This article was published on April 4, 2016

Play the #PanamaPapers game to see what it’s like to be rich enough to avoid tax


Play the #PanamaPapers game to see what it’s like to be rich enough to avoid tax Image by: ICIJ

It’s not easy to make tax fun, so – aside from taking an interactive look into a trove of 11.5 million documents that reveal how the rich and famous avoid paying it – the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has created a choose your own adventure game.

As revealed in the leaked files from Panama City law firm Mossack Fonseca, they’ve all been at it, so playing Stairway to Tax Heaven, you can either pick to be a sports star, politician or business exec as they try to avoid paying their share.

Panama Papers
Credit: ICIJ

But, in the game at least, tax avoidance isn’t actually as easy as you might think. I sucked at it anyway.

If choosing your own adventure is your thing, check out the 2011 game Spent that aimed to show what life was like for the 14 million unemployed Americans trying to get back into work. Again, not an easy task. No doubt having money helps.

To date, 140 politicians have been associated with the Panama Papers investigation done by the ICIJ, the Center for Public Integrity and others, but the ‘The Wikileaks of the mega-rich’ story is likely to last longer than your short life as a major tax avoider.

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