Many Happy Returns... (Hopefully...)
This was a very taxing puzzle! But daughter no. 1 helped me with it, so call her my CPA!
17 Across. Tries something earnestly: HAS A GO AT IT. The circled SAG backwards = Gas Tax.
25 Across. Uploads again, say: RESUBMITS. The circled ESU backwards = Use Tax.
49 Across. "That's so typical": IT FIGURES. The circled TFIG backwards = Gift Tax.
58 Across. "Just enjoy this victory": A WIN IS A WIN. The circled NIS = Sin Tax
And the reveal:
35 Across. April 15 filing, or what can be found in each set of circled letters in this puzzle: TAX RETURN.
Across:
1. Sore after a run, say: ACHY.
5. Pastel hue: LILAC.
10. Trident-shaped Greek letters: PSIS. (Looks weird without an apostrophe...)
14. Pump or clog: SHOE.
15. Comic actor Cheri: OTERI.
On the right, (name #1)
16. "Field of Dreams" locale: IOWA.17. [Theme]
19. Glitzy genre: GLAM.
20. Plumbing fitting under a sink: P TRAP.
21. Two-time Oscar nominee Rooney: MARA.
Name #2
23. Singer Yoko: ONO. (Name #3, every time she sings, I cover my ears and yell "Oh No!")24. Some spa treatments: PEELS.
They whack you with flat wooden sticks,
Supposed to make your skin look rosy...
27. Afro-Caribbean sound: CALYPSO.
29. Soda brand named for a mountain: SHASTA.
30. Fishy, in slang: SUS. I suppose short for "suspect." But it sounds fishy to me...
31. Grains that might be rolled: OATS.
34. Not duped by: ONTO.
35. [Theme Reveal.
38. Text incessantly: SPAM. Yes, the dreaded Spam...
Be sure to read the credits at the end...
41. Org. in 66-Across: CIA.
44. Like a well-earned comeuppance: KARMIC.
46. Films that often end in weddings: ROMCOMS. (I am not going to link the wedding singer, )
49. [Theme]
The clue was "that's typical=It figures."
I posted the pic before I moved the Themers,
And now I don't know how to move it, or delete it...
53. Avril follower: MAI. (Frawnch...) should not be in an English puzzle if you ask me...
54. Since: AS OF.
55. Like beaches: SANDY.
56. Laptop shortcut key: CTRL.
58. [Theme]
61. Laptop shortcut key: HOME.
62. Ariz. neighbor: CALIF.
63. "Well, fudge": DANG.
64. __ facto: IPSO.
65. Prepared to be knighted: KNELT.
66. Best Picture winner set in Iran: ARGO.
Ok, they went undercover as film makers making a movie...
Wait! Which one is the real movie?
1. Barbecue detritus: ASH.
2. Béret, par exemple: CHAPEAU. (French for hat, how do I know this? Dr. Seuss...)
3. Budget lodgings: HOSTELS. I did not know this... Reasonably priced overnight lodging in NYC?
4. Like birthdays: YEARLY.
5. Roller coaster section: LOOP. (Not to be confused with 4. Down)
6. Winner of four FIFA World Cups, for short: ITA. Italy, I wanted USA, but it was not to be...
7. Phrase during a handover: LET ME. Curious clueing, sounds more like "gimme" during a hold up.
8. Met highlights: ARIAS.
9. Satsuma, e.g.: CITRUS.
Learning moment.
Specifically, Satsuma Mandarin Orange.
10. Certain truffle hunter: PIG.
One does not live by Aroma alone...
11. Recital performer: SOLOIST.
12. Expression of desire: I WANT TO.
13. Appetizer at an Indian restaurant: SAMOSA.
Yummers! Choose your filling!
18. Sound of shock: GASP. What! We're out of Samosas?
22. Detest: ABHOR.
24. Dells, e.g.: PCS. Personal Computers
25. Bellows: ROARS.
26. "Ferrari" director Michael: MANN.
Name #4
28. Rivals of the Yanks: SOX. Baseball: Boston Red Sox.
32. Merch table buy: TEE. This could be either at a flea market, or a Golf Pro Shop...
33. Marks on some items of note: STARS. ⭐️
35. Roman of "Basketball Wives": TAMI.
Tami Roman, name #5
36. Latina chum: AMIGA. Latin"o" chum: Amigo.
37. Mil. morale booster: USO. United Service Organizations.
The face of The USO.
