Tax Time
There are a few significant dates in our lives each year that demand attention: birthdays, anniversaries and tax filing deadlines. One of the most stressful for individual taxpayers is April 15th. What may be dreadful to you is music to our ears. As odd as it may seem we get great satisfaction from the preparation of tax returns. One reason we enjoy it so much is that we feel it is our duty to ensure that our clients pay the smallest amount of tax that is legally owed.
The Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis once wrote about the importance of tax avoidance in the following way:
“I live in Alexandria, Virginia. Near the Supreme Court chambers is a toll bridge across the Potomac. When in a rush, I pay the dollar toll and get home early. However, I usually drive outside the downtown section of the city and cross the Potomac on a free bridge.
This bridge was placed outside the downtown Washington, DC area to serve a useful social service getting drivers to drive the extra mile to help alleviate congestion during rush hour.
If I went over the toll bridge and through the barrier without paying the toll, I would be committing tax evasion…if, however, I drive the extra mile outside the city of Washington and take the free bridge, I am using a legitimate, logical and suitable method of tax avoidance, and I am performing a useful social service by doing so.
For my tax evasion, I should be punished.
For my tax avoidance, I should be commended.
The tragedy of life is that so few people know that the free bridge even exists!”
We take this story to heart and are dedicated to honoring Justice Brandeis’ memory by helping find those “free bridges” in our tax code.