Tax Season Tribune

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A sobering reminder for tax season fuel

By Renée Rodda, J.D.

Contributing Editor

Tax pros powered by Celsius energy drinks during busy season should exercise some caution — they might accidentally get more of a buzz than they bargained for. 

In late July 2025, High Noon issued a voluntary recall after discovering that some of its vodka seltzers were accidentally labeled as Celsius Astro Vibe energy drinks. The packaging mix-up occurred when a supplier mistakenly shipped empty Celsius cans to High Noon’s production facility, where they were filled with 4.5% ABV vodka seltzer instead of caffeine-fueled energy drink. 

The mislabeled cans — featuring a silver lid instead of the standard black Celsius lid — were distributed to retailers in Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin between July 21–23. While no illnesses have been reported, the FDA warned that consumption of these products could lead to unintentional alcohol ingestion. 

For tax professionals who depend on energy drinks to power through marathon filing sessions, this recall serves as a cautionary tale. Imagine reaching for what you think is your afternoon energy boost, only to discover you’ve been sipping vodka seltzer all day. Your work product might become decidedly more … creative.  

The affected lot codes can be found on the FDA website, but the key identifier is simple: If your Celsius has a silver lid, don’t drink it unless you’re planning to make estimated tax payments significantly less stressful (though significantly less accurate).  While this particular recall affects a small batch of products, it’s a good reminder that even in the midst of tax season chaos, it pays to double-check what you’re consuming. After all, the only thing that should be intoxicating about tax work is the thrill of finding that last missing W-2.

tax professional playing a video game

A delicious side hustle? You bet your buns

By Kathryn Zdan, EA

Editorial Director

When the government shut down in October 2025, IRS attorney Isaac Stein was ready for the furlough — he immediately pivoted to being a full-time hot dog vendor.1 It was a move as natural as the casings on a Vienna Beef hot dog, because Stein had dreamed of having his own hot dog cart since he was a child.

The pivot was easy because Stein had just opened a hot dog cart after years of consideration. In September 2025, Shysters Dogs (“The Only Honest Ripoff in D.C.”) hit the sidewalks but was only open on Fridays and weekends because, at the time, Stein was working at the IRS. Once furloughed, the cart was open full time with Stein slinging dogs in his usual IRS attire: a suit.

His menu includes what he refers to as “the correct hot dog”: mustard and sauerkraut on a steamed bun with a Hebrew National hot dog. Of course, being from Detroit, I have beef with this. The real “correct” hot dog is a Kowalski natural casing hot dog in a steamed bun with Detroit Coney Island sauce, mustard, and onions. Preferred sides are curly fries and a Greek salad with that pink dressing.

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (there’s a National Hot Dog and Sausage Council?), here are the many regional varieties that make up the billions of hot dogs consumed by Americans each year: www.hot-dog.org/
culture/regional-hot-dogs
.

So, if you’re an IRS employee facing a government shutdown or a tax preparer who’s working their last tax season, a hot dog cart could be the next step. Because you can’t bacon-wrap a tax return.

I get by with a little help from my…”friends”

By Sandy Weiner, J.D.

California Editor

We've all seen the Tax Day cocktail videos on TikTok and YouTube. But while taxpayers need liquid courage on April 15, we know tax professionals need it long before then. So, in addition to providing tax tips to help you survive tax season, we thought our subscribers could use guidance on liquid flow rather than cash flow.

Below are our top five cocktails to help you enjoy (or at least endure) tax season.

The Up All Night*

For those marathon nights leading up to March 15 and April 15, combine in a cocktail shaker:

  • Ice
  • Coffee liqueur
  • Hazelnut liqueur
  • Tequila (because decisions were made)
  • Coffee cold brew (because it’s all about productivity)
  • A dash of B complex with vitamin B12 (pretending we care about health)
  • Aqua fava (fancy garbanzo bean juice — don’t ask questions)

Shake vigorously to take out your frustrations, pour into a coupe glass, and sprinkle with some crushed espresso beans. Pairs well with Schedule C reconciliations.

The Math Hard*

When numbers are no longer making sense, these numbers will definitely help — at least when poured into an ice-filled tumbler:

  • New Deals Gin #1
  • Tequila #1800 Verdano Blanco
  • 19 Acres Very Berry Hard Cider
  • 7-Up
  • 151 Rum

Warning: After consuming, you may find the standard deduction suddenly seems quite reasonable.

The IRS*

Forget the Internal Revenue Service — enjoy your very own IRS: Ice cream, Rum, and Stout.  Just pour stout into a beer mug, add a little coffee rum, and top it off with some chocolate ice cream. Your staff will be far more willing to spend three hours on hold with the other IRS with one of these in hand.

Pro tip: Every time the hold music restarts, take a sip.

The Margin of Error**

Because we all build in a little cushion, right? Just pour one ounce whiskey and 0.75 ounce elderflower liqueur into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake, strain over fresh ice, and top with a splash of seltzer.

Consume while explaining to clients why their “estimated” taxes were only off by $12,000.

The Painkiller***

When 60-70–hour weeks have become 80-90–hour weeks, pour into a cocktail shaker:

  • 2 tablespoons orange juice (Vitamin C counts!)
  • 4 ounces 100% pineapple juice
  • 2 ounces dark rum (or 4, we won’t judge)
  • 1 ounce cream of coconut

Add ice, shake, strain into a highball or hurricane glass, and top with freshly grated nutmeg.

Recommended serving: After filing your 47th extension of the day.

Drink responsibly. Remember alcohol is no longer deductible even if served for the convenience of the employer, or for entertaining your clients, as entertaining as you may be … or may become.

A few fun facts about this week’s writers:

Renée Rodda, J.D.

Renée Rodda, J.D., when not writing, researching, and helping Spidell customers, enjoys riding her horses, Eli and Ava.

Kathryn Zdan, EA

Kathryn Zdan, EA, spends her non-Spidell hours on photography and watching horror films (and then sleeping with the light on). She also enjoys hiking, biking, and watching foreign films.

Sandy Weiner, J.D.

Sandy Weiner, J.D., as California editor, loves all things California. Whether it's hiking at Big Sur or playing at the beach in San Diego where she lives, Sandy takes full advantage of all that California has to offer as a way to clear her head after trying to comprehend and explain California's Revenue & Taxation Code.

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