Dust Taxes

Compiled a list of them, so  here you go:

1. Healthy Lifestyle Consulting
2. Hydroponic Assertations
3. Argument Reinforcement
4. Imaginary Friends
5. Nothing Important
6. Budget Miniaturization
7. Minor Adjustments
8. Starlane Speeding Tickets
9. Galactexit Fees
10. Horatio Consultancy Charges
11. Random Expenditures
12. Diplomatic Gifts
13. Entertainment Expenses
14. Wardrobe Malfunctions
15. Charitable Donations
16. Craver Veterans' Fund
17. Fact-finding Missions
18. Scandal Payoffs
19. Dubious Accounting Practices
20. State-Sponsored Bribery
21. Unofficial Facilitation Fees
22. Ocean Moisturizing
23. Donations to the Copper-Fields Foundation
24. Donations to the "Enthalpy Freedom" Movement

That's pretty strange, I have no idea what "hydroponic assertations" are. Usually when dust is "dissapearing" it's because somone is hacking you and stealing it. Are you aware of the hacking feature introduced by the Penumbra DLC?

Also can you go to one particular system and take a screen shot of the dust balance of that system? Perhaps we can get a better idea of where the dust is going on a system level than on an empire level.

Yep, "Hydroponic Assertations" is one of the many randomly generated titles for expenses generated by sleepers. Another one that I like is an expense called "Nothing Important." I don't know of a full list of them anywhere, but you can find other individual examples online. If you see any vague expenses like this one, look for sleepers.