Opens in a new tab

St. Nick’s visit, OK’ed by the attorneys

December 24, 2011

"'Twas the Night Before Christmas," also known as "A Visit From St. Nicholas," is one of my favorite poems, holiday or otherwise.

Or it was before the lawyers got hold of it.

Check out the beginning of Clement C. Moore's Christmas verse on the left side of the table below, with the attorneys' rewrite on the right.

Night before Christmas original and legal versionClick on image for larger view.

You can continue reading the side-by-side of the original poem and the legal version at TaxProf Blog, which gets big Christmas kudos for sharing this comparison.

If you prefer, settle down for a short winter's read of the pre-legal holiday classic or watch a video of the tale.

And to all, a good Christmas Eve night!

You also might find these items of interest:

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
Getting ready for the year-end tax countdown

October 17, 2026

Just 2½ months left in 2026. Time to start making tax plans and moves to…

Read More
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.)

Comments
Leave the first comment