ESL Podcast 364 – Filing Taxes

Ricky: Aren’t you done with your taxes yet?

Shawn: No, not yet.

Ricky: Can I help?

Shawn: That would be great. I think I’m almost done, but it’d be great if you could look it over. This is the first year I haven’t been exempt¹ or filed an EZ tax return.

Ricky: No problem. What are brothers for? Okay, you’ve entered your earnings², including your salary and dividends³. You have no dependents...

Shawn: I just hope I picked the right number of withholdings. I’d like to get a tax refund⁴, rather than have to pay.

Ricky: Well, you can take the standard deduction⁵ here, but I suggest itemizing your medical expenses and your charitable contributions. It may make a big difference in the calculations.

Shawn: Thanks. I’ll crunch⁶ the numbers to find out. So what do I owe you for all of this help?

Ricky: That depends on the size of your refund check!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 exempt   

adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者

参考例句：

• These goods are exempt from customs duties.这些货物免征关税。
• He is exempt from punishment about this thing.关于此事对他已免于处分。

2 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

3 dividends   

红利( dividend的名词复数 )； 股息； 被除数； （足球彩票的）彩金

参考例句：

• Nothing pays richer dividends than magnanimity. 没有什么比宽宏大量更能得到厚报。
• Their decision five years ago to computerise the company is now paying dividends. 五年前他们作出的使公司电脑化的决定现在正产生出效益。

4 refund   

v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款

参考例句：

• They demand a refund on unsatisfactory goods.他们对不满意的货品要求退款。
• We'll refund your money if you aren't satisfied.你若不满意，我们愿意退款给你。

5 deduction   

n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎

参考例句：

• No deduction in pay is made for absence due to illness.因病请假不扣工资。
• His deduction led him to the correct conclusion.他的推断使他得出正确的结论。

6 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。