Skipping the "is he or isn't he" stuff, and going back to the $250K issue - it is my understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong (you are all generally pretty good at that), that the tax rate in question (35% vs 39%, I think) applies to adjusted gross income, which would be income after all deductions, including business expenses (including overhead, salaries, licenses, etc) are taken out. If so, and if he were to clear over $250,000 per year, he would be a well-paid plumber indeed.