tax shelter

This term describes a financial mechanism designed to shield income from taxation. While the term is technically neutral, it often carries a suspicious or critical connotation in political and journalistic contexts, implying that the wealthy are using loopholes to avoid their social obligations.

In legal and accounting discourse, it refers to legitimate strategies like 401(k) plans or real estate investments. However, when used in a legal or prosecutorial context, it may refer to "aggressive tax avoidance" or "tax evasion" schemes that push the boundaries of the law or violate it entirely.