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JULY 2023
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LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE BRAVE
The Reason I Love the Fourth of July
Every year when July rolls around, my family and I
traditions, I’m also reminded of our country’s history that goes back even further and the brilliance of our founding fathers that created the incredible country we call home today. I don’t know about you, but I’m proud to be an American and so thankful for the sacrifices the early settlers made, giving their lives to form the greatest country in the world. And when I say the founding fathers were brilliant, I mean it. As they created and signed the Declaration of Independence, they did what no other country could: protected liberty, free speech, freedom of religion, and due process of law for all who lived here from that point onward to today. America is the only country in the world where the rich and the poor face the same hand of justice, and citizens of our great nation can live freely without fear of tyranny. The same principles our founding fathers imagined in 1776 still protect us today, likely because they created them from “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” where freedom cannot exist without integrity. This is why they designed our system with checks and balances, an incredible forethought that is nothing short of genius. Our country deserves to be celebrated because it’s the best place in the world. There’s a reason why we’re the world’s superpower, and it all starts way back at our country’s original foundation. Living here is a blessing, and while many people often forget this privilege, the Fourth of July reminds me how thankful I am to call this place home. So this year, as you’re enjoying time with loved ones or blasting off bottle rockets (if you’re anything like my family), remember that this holiday is all about freedom, independence, equality, and our beautiful country. We recognize the purpose of Christmas every year at church, so I encourage you to do the same on Independence Day and thank the good lord above that you get to call this country your home too. Happy Independence Day!
can’t help but get excited. Yes, because school is out and the kids are free of school, but also because July means Independence Day. Next to Christmas, the Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays because we always have a family event, and this tradition goes back to my great- grandparents. We even have pictures
of them at their own Fourth of July celebration way back when. Of
course, our gatherings have food and games, but we also love to shoot fireworks to celebrate. I often tell people that if you drive down our country road during the holiday, you can see clear as day from the bright overhead explosions.
One of the most memorable Fourth of July family parties was at my Uncle Jack’s house, where we swam on
the lake all day and night. But as much as I look forward to seeing friends and family,
there’s another reason why I love this holiday so much these days. As I reflect on our generations-long
–Randy Martin
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Fly, Disc, Fly Lesser-Known Disc Sports to Try This Summer Disc golf has exploded in popularity during the past few years. The Professional Disc Golf Association reports more than 7,000 disc golf courses in the United States. It’s inexpensive, accessible, and fun, which has made it the perfect sport for many Americans. But disc golf isn’t the only sport that involves Frisbees. Many other disc- related sports are gaining popularity and are worth checking out. Here are a few entertaining disc-related sports you might not be familiar with. Guts Dodgeball is one of the most exciting games many can remember from our youth. There’s nothing more exhilarating than hitting someone with a ball and getting the final out. Guts is similar to dodgeball, with some slight differences. The court is split into two halves, with each team occupying one half and facing the other and a goal line at the back of each side. Players take turns throwing the discs at the other team, who must stand still until the disc leaves the thrower’s hand. The throwing team is awarded a point if the disc strikes a player or crosses the goal line. The first team to score 21 points wins. Fricket
A 6-YEAR SECRET AND $92,389 OWED We Still Helped Them Buy Their Dream Home Many people who call us are incredibly nervous; usually, it’s because the IRS is after them. But sometimes, their fear is much deeper, like in the case of one of our more recent clients. For the sake of this story, we’ll call them Bob and Jane. Bob and Jane are from Houston, where we also have an office. Bob came in — alone — looking incredibly anxious. Our first order of business was to hear his story and gather the details of his situation. Bob was in sales, and his wife Jane was a waitress. Bob was responsible for filing their taxes, except he hadn’t filed for six years. It started with one missed year (he traveled a lot for work and forgot), but it just began to snowball after that. One missed year turned into six, and a tax debt owed of $92,389. Bob was undoubtedly nervous because of the amount of money he owed and because he hadn’t filed, but what he was most distraught over was the fact that his wife had no idea any of this was going on. He had never told her he forgot to file. Bob had even gone so far as to get a P.O. box so Jane wouldn’t see any of the letters from the IRS. His main concern was that they were trying to buy a house, and he didn’t want her to find out about their tax debt in a denial letter from a bank or lending institution when they tried to get a mortgage. So, first and foremost, we told Bob we needed to tell Jane before we could proceed. Technically, this had put her in debt too. We offered to help Bob tell Jane about the debt and the missed filings by presenting her with a plan, one where we’d help them reduce the amount they owed. The meeting was a success, and Jane appreciated that Bob came clean. Next, we got them caught up on their missed filings and began our negotiations with the IRS. In the end, everything was taken care of for under $40,000, and Bob and Jane were able to buy their dream home. We’re so happy we could give Bob’s tax (and potentially marriage) nightmare a happy ending!
