It seems like we just paid our 2008 taxes but you may have noticed that commercials reminding you about your tax returns and your tax forms have already started nagging you again. April 15 is closer than you may want to admit so perhaps you should get a jump on filing this year.



Before you go filling anything out, though, perhaps you should brush up on your tax law knowledge. Depending on where you live, you may have some strange laws with which you'll need to deal.

To make the tax season a little less stressful, we've tracked down some of the strangest tax laws across the country. From taxes on very specific candies in Illinois and taxed playing cards in Alabama to taxed "air" in Pennsylvania, you may not need to know these rules but they'll at least give you a little chuckle.

1. Chicago Taxes Your Amusement
If you've purchased a ticket to see a concert, paid to play golf, purchased admission to a carnival or done pretty much anything else fun in the city of Chicago this past year, you've probably contributed to the city's "Amusement Tax." But Chicago isn't the only place charging this kind of tax.

In fact, several states, including Massachusetts and Maryland, and cities, like New Orleans, impose this type of tax on fun local activities that require an admission fee. The only way to earn an exemption is to prove that your event supports a charity or not-for-profit organization.

2. Pennsylvania Taxes Air
In 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue concluded that sales from compressed air vending machines and vacuuming vending machines (the thing that blows up your tires at the gas station and the thing you use to vacuum your car at the gas station, respectively) are both subject to sales and use tax across the entire state.

While this isn't really a case of "the man" taxing the air you breathe, it does seem a bit extreme. Perhaps save yourself the extra pennies in the future and just use the air pump that you keep in the garage for your bike tires and basketballs – that's a reasonable alternative, right?