This Day in History
Death
Taxes
Famous Tax Cheats
Tax Deductions/Loopholes
100
Born on this day in 1743:
He was an American Founding Father, the third president of the United States from, and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
100
Ancient Egyptians shaved off their eyebrows to mourn the death of this sacred pet.
What are cats?
100
In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified, allowing Congress to levy this on individuals and entities.
What is an income tax?
100
Sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", he was an American gangster and businessman who went to jail for not paying income taxes.
Who is Al Capone?
100
Donations to these qualified organizations can be deducted, like the Salvation Army or the Center for Food Action.
What are charities?
200
1970
Disaster strikes 200,000 miles from Earth when oxygen tank No. 2 blows up on this vehicle.
What is Apollo 13?
200
When this inventor from Menlo Park, NJ died in 1941, Henry Ford captured his last dying breath in a bottle.
Who is Thomas Edison?
200
From the English word tar, which is a thick, sticky liquid, this is a "direct tax on imported and exported goods."
What is a tariff?
200
According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), this American retail business woman, writer, and television personality (focusing on home and hospitality) avoided a loss of $45,673 by selling all 3,928 shares of her ImClone Systems stock after receiving material, nonpublic information from her broker.
Who is Martha Stewart?
200
Having another one of these for the tax deduction is foolhardy... the cost of diapers and food alone is more!
What is a child?
300
Borin on this day in 1923:
He was best known as bumbling Maxwell Smart (Secret Agent 86) in the television situation comedy Get Smart (for which won three consecutive Emmy Awards), and he also provided voices for the animated series Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales and Inspector Gadget
Who is Don Adams?
300
On average, people fear this 8 legged creature more than they do dying. However, statistically you are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than by the bite of a poisonous one of these.
What are spiders?
300
This ancient civilization revered the tax professional as the most noble man in society; maybe that's how they paid for the original Olympics?
What is Greece?
300
American actor and martial artist who was convicted on misdemeanor charges of willful failure to file federal income tax returns, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
Who is Wesley Snipes?
300
Willie Lohman and other traveling salesmen know you can deduct mileage if you use this for your job.
What is a car?
400
1964
He becomes the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role as a construction worker who helps build a chapel in Lilies of the Field
Who is Sidney Poitier?
400
In 1845, this President's pet parrot was removed from his funeral for swearing.
Who is Andrew Jackson?
400
The average annual income the first year there was a US Income tax (1913):
A) $5,000
B) $200
C) $1,200
D) $800
What is D? ($26,106 in today's money)
(in 2024, the average was $66,602)
400
By the fall of 1966, this actress who played Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz" agent's mismanagement of her money, as well as their embezzlement of much of her earnings, resulted in her owing around US$500,000 (equivalent to $3,590,000 in 2023) in total in personal debts and in debts to the IRS.
Who is Judy Garland?
400
Up to $2,500 can be deducted for students who attended this for four years under the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
What is college?
500
1873
An armed group of white supremacists attacks a courthouse guarded by a mostly-Black militia in Louisiana; A bloodbath ensues, as the militia surrenders and the white supremacists carry out a day-long campaign of terror that came to be known as this.
What is the Colfax Massacre?
500
For about $85 you can buy a coffin for this piece of jewelry.... and then perhaps bury it or mail it to your ex-spouse.
What is a wedding ring?
500
The single largest state expenditure (paid by taxes) is...
What is Medicaid?
500
In 2007, the state of California said that this former NFL player and alleged double murderer owed $1.44 million in back taxes.
Who is OJ Simpson?
500
These Atlantic City losses are tax deductible, as long as you to report all the money you win as taxable income on your return.
What is gambling?