39. Image-shaping cos.: PR FIRMS. Public Relations Firms.
41. Conflict that may feature proxy battles: COLD WAR.
42. "Too funny!": I'M DYING.
Could also refer to a failed stand up gag...
43. Pack animal: ASS.
44. Bibimbap topping: KIMCHI.
Bibimbap=Korean Rice Bowl
Kimchi=Fermented vegetables, usually cabbage, with a variety of spices.
45. John or Joan of "High Fidelity": CUSACK. Names #5 and 6?
47. Enterprise trainees, for short?: MBA'S. Master of Business Administration Degree for the budding entrepreneur...
48. Ontario's country: CANADA.
50. Atkinson of "Mr. Bean": ROWAN. Name #7.
Oh, but he has done so much more than just Mr. Bean.
51. Option for a 35-Across: EFILE. File Taxes Electronically.
55. Comb (through): SIFT.
57. Astrological cat: LEO.
59. Naught: NIL. Zip, Nada, Zilch, or just a big fat Goose Egg...
60. WWF, e.g.: NGO. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1961 that works in over 100 countries to conserve nature, protect endangered species, and address environmental threats. It is the world's largest independent conservation organization, focusing on forests, oceans, freshwater, wildlife, food, and climate.
Here is the grid:
Here is a link to Saturday April 12, 2025 puzzle write up, where Husker Gary tells us all about our Constructor, Hoang-Kim Vu.
CE:D out.
I figured out the gimmick
ReplyDeletefairly early, which helped me solve this sometimes challenging puzzle,
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteNever noticed the circles and thought the theme was simply Tax Day. D'oh. I looked at RO_AN for some time before SUSsing the W -- my final fill. This one was fairly taxing, but nice. Thanx, Kim and CE:D.
There's a dental crown in my PM plans. The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.
FIR, but ache->ACHY, irs->CIA (they have similar tactics,) and i want it->I WANT TO. I knew OTERI, the CUSACKs, and, unfortunately, ONO. The rest of this A&E fest were unknown, resulting in NIL fun overall.
ReplyDeleteThanks to CED for the fun review.
Name-A-Licious!
ReplyDeleteFIR. Circles! (Groan)
ReplyDeleteDespite not knowing either actress, for the most part this was a fairly easy Wednesday presentation.
The attempt to make this an appropriate tax day puzzle fell short in my opinion.
Overall a so-so puzzle.
Took 6:52 today to file this one.
ReplyDeleteOf the Actresses of the Day, I knew "Oteri" and "Mara," but not "Tami."
I agree that French words (like circles) shouldn't be in these puzzles.
Oh joy, circles!
PEELS at a spa are done on the face for smoother skin.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't sound aPEELing.
DeleteDNF. I misspelled the brother/sister name as CUSsAK, so I didn’t see the WIN WIN fill. Also,I didn’t know what WWF stood for.
ReplyDeleteI guessed or got help, from perps to fill MARA, SUS, MANN.
The theme is certainly timely but I’m not sure I get it. I assume the backward words refer to what can be deducted like GAS, USE (?), GIFT, SIN (?).
Thank you CED for your neat review.
Monkey, not what can be deducted, but what can be taxed.
DeleteGot you. Thanks.
DeleteMusings
ReplyDelete-CED, your daughter could be called your CPA as in Crossword Puzzle Assistant :-)
-Dyersville, IOWA is now attracts tourists because of Field Of Dreams
-AS OF tomorrow, nonfilers will have some “splainin’’ to do to the IRS
-My laptop is not a PC, therefore it has “control” on the key and not CTRL and has no HOME key
-Rory’s McIlroy’s score was the best of all the 91 entrants, ipso FACTO, he is the Master’s Champion where he SAT ATOP this iconic leaderboard
-Read the room: Saying LET ME can be very offensive
-Those $75 TEES you buy at the concert will soon be on the Wal Mart racks for much less
-SIN TAX on cigarettes – In New York it is $5.35/pack but always find buyers
Wednesday workout. Thanks for the fun, Hoang-Vu and CED (loved your title).
ReplyDeleteThis Canadian had a little disadvantage today, but I have learned here that Americans must file (or E-FILE) by April 15, not the April 30 Canadian date. I had no idea that the circled letters must be read backwards (RE-TURNed) and assumed they were American tax abbreviations similar to our CRA, NOA, CPP, OAS, SIN etc.
