Stephen Merritt, CPA, PC  |  Certified Public Accountants  |  (757) 420-5778
233 Business Park Drive, Suite 104, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

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What’s Inside

April, 2025

• Annual Tax Quiz – Quirky Tax Facts!
• Fun-Themed Ideas for Your Spring Cleaning
• Why Do Socks Always Vanish? And Other Pressing Life Questions

Reading through tax law isn’t something most people do for fun. But what if the laws are interesting or strange? In this month’s newsletter, test your knowledge about quirky tax laws with our annual tax quiz.

Also in this edition, read through several ideas for making your spring cleaning a little more fun, and learn about answers to some of life’s pressing questions such as Why do socks always vanish?

Please pass this information on to anyone that may find it useful and call if you have any questions or concerns.

In this issue:

• Annual Tax Quiz – Quirky Tax Facts!
• Fun-Themed Ideas for Your Spring Cleaning
• Why Do Socks Always Vanish? And Other Pressing Life Questions

Annual Tax Quiz – Quirky Tax Facts!

From quirky tax laws to surprising deductions, this fun 10-question multiple choice quiz will test your knowledge about interesting tax facts from here and around the world. Let’s see how you do—answers are at the end!

1. Given our British origins, let’s start with a fun English tax fact. What was taxed in England during the 17th century, resulting in an abundance of bald heads?

A. Hats
B. Hair powder
C. Wigs
D. Shampoo

2. Which U.S. president introduced the first federal income tax?

A. Abraham Lincoln
B. George Washington
C. Franklin D. Roosevelt
D. Theodore Roosevelt

3. What strange item did the IRS allow a bodybuilder to deduct as a business expense?

A. Body oil
B. Protein shakes
C. Tanning lotion
D. Ostrich eggs

4. In which country was a window tax imposed, leading to bricked-up windows in older buildings?

A. France
B. England
C. Germany
D. Italy

5. What is the nickname for the U.S. tax system due to its progressive nature?

A. Robin Hood Tax System
B. Pay-As-You-Go
C. Tax the Rich System
D. The Graduated Tax

6. What popular children’s activity was taxed in Arkansas in 1990, sparking outrage?

A. Playgrounds
B. Hula hoops
C. Swing sets
D. Clown shows

7. Which of the following pets were successfully deducted as a business expense?

A. A cat used for pest control in a junkyard
B. A dog trained to sniff out counterfeit money
C. A parrot that served as an office greeter
D. A goldfish for calming customers

8. What is the origin of the word tax?

A. It comes from the Latin word taxo, meaning I evaluate.
B. It derives from Old French taxer, meaning to split.
C. It originates from Greek, meaning to take.
D. It stems from the ancient Sanskrit word for tribute.

9. In 2013, which country imposed a tax on people with tattoos in a drive to regulate body art?

A. South Korea
B. Hungary
C. Japan
D. Australia

10. What unusual tax was levied by Roman Emperor Vespasian in 70 AD to raise funds for public works?

A. A beard tax
B. A urine tax
C. A laughter tax
D. A sandal tax

Answers in the next Newsletter.

Fun-Themed Ideas for Your Spring Cleaning

Give your spring cleaning a creative twist this year with the following fun-themed ideas.

