Sunday Feature: Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Taxes

Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Taxes 

...the Two-Tiered Tax System...unofficially known as How to Create a Lot of Headaches


joel fishbane

One of these days I’m going to write a vitriolic rant attacking the current curriculum of theatre schools, but allow me a momentary preview: theatre schools are failing their students by not offering a course on financial literacy. 

As someone known for his ability to comprehend a T4, my winters are often filled with the call of the wild taxpayer. Most haven’t filed since there was peace in Iraq. This is good for my pocketbook but bad for my fellow artists: a lifelong relationship with the tax collector is an occupational hazard for artists and it would be a great benefit if schools bestowed upon their students a rudimentary understanding of how it all works.

I am fully aware that most people have no interest in dealing with their taxes. The fact that I don’t mind curling up with the tax code is my own personal demon - coupled with my love of musical theatre, it’s a wonder I ever got a date. Still, one would think that if the government is going to take our money, people would want to understand why. After all, the less we understand about our government, the less we are able to speak out when we are being betrayed.