Tax serenade for small business filers

April 9, 2008

If you’re still putting off your tax filing, maybe you just need a little musical encouragement. Say, perhaps, the latest stylings of the Singing CPA.

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On his third CD release, New York CPA Steven Zelin provides listeners with financially themed parodies of popular tunes.

My favorites from this collection include Tax Busters, Dear IRS and, being a big Mary Poppins fan as a child, A Charitable Contribution (Makes the Tax Bill Go Down).

Don’t let this and Zelin’s other CDs fool you. He still takes his day job seriously.  According to the blurb on CD Baby, he has been
featured in "The Trusted Professional," the publication of the New York
State Society of CPAs, and was profiled in the February 2007 issue of
CFO magazine.

But when tax time rolls around, it’s also tune time. For the past four years, Zelin has entertained New Yorkers who flock to the main James A. Farley Post Office for last-minute 1040 filing.

He should be back there next Tuesday night. If, however, you don’t live in the Big Apple or just can’t wait, you can pick up a copy of his CD online.

Unfortunately, I doubt the purchase is tax deductible, unless you’re a musician and you can convince the IRS that the CD is for legitimate melodic research.

And thanks to TaxProf, the tax world’s favorite DJ, for the musical tax tip.

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Real tax tips for musicians:
Living in Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, I’m surrounded by thousands of folks who truly do make their livings by performing.

Most are independent contractors and the standard tax rules apply to them as they would all other independent, small business people.

The IRS has a good section dedicated to the tax concerns of small businesses and the self-employed.

Becky McCray usually focuses on small business folks who have products more tangible than tunes, but her

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Tax Season 2026 Continues!

We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over. For most of us. When the filing season started on Jan. 26, millions who were expecting refunds filed immediately. Most of us got our returns to the Internal Revenue Service by April 15. But plenty of taxpayers also got extensions. They are looking at an Oct. 15 filing deadline.

Those procrastinating filers aren’t a problem. In fact, the IRS appreciates taxpayers who take time to fill out their 1040 forms correctly. It also is grateful that tax submissions are spread out a bit, especially now that the IRS is a leaner agency. Processing returns is easier when they arrive throughout the year instead of in massive bunches.

But enough about Uncle Sam’s tax collection issues. The focus now is on all y’all who filed for extensions, giving you another six months to complete your return. Since your new mid-October due date will be here before you know it, let’s get started now on meeting it.

The ol’ blog is here to help you finish up your extended Form 1040. You can start with January’s tax tips page, which has links to the rest of the year’s tips by-month collections. You also can peruse various tax categories for more tailored advice by clicking on the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of this (and every) page.

And to make sure you don’t miss your new filing deadline, the count-down clock below will let you know just how much time you to file by Oct. 15. At the latest.e. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

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