June 15, 2018 (Friday)
Today, the tax man cometh. No, that’s not right; I go to him. Well, I don’t actually go to him; I mail him my quarterly federal tax payment today. Must be postmarked by midnight tonight. I do that four times a year, else what doth “quarterly” signify?
I don’t receive a W-2; like most ministers, I think, I receive a 1099-Misc form at the end of the year. We have the privilege of paying 15.3% Social Security tax instead of the 7.65% paid by most workers. In addition, we pay income tax on any earnings. Also we get to pay income tax on part of our Retirement Social Security if we are fortunate enough to earn enough. There are new laws in effect this year. Like most folks, I will wait until I file my 2018 tax year taxes to find out the effect of the new tax laws.
We Americans love to complain about our taxes. I think what we need is to take just one trip to almost any other country in the world, staying there long enough to see what life is like in that place. When we come back, we will have a greater appreciation for our home, sweet home. “America! America! God shed His grace on thee!” What a great song. What a great message. What a great country!
I read about a man who owed no taxes, but sent in a check anyway, in appreciation of his beloved country.
The following is NOT a true story. It is a joke (I think it was told by Jack Paar). Here goes:
A guy receives an ad promising a totally free cruise. He checks it out and is assured the offer is true. When he gets there, however, he finds himself one of many in a long boat and each passenger is rowing with all his might. At the bow is a man with a megaphone and a whip. “Row!” he demands, cracking his whip. At the end of the trip, the guy asks the guy next to him in the boat, “This is my first vacation cruise. Are we supposed to tip the whipper?”
The old saying is true, “There is no free lunch.” We pay taxes and complain, but deep down we realize we are fortunate indeed to be Americans. Taxes and all.