Don't Mess With Taxes

One of my favorite yard displays in my neighborhood. I love the multicolor wig on the swinging skeleton. (Photo by Kay Bell)

Happy Halloween!

Most of my neighborhood goes all out with outdoor decoration for this traditionally spooky night.

All Hallows' Eve isn't my favorite holiday. I do, however, get a kick out of seeing what the youngsters dress as to trick or treat. Some of their parents get into the spirit, too.

If you're still trying to decide what you'll wear tonight, an internet search will provide lots of last-minute suggestions.

Social media also is full of a create-your-own Halloween costume meme. Many on Twitter are political and, unsurprisingly, tasteless. But there are some that resonate, like the disgruntled NFL Broncos fan and unfocused adult.

I gave the Halloween costume meme maker a shot and came up with the IRS agent costume shown (I hope; my blog host has been having some maintenance issues) below.

And yeah, the admonishment I delivered to the new Chief Twit holds true for me, too: "Everybody thinks they're comedians. Most, like you as evidenced in your tweets, are not."

If donning a Halloween costume is vital to your enjoyment of this day, I hope you find the perfect one.

Movies with tax topics: Some, however, prefer a more low-key celebration of this second-spookiest day of the year — c'mon, you know Tax Day holds that title!

If that's you, then turn off the porchlight and eat all the trick-or-treat candy yourself while you enjoy some movies that include taxes (a little in some, a lot in others) in their plots. Below are some earlier posts on my tax film faves.

Taxes play key role in hit indie film 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' — This post cites several more of my favorite tax-related flicks, including

• The Shawshank Redemption, the cable-TV classic in which Andy Dufresne helps a guard who's dealing with some inheritance tax trouble;
• Stranger Than Fiction, with Will Ferrell playing an IRS auditor; and
• The Untouchables, which recounts how federal agents, primarily a tax accountant, brought down the infamous gangster Al Capone on tax evasions charges.

New cinematic take on most famous U.S. tax cheat

A tax return clue in the D.B. Cooper mystery

Netflix documentary looks at mob-affiliated minor league hockey club

'Love & Taxes' funny on screen, but not filing in real life is no laughing matter

Regardless of how you spend today and tonight, do so safely.

And remember, even on this holiday celebrating horror, there's always time for a little love.

Not tax, but very scary: If you're looking for more traditional Halloween cinematic fare, I highly recommend the 1978 titular classic "Halloween." John Carpenter did a great job on everything, including the creepy piano score that still gives me chills every time I hear it. Jamie Leigh Curtis is remarkable as the heroic target of Michael Myers. That's why my tumblr blog Tumbling Taxes features the film in my Halloween post there.

You also might find these items of interest:

• 5 Halloween tax break treats
• 4 ways the IRS is scary, on Halloween and year-round
• Ghost preparers are among continuing scary tax scams

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