1040 blues

Uh-oh, April 15 already? That means two things to cartoonists. Since most of us have some kind of outside income (syndication royalties, speaking fees, under-the-drawing-board payoffs from the Big Irony and Big Cynicism lobbies, etc.), it’s time to open the checkbook and cry “Uncle,” as in “Sam.”

But tax season also allows us to rage against the machinations of the tax “code,” that mother-of-all-documents that is comprehensively comprehended only by George W. Bush … OK, by approximately nobody. The examples shown here are interesting and thoughtful, but the fact is that highly trained, seasoned professionals can crank out generic anti-tax toons in their sleep. (See Schedule ZZZ.) That leaves plenty of time to fill out Form 4868 — Request for Automatic Extension — and Attachment NOT-EZ — Request for Renewal of Artistic License. No extra credit for filling them out with a sable brush.

— Joel Pett