Trust me, I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm merely stating how tax agency, at least in good old USA, would treat anybody. Realistically speaking, who would bother asking tax agency to be morally correct? So yes, you can raise all the points in your post above and it would make perfect sense. We can push for a more simple version of tax code but in the mean time, that's how you and I are going to get treated.
It is impossible to list every single transaction with the price stamp at the moment, that's why I suppose it can only be done in a "best effort". They only left 2 options: comply and you get some peace of mind, or risk it and they'll come after you with every tricks in the book. But I get your point and wish you good luck on tax filing this year.
Yeah, I don’t mean to be confrontational, either, so if I came off that way please forgive me.
You are right that they don’t really care about what is moral, ethical, etc.
I’m not so much requesting that the state changes (it never will), but just searching for some clarity as to how to keep the wolves at bay.
The consensus I have reached so far to avoid piquing their attention is as you said, a consistent, best-effort approach.
Anyway, thanks for your commentary.