This Day in History
Death
Taxes
Famous Tax Cheats
Tax Deductions/Loopholes
100
1865
This assassin shot Lincoln in the head, then shouted, “Sic semper tyrannis! (Ever thus to tyrants!) The South is avenged,” as he jumped onto the stage and fled on horseback.
Who is John Wilkes Booth?
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
1932
American country singer-songwriter ("Coal Miner's Daughter"; "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man"), was born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky
Who is Loretta Lynn?
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
1910
This US President became the first president to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game.
Who is William Howard Taft?
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
1828
The Yale-educated lawyer with an avid interest in language and education, publishes his American Dictionary of the English Language.
Who is Noah Webster?
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
2003
Researchers announced the end of the this Project; over the course of 13 years, they had successfully determined, stored, and rendered publicly available the sequences of almost all the genetic content of this part of a cell.
What is the Human Genome?
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?