Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper 

There is bad news and good news about income taxes this year.  The bad news is that it’s tax season again.  The good news is that income taxes are not due until April 18th!

I know there is a lot of tax preparation software available these days.  And there are many tax professionals that can help people with filing their income tax returns.   Since I usually do my own taxes, I spend hours reading the instructions and filling out my tax return.   It used to take weeks to get additional forms.   Now, I can find them online and print my own copies.

All year long, I collect and keep receipts in a large manila envelope.  In January, it takes a lot of time to sort and organize these into different piles.  I have heard that it takes the average tax payer from five to ten hours to prepare their income taxes.   I’m sure it takes me a lot longer!

Eventually, my taxes get done and in the mail before the deadline.  I always say a short prayer when I put my tax return in the mail.  I hope that I got them right!

If I were a politician, I would simplify the whole income tax system.  More people would probably file their own taxes if the process was simplified.  I wonder if the complexity motivates people to not file at all or requires many people to hire tax professionals?

There is a passage in the Bible that says, “Give to everyone what you owe him; if you owe taxes, pay taxes, if you owe revenue, then pay revenue, if you owe respect, give respect and if you owe honor, then give honor” (Romans 13:7)   When Jesus was asked if people should pay taxes He answered, “Whose picture is on the Roman coin?” The answer was Caesar.  Therefore, He said, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:14-17).

I don’t think anyone enjoys paying taxes, but it is part of life.  If we live in this country, we should expect to support this country with our taxes.  We may not always like the way our local, state or national governments spend our money, but we should pay our taxes and then show our approval or disapproval at the ballot box in November.

Don’t forget – good news – the tax deadline this year is April 18th!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday Services are at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit efreedb.org.