Fricket is a two-on-two sport often called the cricket of disc sports. Start by getting four 5-foot
wickets made from plastic or bamboo. Place two side by side, about 15 inches apart, and then place the other two 40 yards away. Place red Solo cups on top of the wickets, and that’s all the setup you need! Each team takes turns throwing their disc
at the wickets. You gain a point if you knock a cup on the ground or your disc passes between the wickets without touching them. If the opposing team catches your throw one-handed, they get a point. The first team to 21 points wins. Disc Dog
There are many disc sports involving man’s best friend. Toss and Fetch requires the owner to throw as many discs as possible for their dog to catch in 60 seconds. Freestyle competitions are choreographed performances that last over a minute. And long-distance events showcase the thrower’s arm and the dog’s speed. Participating in these events takes a lot of training, but they are incredibly entertaining to watch and a great way to bond with your dog.
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The History of the IRS How One July Changed Our Country
July is a major month for our country’s history. Not only is it the month we celebrate our independence from England and the Declaration of Independence, but it’s also the month the IRS was born. In 1861, President Lincoln was running out of money to fund the Civil War, and during this time of severe unrest, he needed the money fast. He had an idea, but he needed to find out if it was legal, and he was doubtful that it would fare well with other members of Congress at the time. Lincoln contacted cabinet members like Edward Bates, Gideon Welles, and Salmon Chase to ask if he had the authority to “collect duties” from the common people — their revenue. In particular, he was worried about collecting that money from southern states with seaports, as he feared the Confederacy would Soon gain control over them.
he officially signed it into law, and the Bureau of International Revenue was born. Congress and Lincoln agreed that annual incomes over $800 would be subject to a 3% tax. In the act, “income” is defined as a gain “derived from any kind of property, or from any professional trade, employment, or vocation carried on in the United States or elsewhere or from any source whatever.” For reference, $800 in 1862 is equivalent to about $24,028.75 today. After the war, in 1871, Congress repealed the Revenue Act, declaring it unconstitutional. However, in 1913, when railroad barons were taking over, and the people wanted them to pay their fair share, Congress ratified the 16th Amendment, aka the Revenue Act of 1913, which created the income-tax system we know today.
He knew he had to act fast, so in August 1861, just two months after the start of the Civil War, President Lincoln officially imposed the first federal income tax by signing the Revenue Act. In July 1862,
We’re not saying we should celebrate the IRS this month, but its history is fascinating. Did anything about the birth of income taxes surprise you? If yes, we’d love to hear your thoughts!
–Randy Martin
Clients With IRS Issues?
Do you have clients with IRS problems and don’t know how to lead them? We’d love to hear from you! Handling the IRS bureaucracy is something that most legal and tax professionals themselves don’t want to deal with, and the taxpayer trying to go at it alone can hurt themselves just by saying the wrong thing or failing to speak up at the right time. That’s where we come in. At IRSProb.com, we specialize in helping people resolve their issues with the IRS so they can start anew and have hope for their future. If you know anyone struggling with an IRS-related issue, we’d love to help. Send us an email at Info@irsprob.com or call (214) 214-3000 so we can get started. Se Habla Español!
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Inside This Issue
Proud to Be Red, White, and Blue page 1 The Disc Sports You Haven’t Heard Of page 2 A Secret P.O. Box and Years of Shame page 2 The IRS-Civil War Connection page 3 Clients With IRS Issues? page 3 How a Byzantine Princess Introduced Forks to Europe page 4
In Forks We Trust How Europe Eventually Stopped Eating With Their Hands
If you attend a dinner party, go on a date at a restaurant, or eat a plate of pasta, you’ll use a fork without thinking twice. This is proper etiquette — and the cleanest and most efficient way to eat a meal! Could you imagine trying to eat a plate of spaghetti and meatballs without one? Wealthy people in other parts of the world, such as the Byzantine Empire and the Middle East, have been using forks since the 17th century. However, before that, forks were considered to be sacrilegious and rude to use at the dinner table in Europe! In fact, in the 11th century, a Byzantine princess was ridiculed for bringing forks into her new husband’s home. Maria Argyropoulina, the Greek niece of Emperor Basil II of Byzantium, arrived in Venice, Italy, prepared to marry Giovanni, the son of Pietro Orseolo II, the Doge of Venice.
She brought all of her belongings with her to move into her new house, including a case of golden forks. At the wedding, she pulled out one of her golden forks to partake in her wedding feast, and the reaction she got took her by surprise. The clergy lambasted her, saying things like, “God in his wisdom has provided man with natural forks — his fingers. Therefore, it is an insult to him to substitute artificial metal forks for them when eating.” However, this didn’t urge the princess to eat with her hands, and she stuck with her forks. Shortly after the marriage, the Byzantine princess, unfortunately, contracted the plague and passed away. Many believed this was “karma” for refusing to eat with her hands and bringing a fork to her husband’s home. But thanks to Maria Argyropoulina, Europe was introduced to the fork and never had to worry about eating spaghetti and meatballs — or any other dish — with their hands again.
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