Learn from The Hunger Games and Defeat the IRS

I vigorously read all The Hunger Games books and saw the movie twice.  I saw it once with my wife and then a second time with my 15 year old son.  I could not help to think how much Suzanne Collins post apocalyptic novel reminded me of income tax planning.  Actually, to tell the truth just about everything reminds me of business and tax planning.  I could not help to think that we taxpayers are just like Katniss and her family, way out here in district 12, controlled by the evil capital… the IRS. 

Just like in the book, every year citizens get picked to compete in the tribute except in our case, if we are making any money at all, everybody is forced to compete by going through the gruesome task of preparing a form 1040.  Like Katniss, taxpayers need a mentor like Haymitch Abernathy to teach them.  That would be me, except I am not a drunken mentor.  You are the definitely the “stylists” like Cinta whose job to make the tributes look their best.  My job is to teach you so that you survive the tax game.

As your trainer, here are the lessons I would train you before you enter the arena.  Pay close attention!  You must know these rules and be able to act before the stroke of midnight on December 31^st or you will not survive.  Remember… big brother can see your every move.

Good records. As your trainer, I would first want you to understand the importance of good records.  Without documentation you will miss legal deductions; and if Game Makers (the IRS) come to check you out, you will lose.

Don’t cheat.  If you cheat and get caught, the Game Makers can force the end to you.  You might think you can get away with cheating, but the Game Makers have ways of finding out.  In the world of the IRS you are guilty until you prove yourselves innocent.  Miscalculate or make a reasonable error and you get penalized.  Cheat and you have committed a felony and could end up in jail.

Post it on time. As you get close to year-end, don’t forget to mail your checks for deductible items before the end of 2012 to insure the write off.  You can claim the deduction in the year that the check is dropped in the mail. The check does not have to clear the bank in order for it to be deductible.

Understand the game. You can use credit and debit cards to pay bills, but make sure you understand the rules. Credit cards are deductible at the time that you actually charge the item where as a debit card is not deductible until the bill has cleared the bank.