【美国精神】第56期

Explanation:   

  There is a very well-known saying in English: “The only sure things (or things that will definitely¹ happen) in life are death and taxes.” Just like there is no way to avoid death (or to not die), there is no way to avoid paying taxes, which is money that we pay to the government so that the government can provide education, security², and other services to its people. In the United States, everyone who makes money must pay federal³ (or national) income taxes, which is money we pay to the government based on how much money we have made. 

 

  In the United States, taxpayers⁵ must file (or send in) their own federal income tax forms, which are pieces of paper that request information and have spaces for us to write down that information. The tax forms request personal information like your name and address, as well as information about how much money you made in the past year. The forms always must be postmarked (or stamped by the post office) by April 15th. If the federal income tax forms are postmarked on a later date, the taxpayer⁴ will have to pay a fine, which is money that we must pay because we did something wrong. 

 

  Filing tax forms is not very difficult, but if you own your own business or have your money in a lot of other things to make money, it can be complicated⁶. Many people fill out (or write in the answers on) their tax forms on their own. Other people have tax accountants, which are people who do taxes as their job, do it for them. Either way, it is important to keep all of our tax information organized throughout the year so that we will be ready when it is time to file taxes. 

 

  Throughout the year, the company where you work takes withholdings, which is money that you never see because the company sends it directly to the federal (or national) government. The withholdings are as much as you expect to owe (or need to pay) in taxes. Then, early in the following year, you file your tax forms. If your total tax owed is more than the withholdings, meaning you have not yet paid enough taxes, you will need to pay the difference between what you have already paid and what you owe. If the total amount of the taxes you owe is less than your withholdings, then you will get a tax refund⁷ (or money that is returned to you from the government because you have already paid too much). 

 

问题：

When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?  

Answer:   

April 15 

1 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

2 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

3 federal   

adj.联盟的；联邦的；(美国)联邦政府的

参考例句：

• Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
• The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。

4 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。

5 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

6 complicated   

adj.错综复杂的，麻烦的，结构复杂的

参考例句：

• The poem is so complicated that I cannot make out its meaning.这首诗太复杂，我理解不了它的意思。
• This is the most complicated case I have ever handled.这是我所处理过的最为复杂的案子。

7 refund   

v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款

参考例句：

• They demand a refund on unsatisfactory goods.他们对不满意的货品要求退款。
• We'll refund your money if you aren't satisfied.你若不满意，我们愿意退款给你。