by Angela Akaranga

Created on: March 20, 2009   Last Updated: March 27, 2009

Tax Day

My husband Doug and I have been married for ten years. Being an organised man, he usually does the taxes whenever they are required. Since he is a math whizz, i usually leave tax issues to him. Before we got married, we decided to be open about it. we sought advice from fellow married couples and their advise to us was to be open. From that point on, my husband and I show each other our payslips regardless of how much we make. We have a joint checking account that we both have access to. It is kind of a checking account that doubles up as a savings account. Every time any of us needs some cash, we go to this account and tell each other about it.

Last year when the time to give in our tax returns came up, my husband happened to be away from the country. Luckily, I had just enrolled for evening classes that were based on accounting. So we decided that I should give taxes a go. so on that day I dropped my husband off at the airport and promised to do the taxes. I must admit I was nervous about having to do them.

Saturday came and it was time to do the work. I remember waking up and having a bad feeling. I usually trust my instincts so as prepared my self I vowed to be extra cautious of anything I would be doing that day. As I sat at my kitchen table getting ready to do the taxes, an accountant friend called and offered to help me. I declined and suggested that once I was done, she could come over and check my work. I started off with our savings accounts and fixed deposit. By lunch time I was a bit hungry so I made myself a snack and took a break. While eating, that nagging feeling still persisted but I decided not to be too suspicious.

By two o'clock I was ready to get back to work. That is when my problems began. I looked at the bank statement and realised that large amounts of money had been withdrawn. Amounts such as ten thousand, twenty thousand and more had been withdrawn by my husband. I could not believe it! These were huge amounts which my husband had not told me about. I remember feeling so betrayed and cheated, i could not eve speak. I checked again just to be sure, and there it was again. Staring at me were enormous amounts of money that my husband had withdraw. I started questioning myself, my marriage and who my husband really was. I decided to tell my accountant friend to come over.

My husband had indeed removed those amounts. Since my husband was due to arrive the next day, I decided to wait and confront him. So he arrived the next morning,

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