insideKENT Magazine Issue 81 - December 2018 | Page 173

BUSINESS THANK GOODNESS FOR TAX - OTHERWISE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN NO CHRISTMAS BY RICK SCHOFIELD, PARTNER AT WILKINS KENNEDY ASHFORD THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS THAT US ACCOUNTANTS ARE USEFUL FOR, BUT PLANNING FOR AND SAVING TAXES MAKES UP A LARGE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE DO. IF WE DIDN’T THEN INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, NOR RUN THEIR AFFAIRS DAY-TO- DAY. ALSO, IF IT WASN’T FOR TAX, THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CHRISTMAS AS WE KNOW IT TODAY. I am, of course, talking about the Christmas story and Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. A census was ordered by Caesar Augustus that required all residents in the Empire to register to ensure they were paying correct taxes. Families had to register in their historical tribal town, rather than where they lived. Joseph belonged to the house and line of the royal family of David and Bethlehem was the city of David, so a very pregnant Mary had to travel with Joseph so that he could declare her as his betrothed and to register there. It just so happens, that as well as Jesus’ mother being engaged to a man of Bethlehem, and that was what brought her there for the birth of her child, it appears that an ancient prophecy written centuries previously had already foretold the birth of the Messiah in the town of Bethlehem. Taxation plays an important part of every story, whether it is for your own individual tax planning or for the future security of your business. So let us not forget, as we head towards the celebration of Christmas and the approaching self-assessment deadline of 31st January that if there is something enjoyable to look forward to there is usually a tax consequence. If you would like advice about how you can plan your affairs more tax effectively, why not contact Wilkins Kennedy to see how we can help. Local offices: Ashford: 01233 629 255 / Canterbury: 01227 454 861 Maidstone: 01622 690 666 / Orpington: 01689 827 505 Sandwich: 01304 249 997 According to a prophecy given by Micah around 700 BC, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, out of you He shall come forth that is to become Ruler in Israel. Whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Some studies have suggested that this prophecy predicted the birth of Jesus some 700 years earlier and that it was Caesar’s new taxation census which brought the prophecy into truth. If that is the case, then it is thanks to taxation that we are able to celebrate Christmas Day as we know it today. Without the journey to Bethlehem, the prophecy may have remained unfulfilled. Perhaps the story of Christmas would have been set in Nazareth – but as very little is known about the town until 4th Century AD, the event could have been documented entirely differently. [email protected] www.wilkinskennedy.com wilkinskennedy wilkinskennedy 173