"In every country there is a day when people stop working for the taxman and start earning for themselves," says a senior Eurocrat.

“每个国家都会有这么一天，从那一天起人们不再为征税人工作，而是开始为自己挣钱，”一位欧盟官员如是说。

youdao

Sometimes charity is rooted in a wish to deprive the taxman and decide for yourself how your money should be spent: why break the habit of a lifetime?

有时候慈善是出于一种不把钱交给收税员而自己来处置的愿望：为什么要改变一生的习惯呢？

youdao

Anyone who earns only a salary and bank interest, both of which are automatically reported to the taxman, will be sent a tax return that has already been filled in, which they can accept or reject.

工薪和利息收入都是自动报税，任何仅有这两项收入的公民将收到一项填报就绪的税收返还，他们可以接受或拒绝。

youdao

For example, Starbucks UK pays a 6% royalty (this was actually lowered to 4.7% when the taxman took a close look at it) to another Dutch subsidiary of the American parent company.

FORBES: If Starbucks Makes Losses In The UK Then Why The Demand It Pays Profit Taxes?

The club argued their hands were tied as the taxman refused a one-off sum.

BBC: Salisbury City lose their appeal against demotion

It is as though ducking and diving to avoid the taxman is a national sport, a cultural trait that is as old as the Gods on Mount Olympus.

FORBES: Cash Is Zeus: A Postcard From Greece