Tax Day

As most of you know today is April 15th, marking the deadline for tax season. Accountants, CPAs, and other like employees can breath a sigh of relief as they see this year come to an end.

We all know that we hate paying taxes. For the majority of us (the working class) we make up the most of America and pay in the most taxes. For some of us our return was smaller than in previous years due to Obama's stimulus plan last year and for some of us we had to pay in for the first time.
It always amazes me to hear about celebrities who fail to pay on their taxes. One of my favorite actors of all times, Wesley Snipes, has been a variety of action movies has decided to quit pay taxes. Wesley quit paying in 1997 and after his $58 million dollar income from that year, demanded that the IRS pay him back the $7 million he paid in. That amount of money just blows my mind. $7 million dollars. Most of us will be lucky to even make a million in our lifetime, but $7 million? And just to taxes?
Wesley Snipes refused for so many years that he eventaully was called to court and was charged on three accounts of refusing to pay his taxes. He was sentenced to pay the IRS back taxes and serve three years in prison. He is now walking the streets on bail.
You want to think that this kind of protest is worthy of admiration and respect, but I think otherwise.
I do not believe in paying ungodly amount of taxes. Each year my personal property tax goes up, our food taxes increase, and the amount we have to have withheld from employment checks keeps increasing, but I don't sympathize with this man. He made so much money and while $58 million to us seems so incomrehensible, the amount he paid in taxes is pocket change to him. I think it all boils down to greed. A greedy man wants all his money. And because of his money he doesn't have to servce jail time or pay the consequences of his behavior.

Laying that all aside, it was appealing to know that some retailers and food-chains are taking into consideration the poor people's pocketbook by offering discounts or free food on this particular day. If you call your local McDonalds you could get a second Mcdouble or Big Mac for just a penny. Worth the phone call if you ask me!
Don't forget about Starbucks free coffee day. Bring in a reusable mug for a free cup of joe.

And then comes in the advice about how to spend your return (if you got any...). Most of us would like to think we are pretty savy with our money, but truth and the economy proves that most of us live off of credit cards and loans.
My wife and I have started the Total Money Makeover and since that we have accumulated a nice savings and have paid off some large items and have less than $400 on a credit card. Though the recent change in situations (i.e. pregnancy) things have changed slightly, our goal does not: pay off everything, live minimally, and enjoy things in life that are free. So far we are doing okay and rarely deviate off that path.

Okay so go pay your taxes and try to enjoy doing it by partaking in freebies and thinking about how you are going to spend your refund.