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Last-minute gifts for your tax geek

December 22, 2009

Time is running short, but if a tax geek is on your shopping list, here are a few last-minute gift possibilities.

St-matthew-prayer-card_catholiccompany First, though, I want to elaborate on a suggestion from my earlier post on tax-related gifts. I noted that since most of us invoke God's name at tax time, a St. Matthew statue would be a good idea as he's the patron saint of accountants.

Several readers let me know that St. Matthew has additional duties. In addition to accountants, he looks over bankers, bookkeepers, customs officers, financial officers, guards, money managers, security forces, security guards, stock broker and tax collectors.

In fact, as Mary at Bed buffaloes in your tax code informed me, "St. Matthew was actually a tax collector (then as now, not a very popular job!)."

My bad for not delving deeper into St. Matt's life and duties. Obviously, it's time for me to get myself to a church!

So think about a statuette for your favorite tax geek, or banker, or CFO or …

Now to some new gift ideas.

Accounting holiday CD_Steven Zelin Tired of the same old Christmas carols? Then check our No Accounting for the Holidays, the CD from The
Singing CPA Steven Zelin. This is his fourth album and first holiday collection. Who doesn't love to sing along to such traditional
favorites as "Most Deductible Time of the Year," "We Wish You a Great
Big Refund" and "Dreydl, Dreydl, Dreydl (Taxes, Taxes, Taxes)."

The tax code is available for the iPhone. Jeff at iPhone J.D. examines a couple of downloadable code versions. I don't have one of those newfangled calling devices yet, but if anything could make me invest in one, it would be this app.

eBay remains a great tax geek shopping venue. Tax Twitter pal @hleahy says he found the board games Ax Your Tax, Flush! and Stick It to the IRS on the online auction site. Just type "tax board games" into the search box and go crazy!

Also up for auction (or direct purchase) is an action figure of the wrestling tax man, Mike Rotunda. Otherwise known as Irwin R. Schyster, or I.R.S. Thanks to the TaxProf for reminding us of this fun tax gift.

1040 toilet paper Finally, with apologies to readers with more sophisticated senses of humor, we have 1040 toilet paper. Enough said.

Happy last-minute shopping!

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TAX-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

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