Sunday, April 14, 2013

Staying Black and Paying My Taxes


I read the other day that actor Wesley Snipes has been released from prison.

For those of you who don’t know, the actor was sent to prison in 2010 for failing to file federal taxes for several years.

I know that it’s wrong to not file your taxes, but my sympathies are actually with Snipes here, because I’m doing my taxes, and I hate it.


And now I hear that the IRS is looking into whether free lunches offered by employers are taxable and that the state of Maryland will be imposing a so-called rain tax on property owners whose roofs, walkways, and patios "prevent rain water from seeping into the earth." Here in Philly, I’ve already been bracing myself for the increase in real-estate taxes I’m likely to receive as a result of my new home value assessment. This after four straight years of tax increases.

Goodness gracious.

Ever since the bottom fell out of the lending industry in 2009 and the powers that be had no other choice but to admit that the economy was in a recession, we’ve been hearing how much the government (local, state, and federal) is hurting for money. And it seems that with each new passing moment comes another tax to “earn” money.

But that’s the problem with the government. It doesn’t know how to earn any damn money. It only knows how to take money from other people who’ve earned it and then give it back to them in the form of a bunch of crap that most of us don’t want.

I hate doing my taxes so much, usually I just put in enough deductions to break even—I don’t even care if I get a refund; I just want to be finished and have no further contact with the government for 364 days. But this year, I intend to take every single deduction known to man for which I qualify, because I am sick and tired of forking over my dough for stupid stuff.

I don’t mind feeding orphans and widows, I don’t mind helping people to obtain a higher education, I don’t mind contributing to the President’s salary, and I don’t mind paying social workers to protect our children. These are just a few of the things I don’t mind. But unfortunately, there’s a whole lot more going on that I do mind, and I can’t control it, but I darn sure can get my deduction for that coffee maker I gave to Goodwill.

What about you? Is April 15th just another day, or do you dread it as much as I do?


4 comments:

  1. There a lot of people who feel the same way as you regarding taxes. I don’t want getting it in my head so much either so I just pay and get it over with. I do understand your points though, that there are some tax deductions you have no clue as to where it actually goes, but you have no choice but to pay them. However, it’s still good that you don’t mind contributing to paying certain government programs and projects on education, health and welfare. Just think that you are able to help a lot of people indirectly by simply paying your taxes.

    Lauren Padilla

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    1. Hi Lauren! Thanks for joining the discussion.

      Yeah, I think that what I've learned here is that I should hire an accountant (see Kathy's comment) and that I'm in favor of a REAL straight tax. Go ahead and take my money, please, but then leave me alone.

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  2. I don’t mind paying for children’s education, women’s health, reaching out to the poor or even contributing to the President’s salary either, but I still find it a hassle when I have to do all those confusing paperwork. I prefer having an accountant do it all for me. It saves me all the time and stress of computing.

    Kathy Gregory

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    1. Hi Kathy! You bring up such a good point, and it's funny, because after I finished writing this piece I thought to myself "Someone's going to say 'You idiot, just hire a darn accountant!'" And I know you DIDN'T say that exactly, but it cracks me up that it took writing this piece for me to realize, after all these years, that I should just get someone else to do it...

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