Welcome to “The Lighter Side”—our attempt to bring some levity to this month. “April” often elicits a feeling of dread, knowing that we need to get our finances in order and paperwork assembled to comply with the Taxman. Enter Laura H. Peebles, one of our past board members and a former tax director at the national office of Deloitte & Touche, LLP in Washington, D.C. Laura brings her wit and humor to share with you a poem she wrote in honor of April 15th. As you hum along to this familiar tune by The Byrds, be thankful that Tax Day only comes once a year.
To everything—turn, turn, turn
There is a season—turn, turn, turn
And a time you should be working on your taxes.
A time to add up, a time to subtract
A time to save files, a time to delete
A time to deduct, a time to include
A time to laugh, a time to weep.
To everything—turn, turn, turn
There is a season—turn, turn, turn
And a time for the frustrations of your taxes.
Receipts to be kept, receipts to throw out,
A credit for kids, no credit for pets,
A time to pay AMT
A time to pay all the states.
To everything—turn, turn, turn
There is a season—turn, turn, turn
And a time you should be working on your taxes.
A time of calm, a time of rage
A time for help, a time for alone
A time you may amend
A time to refrain from amending.
To everything—turn, turn, turn
There is a season—turn, turn, turn
And a time you should be working on your taxes.
A time for gain, a time for loss
A time to prepare, a time to review
A time to re-check, a time to e-file
A time to extend, I swear it’s not too late!