It's kinda funny, the phone calls we as accountants get sometimes. I just got one of my best ones: a guy who had just recently won a substantial cash prize on a TV quiz show. He wanted to know how to avoid paying taxes. First of all: HA! I know you want to avoid becoming Richard Hatch, but HA! Nothing is certain but death and taxes, and even when you're dead, the tax man cometh. If you've got income, the government will get it, sooner or later. Anyone that tells you otherwise will be indicted for tax fraud within ten years.

In case anyone was wondering, there are a couple ways to avoid taxes, depending on how the income is reported to you. If it's reported as self-employment income, there are a couple IRA-type vehicles you can park some money in, but you'll also have to pay self-employment taxes on the rest. If you're feeling philanthropic, you can give up to half of it away to a non-profit. Otherwise, you're going to have to bite the bill, and be happy you have money to pay taxes on.