Tax-day trivia to make your April 15 a little more fun

The state is the only one in the U.S. to charge an additional 10-cent tax on decks of playing cards. Because the production of wild blueberries is so important to its agricultural economy, the state of Maine imposes a special tax on blueberries. This tax helps avoid over-harvesting, so you can keep enjoying your favorite muffins and scones worry-free for years to come. This is a quick yes, no or maybe so question and answer poll asking all kinds of interesting questions to do with your personal integrity. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a government.

Fascinating Facts About Taxes

  • Maine decided to give back to the people, which meant that every single resident received a whopping $2.
  • In other words, if your income exceeds a lower tax bracket by $10, then only the $10 is taxed at the higher rate.
  • Now you know a few more things about tax day, but if resolving back taxes is still a puzzle to you, contact our tax relief attorneys.
  • You will also have to pay interest on your penalties.
  • From the early 1700s to the 19th century, many of Europe’s countries placed heavy taxes on soap, making cleanliness only for the wealthiest.

At no added cost to you, some of the products mentioned below are advertising partners and may pay us a commission. Pleasantville Music Shoppe is one of the oldest mom and pop music stores in South Jersey. My dad, Gaston Ragno, at 20 years old, purchased the business on a handshake and a promise to pay when he could from his boss who wanted to retire. If you’re enjoying these tax facts, you might be interested in our related article on the Most Famous Tax Court Cases in IRS History. Canadian cereal companies receive a tax break if they include a toy in kids’ boxes (unless the toy is alcohol-related). From the early 1700s to the 19th century, many of Europe’s countries placed heavy taxes on soap, making cleanliness only for the wealthiest.

However, the IRS did not extend the deadline for quarterly estimated payments, which were still due on April 15, 2021. The original due date for individual income tax returns was March 1, just over a year following the adoption of the 16th Amendment on Feb. 3, 1913. But at that time, only the very wealthy were required to file. In 1954, when Congress created the Internal Revenue Code, the April 15 due date was born. Deadlines for state taxes may be different from federal income tax deadlines.

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Ever since taxes were first levied against citizens, they’ve been controversial among citizens. In some cases, they’re praised for contributing to society. Taxes have also been so reviled as to start massive uprisings, revolutions, and war. All winners of more than $5,000 in a lottery are subject to a 24% federal withholding tax, but state withholding taxes vary.

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And if you’ve yet to file, make sure to check out WalletHub’s last-minute tax tips. All-electric and plug-in hybrids made after 2010 are eligible for a federal income tax credit, depending on the capacity of the battery powering the car. Even if you can’t pay in full, you should always file your taxes on-time. You’ll get charged 5% of what you owe for each month you’re late.

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Populists thought more people, especially those with higher incomes, should pay taxes. People who supported Prohibition realized the income tax was needed to replace lost taxes on alcohol sales. The motto from the Boston Tea Party carries over to modern times. It may come as no surprise that California and Hawaii, two famously expensive places to live, have the highest income taxes. Oregon, at 9.9%, whose residents also enjoy no sales tax. The IRS offers tax relief for survivors of natural disasters.

In 2024, the cost is £169.50 for a color TV and £53.50 for a black-and-white TV. A single address in Wilmington, 1209 North Orange St., is the legal address of more than 300,000 companies. Violent Chicago mobster Al Capone famously got caught on tax evasion charges. Astronaut Jack Swigert, the command module pilot for Apollo 13, got the assignment at the last minute because of health concerns surrounding another astronaut.

Check out what the first 1040 form ever looked like here (PDF). If you need a seeing-eye dog or an animal that helps you cope with other medical conditions, you can deduct the expenses. The catch is that your total medical expenses need to be more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. If you qualify, not only can you write off the purchase, but you can also include training, food, grooming, and vet bills as itemized deductions. Think the IRS won’t miss your portion of unpaid taxes? They tally what is known as the “tax gap,” which is the sum of missing taxes.

We explain how to do all that, plus when and how you should file an amended return in our post on fixing a tax mistake. Over 1 million accountants are hired each year in America to help with taxes. Excise taxes are also called “sin taxes.” They are taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. Roman emperor Vespasian placed a tax on urine in the 1st century A.D. Urine at that time was collected and used as a source of ammonia for tanning hides and laundering garments. Here at Fact Retriever, even taxes can be fun and interesting.

In 2021, for example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared a severe winter storm in Texas a major disaster. The IRS responded by giving residents of Texas until June 15, 2021, to file their federal individual income taxes. Many individuals work with a tax professional or use tax preparation software to file their income taxes. Another option is the tax day trivia Free File Program offered by the IRS. If your adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2024 was $84,000 or less, Free File offers tax preparation services through a partner site at no cost. If your AGI was above $84,000, you can use the free fillable forms on the IRS site, but you have to do the work yourself.

Southern cotton farmers, however, lost business because the English textile industry could not buy as much cotton from the South. South Carolina called for a nullification, or rejection, of the federal tariff and threatened to leave the union. In many states, such as in Tennessee and Alabama, property owners over 65 years of age are no longer required to pay property taxes. If you’re worried about making a mistake on your taxes, don’t be. Quite simply, enough states changed the Constitution to allow it. After the Pollock decision, two forces joined together to get Congress and at least 36 states to make the income tax legal via the 16th Amendment.

According to the Tax Policy Centerthink tank, 42.8% of tax filers will owe no individual income tax or have negative taxable income for 2020. In 2020, the IRS postponed the deadline for tax filings and tax payments to July 15, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic hardships due to the pandemic continued into 2021, and the IRS once again extended the filing and payment deadline. Taxpayers had until May 17, 2021, to file and pay federal individual income taxes.

  • Currently, the largest group of taxpayers are between the ages of 35 and 55 years old.
  • A tax liability that a company has to pay but does not pay at that current point and it will be responsible for paying it in future is termed a deferred tax.
  • If you need a seeing-eye dog or an animal that helps you cope with other medical conditions, you can deduct the expenses.
  • Should a church be tax-exempt if they don’t allow women to lead?

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank or financial institution. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. FuboTV is a video streaming platform and cable TV alternative that features hundreds of channels across many different genres, including several sports channels. But how does it compare to other popular streaming channels, like Hulu, Sling TV, and YouTube TV, and is FuboTV affordable? Colorado does not consider the lid of a scalding hot cup of coffee to be “essential packaging.” They tax nonessential packaging at 2.9%.


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