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1. eightn+(OP)[view] [source] 2024-03-01 16:19:21
once it converts into profit-seeking venture, it won't get the tax benefits

one could argue that they did R&D as a non-profit and now converted to for-profit to avoid paying taxes, but until last year R&D already got tax benefits to even for-profit venture

so there really is no tax-advantage of converting a non-profit to for-profit

replies(2): >>svnt+a1 >>andrew+w1
2. svnt+a1[view] [source] 2024-03-01 16:25:14
>>eightn+(OP)
The tax advantage still exists for the investors.
replies(1): >>eightn+Q1
3. andrew+w1[view] [source] 2024-03-01 16:26:43
>>eightn+(OP)
But it keeps the intangible benefits it accrued by being ostensibly non-profit, and that can easily be worth the money paid in taxes.

Otherwise, why do you think OpenAI is doing it?

replies(2): >>eightn+e4 >>whimsi+u4
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4. eightn+Q1[view] [source] [discussion] 2024-03-01 16:27:54
>>svnt+a1
I don't believe non-profits can have investors, only donors i.e an investor by definition expects money out of his investment which he can never get out of a non-profit

only the for-profit entity of the OpenAI can have investors, who don't get any tax advantage when they eventually want to cash out

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5. eightn+e4[view] [source] [discussion] 2024-03-01 16:39:46
>>andrew+w1
> it keeps the intangible benefits it accrued by being ostensibly non-profit

but there would be no different to a for-profit entity right? i.e even for-profit entities get tax benefits if they convert their profits to intangibles

this is my thinking. Open AI non-profit gets donations, uses those donations to make a profit, converts this profit to intangibles to avoid paying taxes, and pumps these intangibles into the for-profit entity. based on your hypothesis open ai avoided taxes

but the same thing in a for-profit entity also avoids taxes, i.e for-profit entity uses investment to make a profit, converts this profit to intangibles to avoid paying taxes.

so I'm trying to understand how Open AI found a loop hole where if it went via the for-profit then it wouldn't have gotten the tax advantages it got from non-profit route

replies(2): >>whimsi+C4 >>andrew+oe
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6. whimsi+u4[view] [source] [discussion] 2024-03-01 16:40:51
>>andrew+w1
What benefits? What taxes?

Honestly it does not sound like anyone here knows the first thing about non-profits.

OAI did it because they want to raise capital so they can fund more towards building agi.

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7. whimsi+C4[view] [source] [discussion] 2024-03-01 16:41:50
>>eightn+e4
this long period of OAI non-profit status when they were making no money and spending tons on capital expenditures would not be taxable anyways.
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8. andrew+oe[view] [source] [discussion] 2024-03-01 17:25:20
>>eightn+e4
Maybe we're using different definitions of "intangible", but if you can "convert" them to/from profits they're not intangible in my book. I'm thinking donated effort, people they recruited who wouldn't have signed up if then company was for-profit, mainly goodwill related stuff.
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