I received a very nice email from a student at BYU Idaho. I wanted to share this with you and my response to his question.

Dear Tom, My name is Spence. I''m a junior at BYU-Idaho and I''m smack dab in middle of my intermediate accounting courses. I''m a big fan of yours thanks to your contributions in "Unfair Advantage". Seeing how I''m just now starting to learn the tax code, could you give me any pointers on what to specifically look for so I can see the code as a "stimulus package for business owners". I love your approach and hope to see things as you see them. Thanks!

Dear Spence: Look for all of the ways the tax law encourages different types of investing. For example, check out the great depreciation benefits in real estate, or the tax credits for low income housing. Review the sections of the law that deal with oil and gas and minerals to see all of the tax benefits that investors in natural resources receive. Then, check out all of the agricultural tax benefits. Finally, look at the myriad of tax benefits for renewable energy and electric cars. These are all stimulus packages for business owners and investors.

It is so great to see a student of tax law who is getting excited about this creative area of law and looking at new ways to see the law and how it can benefit clients. You will want to check out my new book when it comes out in January of 2012 called "Tax Free Wealth." This book outlines many of the stimulus packages contained not just in the U.S. tax law, but in the tax laws of all countries.

Warmest regards,

Tom