Every so often, Uncle Sam announces something that makes taxpayers stop, blink, and ask, “Wait… we’re still doing that?” Now that conversation has landed squarely on the humble penny. Yes, the little copper-colored coin that costs more to make than it’s worth, that falls between couch cushions like it’s trying to escape the junk drawer, and that we all secretly wonder what to do with when we get it back as change. Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent personally minted the last five of their kind. And many Americans say this with love: it’s about time. You know inflation is bad when even money is worth less than the metal it’s made from.
Bone to Pick: Travelers Howl Over Italy’s Dog Tax
If you ever thought vacationing with your dog was a walk in the park, Italy just tossed a new stick into the game. The Province of Bolzano in northern Italy is planning to charge visitors about €1.50 per day, or roughly two bucks, for the privilege of bringing along their pup. That’s right: tourists are choking on a brand-new “dog tax.” Sit. Stay. Pay.
When TikTok Becomes TaxTok
Buckle up, buttercups — it’s time to talk about the avalanche of advice flooding Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and beyond. You know the kind: “Just buy a short-term rental and poof — zero tax!” It’s catchy. It’s viral. And it’s mostly hype. Sure, short-term rentals can offer tax advantages, maybe even significant ones. But the idea that you […]
Fast, Furious, and Fair?
You know that sinking feeling. You’re driving down the road, minding your own business, when you see a cop’s “cherries and berries” flashing in your mirror. Then you look down at your speedometer and realize he’s gunning for you. Sure, it’s a bummer. But it’s not that big a deal. The gendarme checks your license, registration, and proof […]
The Fine Art of Getting Caught
When most people think of taxes, they think of income tax — the annual bloodletting every April that funds everything from fighter jets to the world’s slowest website redesigns. But there’s another tax that quietly siphons billions every year without nearly as much drama: sales tax.
Buried Treasure and the IRS
Every kid dreams of finding a buried chest full of gold coins, a few emeralds, and maybe a wooden leg or two. But grown-ups who actually find treasure soon discover the real pirates aren’t the ones with eye patches and hooks. They’re the ones with ID badges reading “Internal Revenue Service.”