National Tax Day in United States
April 15
Every year on the 15th of April there is a deadline imposed for submitting taxes to the IRS. Maybe you didn’t know this: before 1862, the government only collected sales tax on certain items such as alcohol and tobacco. President Lincoln created the IRS and enacted a 3% income tax on those who made between $600 and $10,000 to assist in covering Civil War costs. The income tax system employed by the IRS that we know today would not be put into place until 1913 with the addition of the 16th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads, “Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived…” When the income tax was fully established in 1913, the tax rate was 1%. Few paid income tax to the IRS, as it was required only if you made $3,000+ per year. That year only 1 out of 271 Americans had to pay income tax.
World Art Day
April 15
World Art Day is an international celebration of the fine arts, which was declared by UNESCO, to promote awareness of creative activity worldwide. The first World Art Day was held on April 15th, 2012, a date chosen in honor of Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday. This is a day when you should visit an art museum, join your children in an art-related project or go online to find hundreds of other activities tied into World Art Day.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Leonardo de Vinci – Artist, Scientist & Engineer – born in Florence, Italy
Emma Watson – Actress – born in Paris, France
