QUESTION 5: IF you tell the IRS you lost money while at the same time you tell others that you made money, you had to be lying to someone, right?”

     That makes sense, Susan thought. I’m clicking “True.”

     “Sounds good, doesn’t it?” the pop-up said.

     “Perhaps the lead-in should have been, ‘Is money that you borrow considered income for tax purposes?’

     “Surprising to some, the correct answer is no. 

     "If you use some of that money for legitimate business expenses, those expenditures represent a loss.”

     Never thought of it in exactly those terms, Susan mused.

     “Then,” the screen continued, “if you made money with that borrowed money, but spent all the money you made on legitimate business expenses, it would be true -- that you, in fact, made money.

     “And if you did both -- that is, you spent borrowed money on legitimate business expenses while at the same time making money that was also spent on legitimate expenses -- you wouldn’t be lying to anyone if you told them you made money during the same period you told the IRS that you lost money.”

     Well, if you explain it like that, Susan pondered.

     “That completes the questionnaire portion of this site. If nothing else, it gives you some food for thought. Now, here’s what I’d like you to do …