · View on HN

Topics & tags

Labor, work & inequalityInvesting & personal financebuy borrow dietax loopholepropublicaincome taxwealth inequality