FUN FACTS AND NON-FICTIONS TAXING HUMAN HISTORY
The average taxpayer spends around 11 hours on record-keeping, tax planning, form submission and other super exciting tax-related activities per annum. That’s half a day of your life which, just like your hard-earned tax money, you’ll never see again. If you’re doing these fun activities for your business, that number jumps to deflating 20 hours. In 2019, the IRS processed more than 154 million individual tax returns, equivalent to roughly 83.4 million days’ worth of taxpayer preparation time (let that sink in!).
WHAT ABOUT BEARDED LADIES?
Whilst it seems that dedicating time from your life, sweat from your brow and coins from your pocket would amount to adequate fairness in civilian give and take, it would appear that a man named Peter the Great hailing from Russia, 1698 greatly disagreed. You see, Peter embraced his expedition ambition and embarked on what he coined a Great Embassy across Europe to closer observe Western cultures. Peter returned to Russia with great reformed enthusiasm which served the sole purpose of placing Russia next to its modern neighbours on the far Western shelf under category: Aesthetic Taxes.
Peter noted (what he perceived to be) the modern Western Europeans’ very clean-cut approach to facial hair and immediately unveiled his newfound intolerance to facial follicles, even going so far as shaving his banquet guests’ beards himself. Some years later he eventually decided to monetize the inevitable facial follicle by allowing facial hair but imposing Beard Tax, even extending this to tax brackets based on social standing with merchants having to fork out their heaviest coins.
In a similar bizarre turn of events, across the pond in England in 1784 until 1811, British citizens had to pay a tax on their hats by pasting a tax stamp inside of it to avoid a hefty fine from the hat police. Death and taxes finally collided in the unfortunate and untimely end to the life of Mr John Collins, who was, at the time, caught using a printing press to forge hat tax stamps and promptly sentenced to death.
AN ODE TO MY TAX BILL
Willie Nelson, the world-famous Texan songwriter and guitarist once made an album solely to cover his tax debts. It was, ironically, called IRS Tapes with all songs (and all proceeds) dedicated to his beloved tax bill.
SPACE TRAVEL? NO PROBLEM TAX IS UNIVERSAL!
Jack Swigert, a command pilot for Apollo 13 who joined the crew at the very last minute was already mid mission when he remembered that he will consequently miss his tax filing deadline. He radioed Houston with his problem, who requested a late filing indulgence given he was strapped to a rocket and launching into space (perhaps this is what it takes…). Whilst it may seem absurd, astronauts are subjected to taxes in the same way us mere dirt kickers are, and it may appear that this scenario is one that quite often floats to the surface.
In 2005, another NASA astronaut, Leroy Chiao was commanding an expedition to the International Space Station when the annual D-day arrived and similarly had to request an extension from space only to file his return 9 days later when back on planet Earth.
WARFARE OR TAXFARE?
At the dawn of World War II, the law lords of Vermont conceded to a USD10 per month bonus for resident military servants. The bonus was introduced during a time of great conflict which had the unintended effect of avoiding a new tax hit. Whilst war had not officially been declared yet, President Franklin had already issued necessary defence orders to the US Navy which order was interpreted by the law lords in Vermont to declare a lawful war with Germany in September 1941, three months before it was officially announced by the US Government.
EVEN EINSTEIN DIDN’T UNDERSTAND TAXES
Even old Albert had his difficulties with the Taxman’s logic finding theoretical physics more appealing. According to Leo Matters Dorf, the math genius’ tax preparer, he once said: “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.”
Whilst taxes are inevitable, it is understood then that it requires an investment to stay on course, on time and in line. As we’ve already explored, without proper understanding, guidance and assistance, tax efficacy can be cumbersome and unattainable without proper understanding. Temple Corporate Services and Corporate Support Services provides decades of experience and an expert service compliment to ensure best tax practices and optimization tailored to your business or individual needs.
Contact us on [email protected] for an insightful conversation around your needs.
About the authors:
Esmarie Swanepoel
Director and Head of Corporate & Immigration
