Dave Tippett gives us Five Signs You’ve Gone to a Bad Tax Service
5. They ask if you want fries with that refund.
4. IRS auditors have their own parking spot.
3. Corporate motto: “Never Convicted!”
2. They can replace your muffler at the same time.
1. They have a frequent guest punch card from the folks at “Sixty Minutes.”
Every year it’s the same old story:
1. Finish entering our finances on Quicken.
2. Print the summary.
3. Gather all IRS forms.
4. Go through my check lists.
5. Fill in the numbers where I know they go.
6. Take what I’ve got to our tax guy.
7. Discover NEW forms the IRS just came out with!!!
8. Go back home to find new numbers for new forms.
9. Final trip to tax guy; pay tax guy.
I take copious notes when I’m with the tax guy. Every year I learn a little more. Every year my check lists get better, but no matter how many years I keep learning, there’s always more to learn from the tax guy.
Does that sound familiar? It should. This is a metaphor for life. No matter how long we’ve been married (30 years on July 21) Mindy and I still are in “Marriage University” with each other.
We’ve been parents for almost 27 years and we are still attending “Parenting Prepatory Academy.”
I’ve been doing public speaking for 30 years, but I’m still in “Sermon Seminary.”
I’ve been a pastor for 30 years but I’m still in “Pastor Post Grad Studies.”
There is an attitude in me that wants to cross a “finish line,” to be the “expert,” where I don’t have to be humble and teachable anymore. That is an attitude that needs to be rejected! I’m a C.P. in a C.P.A. world. I’m a “Certified Public” (guy) in a “Certified Public Accountant” world. In this life I’ll ALWAYS be learning about taxes and life!!!
Proverbs 9:8-9 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
This tax season made me grateful God works to make me humble and teachable…. essentials to becoming a wise man. By the way, if your tax guy asks if you want Fries with your tax refund, give me a call.