However, to be perfectly honest (and who's perfect), I am a little disappointed. All years I have included a personal letter in with my tax returns, I have yet to get a personal letter in return.

I'm beginning to think this is a one-way relationship and it wouldn't take much for me to quit this correspondence entirely. Then what would my government think? How would they know what I've been up to all year long?

I am not one to complain, but filling out my income tax return seems to be getting more complicated each year. When I familiarize myself with rules for one year, someone changes them next year.

What could not be deducted last year can be this year; and what was not deductible last year I must pay twice. Why can't someone in government make up my mind and quit all this unnecessary fluctuation?

On April 16, each year, our government immediately destroys tax books to keep them from falling into hands of a foreign power. By "foreign," I mean Canada.

Heaven help us if our neighbor north of border ever got their hands on this information. Canadians are not usually known for their joviality, but once they see these books, entire country would break out into uncontrollable laughter. Who knows what this would do to delicate relationship now existing between two countries.

Because of this important precaution, we need new tax laws each year.

Right after New Year's Eve party, someone in Internal Revenue office asks his assistant to "bring me those tax books." When informed there are no books, this same person (who shall remain nameless for obvious reasons) says to his assistant, "Bob, write me a new tax law book for this year and have it on my desk by 5 o'clock."

This sets wheels of government to whirling and by golly, by 5 o'clock that new tax law book is on desk. The reason tax laws differ from one year to next is assistant responsible for this is fired every year and a new one hired.

The only requirement for assistant is that his name must be "Bob."