看“功夫熊貓2”臺(tái)詞學(xué)英語(yǔ)：第1講

Scrambling To Prepay 2018 Property Taxes? Maybe You Shouldn't

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Homeowners around the country are doing something unusual this week - rushing to pay their 2018 property taxes well before they're due. They hope to put off one effect of 　很久以前，在古代中國(guó)，

Long ago, in ancient China,

孔雀家族統(tǒng)治著宮門(mén)城。

The Peacocks ruled over the Gongmen city.

他們給這座城帶來(lái)了快樂(lè)與繁榮。

They brought great joy and prosperity to the city

因?yàn)樗麄儼l(fā)明了煙火。

For they had invented fireworks.

但他們的兒子，沈王爺

But their son, Lord Shen

在煙火中看到了一個(gè)邪惡的計(jì)劃。

Saw darker path in the fireworks.

能帶來(lái)色彩與快樂(lè)的東西

What that brought color and joy

同時(shí)也能帶來(lái)黑暗與毀滅。

Can also brink darkness and destruction.

沈王爺令他的父母感到不安從而向一位先知求教 。

Shen trouble parents consult to a Soothsayer.

她預(yù)言道， 如果沈王爺繼續(xù)在邪路上執(zhí)迷不悟，

She foretold that if Shen continue down to this dark path,

他會(huì)被一名黑白勇士所打敗。

He will be defeated by the warrior of black and white.

這位少主開(kāi)始改變他的命運(yùn)。

The Young Lord set out to change his fate.

但他下一步所做的事，人們無(wú)法得知。

But what he did next, only sealed.

沈王爺回到他的父母那里期待能夠得到贊賞。

Shen returned to his parents for a pride.

但在他們的臉上，他只看到了恐懼。

But in their faces, he saw only horror.

他被驅(qū)逐出了這座城市，永遠(yuǎn)不得回來(lái)。

He was banish from the city forever.

但沈王爺發(fā)誓要報(bào)復(fù)。

But Shen swore revenge.

他朝他必定會(huì)回來(lái)

Some day, he will return

到時(shí)候天下所有人都要臣服于他腳下。

and all of China will bow at his feet.

就要完成了，沈王爺。但我們的金屬不夠用了。

Almost done, Lord Shen. But we ran out of metal.

到最遠(yuǎn)的村莊去查探，找更多的金屬回來(lái)。

Search the furthest villages, find more metal.

天下將是我的了。

China will be mine.

然后神龍大俠加入了蓋世五俠。

And then the Dragon warrior joined the Furious five.

所以他們成為了最棒的功夫隊(duì)伍。the tax overhaul that President Trump signed into law last week. It limits the amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted on your federal return. NPR's Jeff Brady reports that accountants are warning that not everyone should prepay their property taxes.

JEFF BRADY, BYLINE: Pity the accountants and tax office employees across the country who were hoping for a relaxing holiday.

(SOUNDBITE OF RINGING TONE)

BRADY: Call the Nassau County Department of Assessment in New York, and you're likely to hear this.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Please call back at a later time as all assessment assistance personnel are busy with other callers.

BRADY: Accountant Tracy Beveridge in Springfield, N.J., says what typically is a slow week for her is anything but this year.

TRACY BEVERIDGE: I don't remember the last time I went to the office the day after Christmas. And I was there at, you know, 8 o'clock this morning.

BRADY: The new tax law includes a $10,000 cap on the amount of state and local taxes people can deduct on their federal returns. For example, if you paid $24,000 in property taxes in the past, you could deduct all of that on your federal return. If you live in a state where income and property taxes are relatively low, this may not be an issue. But for many who live in higher tax states like California, New Jersey or New York, the cost of this change could run into the thousands of dollars.

VANESSA MERTON: I'm sending my checks in today.

BRADY: Vanessa Merton decided to prepay next year's property taxes now so she can deduct them on her 2017 federal return. She says growing up, her village of Hastings On Hudson north of New York City was a factory town. But a lot of wealthy people have moved in, and now property values are up.

MERTON: I'm fourth generation in this house. And it's a big, old house, very expensive to maintain and very expensive to heat. We don't heat it very much. I'm wearing three layers as I talk to you.

BRADY: Merton estimates this change could cost her $6,000 to $9,000 a year. She works as a law professor and also as vice chair of her local Democratic Party committee. Merton sees politics at play in the new law since most states with higher taxes tend to vote for Democrats over Republicans. Right now, though, she's focused on getting next year's tax payment in the mail by December 31.

Accountant Tracy Beveridge says not everyone should prepay their property taxes. And the best answer is not the same for everyone, especially for those who earn more than $83,800 and could be subject to the alternative minimum tax.

BEVERIDGE: If a client is in AMT - what they call an alternative minimum tax - there is no benefit to prepaying your taxes. It just negates the benefit. And you're just out the cash.

BRADY: And Beveridge says some people who would not be subject to the alternative minimum tax may trigger it if they double up on paying property taxes this year. Her advice is to consult with an accountant who can look over your previous return and offer advice. In the past few days, she's examined dozens of her clients' returns.

BEVERIDGE: Out of probably 80 that I've done already, I think four it has benefited.

BRADY: And Beveridge says prepaying only applies to property taxes, not income taxes. The law doesn't allow people to prepay those. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF MOKOTO'S "PLANET A")