Reviewed by Stefan Vucak for Readers' Favorite

"Tax Cheating" is not a book one can take to bed and relax with. It questions and challenges the basis of the US Tax Code, and people’s reasons to avoid, cheat and defraud on their tax statements. The book explores the unwieldy complexity of the tax law designed to allow widespread noncompliance. It is shown to impact social morality. The book also shows the inherent lack of fairness in the tax law, and a court system that favors large corporations and wealthy individuals, while penalizing a small-time offender. It confirms that money and power are above the law. The book takes some digesting, and not everyone will find the meal satisfying.

Donald Morris presents a thoroughly researched dissertation, demonstrating a complete mastery of the subject. In many respects, it reaffirms public preconceptions about the US tax system, and amusingly illustrates challenges to its legality. One minor problem is that Morris is often overly verbose and convoluted in his statements, over-explaining points that, instead of clarifying an argument, unnecessarily cloud the issue. This makes understanding the work in parts difficult and tends to deter the reader. However, it efficiently explores the impact the tax system has on the American social fabric, the unwillingness shown by Congress to make meaningful reforms, and people’s disdain of its innate unfairness. Morris presents an unequaled perspective that left me nodding with agreement.