Re Monkey’s question @9:12, I presume SIN, USE, GIFT, GAS refers to taxes which are imposed in the marketplace, and not on TAX RETURN which is a disappointing non-sequitur to the theme IMHO. Your thoughts here??
Hand up for USA before perps forced ITA. Toronto is gearing up for FIFA games in June. Canada was relieved that they would not be playing ITA in the first round (marking ITA’s third consecutive absence). “Canada Soccer leveraged the moment to boost local support for the co-host team, holding a "jersey swap" event in Toronto to encourage Italian-Canadian fans to back Canada.”
An alphabet run was required to change my spa treatment from heels to PEELS. That brought a groan at the misdirection of “Dells=PCS”.
I smiled when SHOE perped for “pump or clog”. Nothing to do with P-TRAPS.
I learned the A for female, O for male from Lucina. Plus the CALIF- Ariz neighbourhood.
We were quite multicultural today with Korean KIMCHEE, Indian SAMOSAs,
CALYPSO music, ARGO in Iran, French MAI and CHAPEAU, Spanish AMIGA, ITAly, and my beloved CANADA.
Wishing you all a great day.
CanadianEh! I’m glad you understand my confusion.
DeleteActually, GIFT taxes are collected with the individual tax return. If you give an individual more than $19,000, you, the generous gifter, must pay tax on the amount given. Seems a little unfair to me. (There are ways around it, like a tax-advantaged 529 account for college expenses.)
DeleteJinx- that GIFT tax is robbery, double-taxation by the IRS. You paid taxes earning it and now have to pay just to give it away. That's why the wealthy take all their relatives to expensive places to eat and on vacation to evade that limit.
DeleteThey make loans to children that are never meant to be paid back.
No GIFT tax in Canada.
DeleteThe clues for both Yoko Ono and Spam were a bit of a stretch in my opinion. Although, I suppose it could be said that anybody who attempts to sing is technically a singer.
ReplyDeleteSo, we are all singers.
And "the woman who torpedoed The Beatles" was already taken.
DeleteHola! This required a bit more thinking than usual and so was, uh, TAXING. Thank you for explaining the TAX USE; I was at sea about it.
ReplyDeleteSORT kept me from seeing our neighbor, CALIF. for a bit, but then I realized my error and changed to SIFT and all was well.
I like to FILE early and so already have refunds. Now I can plan my summer travel.
Thank you, Hoang-Kim Vu and thank you, CEDave! Have a lovely day, everyone!
A few CWs back, our neighbor was the Mexican state of SONORA.
DeleteI was able to complete Hoang-Kim Vu's grid without error, but it wasn't easy! A fitting challenge for tax day. I agree with others that some of these taxes are paid in the marketplace (the GAS tax and SIN tax), while others are reported and paid through a tax return (the GIFT tax). I've heard of the USE tax, but I'm not an accountant, and am too lazy to look it up. Ultimately, it matters not, as we were only promised we'd see various taxes returning, or going backward. So A WIN IS A WIN ... I'll take it! Thank you, Hoang-Kim Vu and CE:D.
ReplyDeleteSorry CED, Misty is having computer issues, and may not be able to create one of her stories today.
ReplyDeleteOh No!
DeleteI hope you were able to help her.
While this is not a computer assistance site, a lot of people here are computer savvy. We would be glad to relay any assistance if needed.
I looked it up. At least here in CALIF, we're supposed to report items we purchased online without paying state sales tax, and we owe the government the same amount of tax we would have paid if purchasing the items locally. That's the essence of USE tax, and we report and pay it through our TAX RETURN.
ReplyDeleteNaomiZ, I think a highway toll is an example of a USE tax.
DeleteNaomiZ is right. In addition, in most states, if you bring your car when you move into the state, you will have to pay USE tax on the current value of the car. It's usually the same rate as the sales tax, but of course it's not based on sale price. I also ran into that when I bought my motorhome. The Florida dealership charged me sales tax, then when I registered it in Virginia they calculated how much the sales tax would have been had I bought it here, then deducted the amount I paid to Florida. I owed the difference as Virginia use tax.
DeleteOregon has NO sales tax. After decades of calculating various sales taxes in L.A. and other Calif. Counties, I enjoyed the sticker shock of 'what-you-see-is-what-you-pay' in Oregon!
DeleteDang. I struggled more than the other commenters with this CW, taking 18 to eventually FIR. By my admittedly expansive definition of a name, I count 18, 7 DNKs among them.
