How about 90% owned subsidiaries?
90% owned, but indirectly through a web of cross-shareholding and board members in common?
0% owned, but with Options to buy at a fixed price at some future date?
0% just with a long-term "off balance sheet" asymmetrical supply contract?
There are various legal precedents we could refer to, but all are gamable, sadly.
In general, I think a sole-proprietorship with no employees would be exempt. Think: freelance developer. Presumably, that freelancer is hired by another company that IS paying the tax.
There’s also the situation of S-corps, LLCs, or married-couple-owned businesses. If a sole-proprietorship hires one employee, are they now subject to all the taxes?
Obviously this is a sliding scale that requires far more macro- and micro-economic study than I’m willing to put into it at this time.
I like the direction, though, and to ponder the edge cases.