• The Hanger Trick. Turn all your hangers backwards. After wearing an item, return the hanger forwards. After a few months, donate clothes still on backwards hangers.
• The One In, Two Out Method. For every new item you bring into your home, get rid of two items to prevent clutter from building up.
• The 10-Minute Dash. Set a timer for 10 minutes and pick one area (a drawer, a shelf, a corner). Clean and declutter it as fast as you can.
• The Touch It Once Test. When organizing, deal with each item fully the first time you touch it—put it away, toss it, donate it, or file it. No piles of maybe later.
• The Forgotten Corners Challenge. Pick one spot you always ignore (behind the fridge, under the bed, top of cabinets) and deep clean it.
• The Clutter-Free Counter Pact. Make a vow that nothing lives on your counters except daily essentials. Everything else must find a home or go!
• The One Surface a Day Rule. Each day, choose one surface (desk, shelf, table) to declutter and deep clean. Small steps, big results.
• The 3-Bin Blitz. Label three bins: Keep, Toss, Donate. Go through one room at a time and sort everything quickly and decisively. (Again, no bin for maybe!)
• The Light Switch Wipe-Down. While you clean, make it a habit to wipe light switches, doorknobs, and remote controls—often forgotten, but major germ zones.
• The 5-5-5 Rule. Find 5 things to throw away, 5 to donate, and 5 to put back in their place every day during your spring cleaning period.
• The No Junk Drawer Mission. Pick one drawer that’s become a catch-all and transform it into a useful space. Bonus points for using small organizers or dividers.
• The Rubber Tote Rotation. Color-code seasonal storage bins (green for spring/summer, red for winter, etc). Rotate based on the season so you only keep what you need accessible.
• The Lawn & Order Sweep. Clear out old lawn care products, sweep the garage floor, and organize outdoor equipment so you’re ready to mow and grow when the season hits.

Why Do Socks Always Vanish?

And Other Pressing Life Questions

It’s a universal truth: socks have a way of disappearing. The mystery of the vanishing sock is an unsolved puzzle that everyone experiences. But what’s really behind this bizarre phenomenon? And what about other everyday mysteries that leave us scratching our heads? It’s time to unravel some of life’s most pressing questions.

Why do my socks always disappear?

First on the docket is the mystery of the missing socks. There are several mundane explanations that may account for this phenomenon:

• Static cling. Socks, especially smaller ones, can cling to larger items like towels or sheets. They might then be folded into the item or fall off unnoticed as you fold your laundry.
• Laundry escapees. Socks can fall out of the laundry basket or get left behind in your washing machine. If your home has multiple people doing laundry, someone else may accidentally grab one of your socks.
• Pets and kids. If your sock finds its way on to the floor of a teenager’s bedroom, well, then it’s gone forever. And believe it or not, pets also love socks.

Mystery Solved: So while there’s no grand conspiracy, a sock’s small size and elusive nature make it a prime candidate for disappearance. And once you throw the unmatched culprit out, its partner is single forever! If it really bugs you, consider getting a mesh laundry bag or sock clips to keep your pairs together.

Where are my keys?

If you’re constantly misplacing your keys or phone, you’re not alone. This issue is linked to how our brains deal with memory:

• Lack of attention. If you’re distracted or in the middle of doing something else, your brain doesn’t process the act of putting down your keys. It’s like trying to save a document without clicking Save.
• Habit loops. Keys and other small items tend to get dropped in random spots rather than a consistent location, making it harder to recall where they are.

Mystery Solved: Create a designated spot, like a key bowl near a door. Also consider getting an electronic device to attach to your keys. You can then download an app to your phone to track them…you can even use these devices in reverse to find your phone. Plus, these suggestions can be used for many other items like a wallet, purse, or pass keys.

Why does time fly when you’re having fun?

Ever notice how an hour spent folding laundry may seem like an eternity, but a weekend vacation seems to pass in the blink of an eye? This phenomenon boils down to how our brains process experiences:

• Engagement and novelty. When you’re having fun, you’re fully engaged and your brain is processing new, exciting information. This heightened activity makes time feel faster in hindsight.
• Monotony slows your perception. Conversely, routine tasks like sitting through a dull meeting lack novelty, making time seem to drag on and on.

Mystery Solved: Turn boring activities into a game. While doing your laundry, for example, set a timer and race to finish folding a designated pile before time runs out. Or try to organize your laundry by color or type as fast as possible. To get kids involved, turn each piece of laundry into a story starter. “This sock went on an adventure…”

While these every day events can easily turn into an annoyance, spend a second, reset, and embrace the mystery.

As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your tax situation please feel free to call.

We are working on Fridays!!!

Tax Season Hours:

Monday – Friday

8 AM to 5 PM