Let it be known, this is my favorite holiday of the year. Why, you ask? Well because I am a six foot tall, 210 pound child and I absolutely love fireworks. And cheeseburgers. And hotdogs. And beer.
This morning I thought about what I wanted to write about my favorite holiday of the year. And I could not really figure out what to write about. I started to think about the industry we do business in. Our business is tax and tax is one of two certain things in life. It is also a big reason this country exists at all.
A long while ago, the 13 colonies screamed at King George and the Brits throughout the 1750’s and 1760’s and coined the phrase “no taxation without representation.” The colonists claimed their rights were being trampled by a tyrant taxing them on everyday items such as stamps and tea without any representation in Parliament. Then we boycotted British goods, protested, threw some tea in a river in Boston. On the 4th of July, 1776 we declared ourself and independent nation. We effectively became the United States of America.
Fast forward 238 years, the average American working an 8 hour day spends 2 hours and 13 minutes of each work day paying their taxes. So 27.7% of your time at work goes straight to Uncle Sam and your state and city when applicable. In other words, taxes are back with a vengeance. But that doesn’t change the fact that we have become one of the greatest countries in the world since that day 238 years ago. Tax was the spark that lit the fire. Today we can all be proud of our history, heritage and struggles. We can remember the tremendous sacrifice and hardship it took to get here. We can look forward to the future and what it brings. We can honor those who can not be with their families this weekend serving in the military. We can scream “‘MURICA!” as loud as possible. Happy 4th of July and God Bless the USA!
Tax Tip #1776
Summer comes with lots of activities and fun. Get a membership to a zoo or an aquarium and it could be tax deductible! Plus it helps feed the elephants. Who doesn’t love elephants?!
