Do I need to reveal the source of my income if it itself is a trade secret?
<p>This is strictly hypothetical:  Say I've discovered a way to transmute nickel into platinum in an energy efficient way.  I'm now procuring and selling pure platinum in large quantities, generating large profits from seemingly no source.</p>

<p>It's not enough that the method not be revealed, it must remain secret that I'm transmuting the element at all, or else the market value of platinum will plummet.</p>

<p>Could I be compelled to reveal the source of my platinum by the state?  And do my actions amount to fraud or run afoul of other laws, should I take measures to protect and obfuscate the source of my income?  For instance, purchasing a mine without actually using it?  Essentially, can I keep the origin of my platinum a secret, legally?</p>

<p>Yes, you can be compelled by the government to reveal information: All it takes is a judge agreeing with a plaintiff or prosecutor that it has some relevance to a complaint over which the court has jurisdiction.  If that point arrives and you want to protect that information you only have three choices:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Get a legal team good enough to convince the court otherwise.</p></li>
<li><p>Face the consequences of contempt of court for failing to supply the information requested.</p></li>
<li><p>Flee to another jurisdiction before #2 happens.</p></li>
</ol>

united-states