esrosedotblog

WSJ?OTD

"Have you filed your 2005 taxes yet?"

NO

But the info is in the hands of my accountant.

Same thing as far as I am concerned.

The filing is a formality.

The psychological pain comes in the process of compiling the data.

As I get older, my tax returns get simpler. But, they never get painless.

The pain is one of guilt. I have never been able to cut corners as I get nervous at just doing it the right way.

I would be a lousy evader.

When we ran the business, we never ran the company by the tax law as many people do; seeking ins and outs around profits and losses. We just followed the regulations.

We got audited once.

Because it was a closely held company, one of us had to get audited as well.

That was me.

A 'no fault' finding. That is rare.

So, I never ran my life by it either.

Pay what I owe. No more, no less. And no wild twists and turns to avoid payment. Just get on with it.

Actually, I feel good paying taxes. It is my rite of participation.

Even when they are wildly wasting it, as I believe they are doing now, I feel good about paying up.

I like to think that my money is going for the good, efficient things that government does.

What else? Taxes. Something to think about. But, not something to get all wrought over. Like death.

Inevitable.

Lie back and enjoy it.

No, that was rape wasn't it? An old bad joke. But still.

The results so far today in the WSJ are YES 34% and NO 66%. I am with the majority.