[Steve]

Halloween is often a fun time for kids to go trick-or-treating, collect candy, and enjoy a night of fantasy and adventure. But could it also be an opportunity to teach them something practical?

For instance, some parents take a small ‘tax’ from their kids’ Halloween haul as a playful way to introduce the concept of taxes.

Is Halloween a good time to start introducing kids to the idea of taxes and, if so, why?

Or do you think it takes away from the fun? How can we balance between having a good time and adding a small, teachable moment?”

[Lisah]

Not really equivalent. Taxes help pay for police, military, fire department, special services.

What does taking candy do?

Or maybe the people with the billions of candies don’t pay anything and those with little pay more.

[Mike]

We call it teaching socialism. They do all the work, then we all share it equally.

[Magdalena]

Reese’s tax!!! We’ll start with marginal and see if he’s had a high earning year …

[Lisa]

My kids walk in the house and hand over the things they know I like best.

I picked my 14 yr old up from his dad tonight and before we even left the parking lot he had passed me my share.

[Hannah]

How about teach your kids about compound interest? Each week that they don’t eat the candy, they get an additional piece.

Or teach them the joy of giving…

[Brandy]

I always had my kids pay a candy tax to me. None questioned it until my 3rd born was 9 and suddenly announced on like Nov 2…”hey wait a minute minors don’t pay taxes, where’s our return”.

I was suitably impressed that I got away with it that long before any spoke up.

It didn’t change the tax though, they still all paid every year (and not just with the gross ones they didn’t want haha, they always gave me at least one of my favorite without being asked).

It’s become a family tradition over the years.

My 17 yr old is out with friends tonight and before they left told me they would pay their tax when they get home.

[Thomas]

My oldest is guilty of tax evasion this year. She’s not paying. She may get audited later when she’s not looking.

[Nicole]

Oh yeah in this neighborhood they’ll be pushing into 30% effective tax rate for sure

[Cody]

I mean shit, parents provide free food, housing, entertainment, transportation, etc. all year long

if all I had to pay to get that IRL was equivalent to a few pieces of candy I’d be fuckin stoked

[Author]

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