Tax law and humor rarely intersect, but thats exactly whats going on in The Devils Dictionary of Taxation written by former Texas Deputy Comptroller of Public Accounts Billy Hamilton. Billys work is loosely based on The Devils Dictionary, a work by the satirist Ambrose Bierce (thats Bierce in the image, not Billy), and it applies the same wry sense of humor to taxation topics that Bierce applied to aspects of late nineteenth century American society. Heres one example:
Tax Theory Versus Tax Practice: Tax theory is when you think you know something but it doesnt work. Tax practice is when something works but you dont know why. Typically, governments combine theory and practice so that nothing works and no one knows why.
Billy has an advantage in writing about taxes humorously and otherwise in that he had a close-up view of the evolution of Texas tax law during his decades of service at the Comptrollers office until his retirement in 2006. Hes currently a policy consultant and an Adjunct Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.

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