Worst. Holiday. Ever.
Ah, Tax Day, that dreaded time of year when wallets weep and accountants suddenly become popular. Beyond the sea of confusing paperwork, questionable deductions, and crumpled-up receipts lie some genuinely interesting facts about the most dreaded day of the year, April 15th. Get ready to find Tax Day interesting for probably the first time ever. Pictures of Money/ Flickr
Every known civilization had taxes.
Even a time machine won't help you escape the nightmare of tax season. The very first known civilization, the Sumerians, recorded their tax history on clay cones. "Fire good. Taxes bad." Alfer22/Flickr
In Texas, Belt Buckles Are Taxed an Additional 6.25%
It seems very unamerican to tax a big old belt buckle, but Uncle Sam ain't missing out on that easy money. Thankfully for fashionable Texans, cowboy boots ARE exempt from sales tax in the Lonestar State. Crocs are not. Seriously. Don't even ask. Nan Fry/ Flickr
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In 1698, There Was a Tax On Beards.
In 17th-century Russia, Peter the Great taxed men with beards, causing some to start referring to him as "Peter the Just OK."Thankfully this law didn't exist in modern times, or else ZZ Top would never financially recover. ANSPressSocietyNews/Flickr
In the Middle Ages, Soap Was Highly Taxed. THAT STINKS!
Back in the Middle Ages, there was a hefty tax on soap suds. So, unless you were filthy rich, you probably smelled like a filthy ole pig. While they had plenty of axes in those days, there was sadly no Axe Body Spray to mask that Medieval stank. Kim Støvring/ Flickr
The U.S. Tax Code is Nearly 4 Million Words Long.
The Federal Tax code is more than 70,000 pages long. It makes War and Peace look like a meme. You definitely don't have time to finish it before tonight's deadline but cheer up, you'll probably make lots of new friends in prison. Sarah/ Flickr
In Maryland, You’re Taxed For Flushing the Toilet.
The Flush Tax, otherwise known as the Chesapeake Restoration Fee, costs Marylanders $60 per year. Talk about flushing money down the toilet! Frankieleon/Flickr
Albert Einstein Once Said: “The Hardest Thing in the World to Understand is the Income Tax.”
Don't feel bad if you have no idea what's going on with your taxes. Einstein was confused too, and that dude was smart as hell. With more than 480 tax forms on the IRS website, you'd probably have an easier time trying to figure out the Theory of Relativity. Lee-Sean Huang/ Flickr
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Roman Emperor Vespasian Placed a Tax On Urine in the 1st Century A.D.
At that time, urine was considered liquid gold. It was collected and used as a source of ammonia for tanning hides and laundering garments.Thankfully, Uncle Sam isn't cashing in our whiz just yet. If so, we'd all be a lot less hydrated, and Stanley Cups would all be discontinued. Justin Glary/Flickr
Traffic accidents increase significantly on Tax Day.
If you're on the roads today, look out! Between frantic drivers making a beeline for the local post office, to tax evaders making a run for the border to start a new life in Mexico, the streets just aren't safe on April 15th.It's probably for the best, to just stay home, pour yourself a drink, and pray you don't get audited. Canva/ Odd News Show
