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Politicians Have Turned Income Tax Into a Manipulative Maze

My income tax is due in a few weeks!

I hate it.

I’m pretty good at math, but I no longer prepare my own taxes. The form alone scares me.

I feel I have to hire an accountant because Congress, endlessly sucking up to various interest groups, keeps adding to a tax code. Now even accountants and tax nerds barely understand it.

I can get a deduction for feeding feral cats but not for having a watchdog.

I can deduct clarinet lessons if I get an orthodontist to say it’ll cure my overbite, but not piano lessons if a psychotherapist prescribes them for relaxation.

Exotic dancers can depreciate breast implants.

Even though whaling is mostly banned, owning a whaling boat can get you $10,000 in deductions.

And so on.

Stop! I have a life! I don’t want to spend my time learning about such things.

No wonder most Americans pay for some form of assistance. We…

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