Should five percent appear too small, be thankful I don’t take it all…

It will be all but impossible to turn on a classic rock or oldies radio station today and avoid “Taxman,” George Harrison’s scathingly hilarious indictment of the British government’s tax policy. And that’s okay by me—I love The Beatles, and hearing that song is the musical equivalent of a lengthy sigh of relief, as it signals that the busy season is drawing to an end and the April 17 (at least this year) deadline is upon us.

How’s this for a bit of trivia: the word “deadline” was initially used during the Civil War to refer to the line around a military prison behind which soldiers were authorized to shoot escaping prisoners. Interesting how that word has evolved over the years. Although we’re often “under the gun” here at the firm to complete client tax returns, none of us actually gets shot; the worst that happens is we file an extension and work toward a new deadline.

As busy season draws to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our clients for the privilege of serving them and our staff for working so hard, not just during busy season but throughout the year. And now, I’ll turn things over to you. Do you look forward to hearing “Taxman” as much as I do? And what’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you upon missing a deadline?