#TaxValentines: Tax Rhyme And Reason, Every Love Season
This valentine let the tax geeks shine. #taxvalentines returns.

No one seemed to know how it started. A query on Twitter prompted some fingerpointing till it emerged that this now annual tradition of tax funnies was founded in tragedy.
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Who Started #TaxValentines ?
Five of them, all season regulars - @hselftax, @AislingTax, @SoongJohnston, @iaincampbell07 and @DanNeidle, said Jeremy Cape started the tax rhymes a few valentines ago.
Jeremy Cape, who describes himself as a lawyer and writer on international tax, explained that “I remember writing some three years ago. My dad was dying and it distracted me from the sadness. (Sorry for the downer. But everyone loves an origin story)”.
Sorry Jeremy. Thank you Jeremy. Precious #TaxValentines now challenges tax rhyme and reason, every love season.
This year some heavy hitters have resorted to twitter verse. One revenue service, a British tax official and a Member of Parliament, tax policy folk at the OECD and an international tax magazine. Jeremy is still the most prolific (and unerringly funny), but the award this year—for the Funniest Rhyme—jointly goes to @AndyGrewal, @jmfeiner and @SoongJohnston.
Yup, I decide. But votes and contributions are welcome @menakadoshi.
European Commission Department for Taxation and Customs Union.
Roses are red
— EU Tax & Customs (@EU_Taxud) February 7, 2018
violets are blue
digital companies should pay
their fair share of taxes too#TaxValentines
Leads the HM Revenue & Customs team.
Roses are red
— Jeremy Sherwood (@Jemsherwood) February 7, 2018
Like a tax dodgerâs face
When we take them to court
And demolish their case
#taxvalentines
Scottish National Party politician and Member of Parliament for Aberdeen North.
Roses are red
— Kirsty Blackman (@KirstySNP) February 8, 2018
Your face will be too
When youâre charged import VAT
On mailed gifts from EU#TaxValentines #tradevalentines
Director of the Center for Tax Policy and Administration at the OECD.
#taxvalentines
— Pascal Saint-Amans (@PSaintAmans) February 6, 2018
Roses are blue
My dreams come true
Is BEPS over?
I just wonder
Deputy Director of the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration.
Roses are red,
— Grace Perez-Navarro (@GPerezinParis) February 6, 2018
The TPG are blue, but if you keep me at armâs length, what kind of Valentine are you #taxvalentines
Tax and development policy analyst at OECD.
Roses are red
— Joseph Stead (@jwbstead) February 5, 2018
But I bought mine online
So where tax is due
Is hard to devine#taxvalentines
Tax news and analysis service.
Shall I compare TP to a summer's day? Naught art more lovely than a BEPS template. #taxvalentines
— International Tax Review (@IntlTaxReview) February 5, 2018
The likely founder of #taxvalentines.
Roses are red
— Jeremy Cape (@jeremydcape) February 3, 2018
I love you of course
I'd treat you like royalty
But then I'd tax you at source#TaxValentines
Tax expert “strongly opposed to neoliberals and secret trusts that do not fund him”.
Roses are red
— Murphy Richards (@MurphyCandidTax) February 5, 2018
Unless damaged in hail
All tax advisers are neoliberals
Who, candidly, should be in jail. #taxvalentines https://t.co/x6dsQpTphE
Winner #1 and law professor at University of Iowa.
Every expense you take
— Andy Grewal (@AndyGrewal) February 7, 2018
Every write-off you make
Every rule you break
Every claim you fake
I'll be deducting you#TaxValentines
Winner #2 and tax journalist.
Roses are red,
— Stephanie Johnston (@SoongJohnston) February 5, 2018
Violets are neat,
You can process my CbC data
Between the spreadsheets#taxvalentines
Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University.
Roses are red,
— Rasmus Christensen (@phdskat) February 4, 2018
Iâll pop a big question,
If I lower my taxes,
Will you bring foreign investment?#taxvalentines
One of the pioneers of #taxvalentines.
Roses are red
— Heather Self (@hselftax) February 5, 2018
You could turn them blue
But hybrids are banned
Under BEPS Action 2#taxvalentines
Self-proclaimed “libertarian legend”.
Roses are red
— Old Holbornâ (@Holbornlolz) February 7, 2018
Violets are blue
Give us your fucking money
"We're from the Government"#taxvalentines pic.twitter.com/WtJrZETWk6
Winner #3 and tax lawyer in London.
Roses are red
— Julian Feiner (@jmfeiner) February 5, 2018
believe me, it's true
I'll have a carry-forward loss
if I can't be with you#taxvalentines

Yes, from India.
Violets are red
— Ameet Patel (@patelameet) February 8, 2018
Roses are blue
If notional income can be taxed
Why can't the above be true!#taxvalentines
Hey cute IRS agent,
— Andy Grewal (@AndyGrewal) February 6, 2018
I know this is crazy,
But you have my tax ID number,
So audit me maybe#TaxValentines
Roses are red,
— Rasmus Christensen (@phdskat) February 6, 2018
Your love you've professed
But I only give my benefits
After a principal purpose test.#taxvalentines
Roses are red
— Stephanie Johnston (@SoongJohnston) February 7, 2018
And my heart is skipping
I just found out that
Heâs double dipping
#taxvalentines
I noticed you,
— TheRealHoff (@enemigo_de_pepe) February 6, 2018
cause you're looking resplendent.
Lets head back to my place,
and make a dependent.#TaxValentines https://t.co/AdBiUAElAQ
Roses are red,
— Rasmus Christensen (@phdskat) February 4, 2018
Iâll meet you after eight
But keep your tax system
Broad base and low rate#taxvalentines
Roses are red
— Stephanie Johnston (@SoongJohnston) February 7, 2018
And you must be tripping
If you think Iâd perform
Sexy âearnings strippingâ ð#taxvalentines
A tax leader at one of the big firms, trying hard.
#taxvalentines
— Jonathan Riley (@JONATHAN_RILE) February 8, 2018
Roses are red
Politicians, no clue
They add to complexities
And make tax codes like glue
Never let it be said that @GrantThorntonUK isnât home to tax romanceð
Could’ve been about India a few years ago.
Valentines is dead
— Gordon Berry (@wealthagent) February 8, 2018
Christmas is too
If we donât already have a tax
Weâll backdate a new one for you#taxvalentines https://t.co/usCn4Bdw27
My contribution to #taxvalentines.
The government is winning
— menaka doshi (@menakadoshi) February 3, 2018
At this tax game
I've to work twice as hard
To 'take home' the same#TaxValentines
All descriptions have been sourced from individual twitter biographies.