Most states don't tax inventory.

https://taxfoundation.org/state-business-inventory-tax-2021/

Cool, never knew this having only worked in Texas. Both "phone maker" and "online retailer" had year-end efforts to reduce warehouse value before we took inventory. For retail it kind of works out okayish because it coincides with the holiday season, but for less elastic demand it puts an extra burden. I remember things like shifting inventory to a customer to have it returned after inventory.

> I remember things like shifting inventory to a customer to have it returned after inventory.

This seems like something that would have been obvious to outlaw when drafting the legislation for the tax.