Nick Fountain

Which means that effort to make stark the line between legit loophole and illegitimate tax shelter, which started back in 2021, has so far not succeeded.

Nothing to do with Malta, though.

Her law firm does have clients who are involved in the Malta thing, and it was among many firms that joined those strategizing calls.

But that was long before Carolyn's time, and she has recused herself from any Malta cases.

Since she's recused from the cases and is outside of government now, Carolyn can't really say what's happening with the government's efforts to close the Malta loophole.

All we know is that they haven't publicly moved on it for a while.

How do you feel about that?

Yeah.

Did you say the FISC?

Is that how you say the fiscal situation of the U.S.?

Before I worked on this story, and maybe this is naive, I kind of assumed that tax law was pretty black and white.

Like the IRS says something is off limits and you get caught, you got to pay.

Their word wins.

I did not know that you could just fight back against the feds, tell them that off-limits line that you're so sure of.

You're wrong.

And that you could maybe win.

In other words, I thought the Ben Franklin maxim, nothing is certain except death and taxes, was true.

Now I'm not so sure about the taxes thing.

If you are in the mood for more planet money in your life, and I know you are, I have a suggestion for you.

It is free.