ReplyDeleteOverall an entertaining CW, thanx H-KV. Obviously creating especially for April 15, published right on time. I do like that TAXRETURN is dead center in this CW on tax day. Once I filled that, I realized SAG was GAS, etc. DNK MARA; MICKEY wouldn't fit, I thought maybe ANDY but perps filled MARA. SAMOSA and KIMCHI both took some thought. I like how you placed them in the CW.
Thanx to to CED for the terrific write-up. The amount of time and effort you put into it is appreciated.
I actually like Spam, the edible kind, not the mail kind.
I always thing it's cool when the theme of a puzzle matches it's publication date. Good planning for a taxing puzzle on April 15th. Thanks, Hoang-Kim Vu!
ReplyDeleteDANG, I got lost in the SW corner (just West of Ariz. and near CALIF) because of SAT ATOP, which I found hard to parse. So, it took a little longer to file my taxes today.
Many thanks to CED, our Chief Educating Discourser.
Almost a DNF until KARMIC crossed TAMI. With gas prices thru the roof windfalls are being generated on GAS TAX thus becoming a kynda Gift TAX which is such a Sin TAX! for us USERS
ReplyDeleteInkover: ACHe/Y, gosh/GASP, I WANT it/TO,
Looked like “Ferran” director? 🙄“Satsuma”? (auto correct finished the word at “Sats” knows more than me!) “Bipimbab”? C’mon!🙄
French leçon du jour: CHAPEAU, MAI
BALDS as a verb usually the gerund “balding” Barely remember the film but the only “John or Joan” I know are the CUSACK sibs. (Like Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaal).
Have never seen the “Mr. Bean” Brit series. ….Why not have used *
P TRAP? Who uses the sink like a urinal?? 😀. And, who says SUS (“suspect”) for fishy?
Try it on for ___ … PSIS
Structure of sentences … SIN TAX
Some witnesses at trial… HOSTELS
Islamic political leader … CALIF
*_____ & Martin’s Laugh-In … ROWAN
Many happy (TAX) RETURNS of the day (if you’re getting a refund). In my case 🎶 “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go! “🎵☺️
Ray-O,
ReplyDeleteWhile "Mr. bean" is an acquired taste, I had to include his version of Dr. Who as an example of his talent...
Many of the Mr. Bean skits might give you gas, but the first one I ever saw made me check out many more.
I think everyone has tried to get around the stiff paint brush problem...
Interesting and pleasant puzzle, many thanks, Hoang-Kim. And your commentary and pictures were also very helpful, thank you for those too, Dave.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's hard to imagine a LILAC feeling ACHY--or wearing a SHOE for that matter. So the beginning of this puzzle reminded us to keep an open mind, and have A GO AT IT, while working our way through it. Maybe we should just listen to some CALYPSO on the radio, while eating some OATS along with some SAMOSA for breakfast. We also need to drink a cup of TEE--no, wait, that's not what we drink: we need some TEA. That finally worked, I think, and so we're ready to relax a bit, thinking A WIN IS A WIN.
Have a healthy and productive day, everybody.
Yay! A crosswordese parable from Misty!
DeleteI am so glad you overcame your computer difficulties... (I've had enough puzzles for one day...) and thank you for not posting an Ode to Taxes,
(you would have got us kicked off the Internet... :)
Really loved this one, flowed through it nicely. No huge stumpers in there for me but enough thinkers. It did take me a second to figure out the bottom center because I accidentally misread “Prepared to be knighted” as “Prepare to be knighted,” so I had KNEEL in there instead of KNELT for a while!
ReplyDeleteA little too taxing today. I never enjoy a DNF. Southern hemisphere blew me up.
ReplyDeleteINCOME TAX had to be changed to TAX RETURN.
ReplyDeleteACHY is what many of us older ones feel after every workout. But working in the garden is the worst. I've paid GAS, GIFT, and SIN taxes but I guess the USE tax would be someone's Tesla having to pay a USE tax because they don't pay a GAS tax.
ReplyDeleteRooney and MARA- royal NFL blood for her.
SUS- never heard of that perped fill.
Ditto for KARMIC, TAMI, ROWAN, and GUNN.
PC, PR, and P-TRAP. P.S. I got them all
Thank you for your very kind comment, Dave. My computer difficulties are not yet solved, but at least Facebook is okay, which is a big blessing. And it's nice to be able to visit my enjoyable community here. Have a good rest of the week, and a great weekend coming up.
ReplyDelete