The annual Internal Revenue Service Tax Forums are great opportunities to meet tax professionals and pick up some tax tips. The tax pros use them to help their clients. I use them in tax blog posts.
My view from the Gaylord at National Harbor, Maryland, which hosted the Washington, D.C., area IRS Tax Forum Aug. 23-25, 2016.
The IRS wants to make sure that the tax preparers looking to get continuing education credit get their money’s worth, so the forums are jam packed. But in the few minutes between the sessions, the various rooms’ sound systems blast out tunes.
In prior years, I’ve tried to work the daily collection of tunes into individual blog posts. This year, however, I decided to keep track and share all the tunes on this special page.
Where a song reminds me of a tax situation, I’ve so noted and provided links to posts with more info on that tax topic.
So turn up the volume. Here’s the playlist from the 2016 IRS Tax Forum from National Harbor outside of Washington, D.C. Enjoy!
La Samba by Pete Escovedo
If You Really Love Me by A. Ray Fuller
Friendly Pressure by Maysa (like the IRS applies with its notices to taxpayers)
Touch of Grey by Grateful Dead (yes, we all will survive tax season!)
The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and The News
Sunburn by Fuel (hope it’s not too bad, but if you need medical treatment, it might be tax deductible)
I’m So Excited by The Pointer Sisters
Virtual Insanity by Jamiroqual (companion to the literal insanity that most believe the tax code has become)
Cosmic Girl by Jamiroqual
High Times by Jamiroqual (a tune to accompany the increasing number of states that allow, and tax, some marijuana use)
Budapest by George Ezra
Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake (and if it leads to marriage, check out the tax moves you need to make after saying “I do”)
Counting Stars by OneRepublic (and the extra income you got from taxable independent contractor income)
Satisfaction (I Can’t Get No) by The Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones
You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones (if your return is audited; and ye, someone sure likes single performer programming blocks)
Blue Horizon by Maysa
Sax You Up by Alonzo Blackwell (yes, this title is trying to get us to think of something else; to that end, check out the tax bill that was paid by selling adult erotic toys)
Out of My League by Fitz and The Tantrums
Dancin’ in the Rain by Shane Harper (but in case the precipitation turns more menacing, check out the special Storm Warnings page with natural disaster preparation, recovery and assistance tax tips)
Some Hearts by Carrie Underwood
Thunder Clatter by Wild Club
I Wanna Get Better by Bleachers (medical deductions, this time for medically necessary treatments like stop smoking and weight loss programs, as well as doctor prescribed special food)
Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones
Fever by The Black Keys (and still with the doctors … and tax breaks)
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
La Bamba by Los Lobos
Brick House by the Commodores (or wood frame or stone or even an RV can be a personal residence that provides some potential tax breaks)
Stand Up by In the Valley Below
Shake Me Like a Monkey by Dave Matthews Band
I Didn’t Know by Dwayne Kerr (when you’re referring to taxes, this is a good reason to get professional tax help, sometimes for free)
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police
China Grove by The Doobie Brothers
Better Together by Jack Johnson
Running on Sunshine by Jesus Jackson
In Da Club by 50 Cent (if it’s a professional club or trade association, the dues might be tax deductible as a business expense)
Deeper Underground by Jamiroqual
Feels Just Like it Should by Jamiroqual
Cornflake Girl by Tori Amos
Little L by Jamiroqual (yep, definite Jamiroqual fans within the IRS)
Mermaid by Train
Take Back the Night by Justin Timberlake (with Daylight Saving Time, perhaps, and its tangential tax connections)
Blue Monday by New Order (if your work weeks always starts like this, it might be time for a deductible search for a new job)
All Star by Smash Mouth (high-paid athletes have their tax troubles, too)
Jump, Jive and Wail by The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Getting’ Jiggy With It by Will Smith (fun, but not necessarily a good thing to do with your 1040)
It’s Just One of Those Things by Incognito
All I Want by Toad The Wet Sprocket (…is a big refund?)
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce
Don’t Stop ‘Til you Get Enough by Michael Jackson (of a refund)
Love Rollercoaster by The Ohio Players (much more fun that the tax rollercoaster with all its confusing loopholes that seem to work for the other guys, but not so much for you)
Lido Shuffle by Boz Skaggs (more fun than shuffling those tax papers, like the W-2 forms you need to file your return)
Play That Funky Music by Nicholas David (my generation’s version was by Wild Cherry, but just like some tax laws, some persist virtually unchanged through the years)
The Way by Fastball (to complete your return accurately, perhaps)
My House by Kacey Musgraves
Under Pressure by Queen (every taxpayer’s theme song as April 15 approaches)
All Over the World by Electric Light Orchestra (I’m sure the band means the global income that the IRS taxes)
September by Earth, Wind and Fire (it’s almost here, meaning that the Oct. 15 extension deadline is getting even closer)
Thanks for listening with me to these songs with an ear toward possible tax lyrics.
