Doing my taxes, but the tax forms are a jigsaw puzzle

[@KarenPuzzles]

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[@icturner23]

I’ll definitely be trying Brilliant. Thank you. If you ever got a similar sponsorship from Duolingo I’d be SO happy!

[@sabermoons4640]

definitely trying this out!! i struggle so much with math and learning is borringggg but this looks so entertaining!! hope itll help me with my G.E.D hehe

[@KarenPuzzles]

I know that sharing misinformation about the exact end date of random jigsaw puzzle companies isn't the worst kind of misinformation to be sharing. But I did just want to give an update that I have gotten confirmation that Gameophiles folded in 1975, and after finishing the video, I got a few more documents from the library showing that Nordevco had a liquidation sale in 2002. So I'm pretty sure THOSE are the correct end dates 😅

[@garrettbrown7601]

Do you think we can do a puzzle together you helped me through brain cancer and I love your puzzle videos thay helped me out big time during my first and 2nd brain surgerys

[@charisma-hornum-fries]

Not everyone discloses their oops. Thanks for being honest 😊

[@emm9699]

@@garrettbrown7601 that's so sweet Garrett!

[@jeffreywhipple9925]

My Dad ( now 90) and I are both CPAs and did this puzzle back in the day. Dad framed it and had it in his office

[@KarenPuzzles]

Amazing! 👏🏻

[@sydneyerin8261]

That's so wholesome

[@mishypeas2959]

I love that!

[@Justme_247]

My first thought was that accountants would love this puzzle.😊

[@BianaBova]

Gameophiles feels like such a dad company to me-- maps, calendars, golf, and tax returns for the adults, and then sweet and homely illustrated puzzles for kids

[@AdamVanHouten]

They really missed an opportunity to make it a 1,040 piece puzzle. 😅

[@KarenPuzzles]

yessss

[@kitijamironcuka778]

Tax already took the part of the puzzle 😂

[@finlandtaipan4454]

26 x 40 would do the trick but the pieces would be oblong, not square.

[@PurvaD]

But most 1000 piece puzzles are never exactly 1000. So we never know... 🤭

[@unemilifleur]

I feel like someone at this company was like « ok we’ve got Halloween puzzles, christmas season puzzles, valentine’s day puzzle, Easter puzzles, but what next? What’s the season after Easter? » And a random dude mumbled « tax season » And the boss was like « wait that’s an idea »

[@KarenPuzzles]

lolllll I love it

[@aringrey]

how this was made: frustration -> tax return form gets put into shredder -> "I need it though" -> reassembles shredded tax form -> "hey this is kinda fun" -> this puzzle

[@KarenPuzzles]

haha I can see it!

[@9sheri9]

10/10 most plausible theory 😂

[@Baerenmaus]

Yes. I'm Sure you got it. 😂

[@KarenPuzzles]

The research that went into this video is no joke. And...I have in fact been in touch with the president of Gameophiles, so a follow-up video with more information will be coming very soon. In the meantime, if you want to watch me solve the Florida Road Map puzzle, that video is up now on Patreon! patreon.com/karenpuzzles

[@RangeGleasry]

Yessss I’m here for the research and the uncovering of mysteries And also the puzzles obvi

[@SuzanneMacKinnon]

Did this video happen? Could not find a follow up by title

[@emilys.430]

Filling out this puzzle and sending the pieces to the IRS to pay your taxes is the very definition of chaotic lawful. I can't wait to learn more in the follow-up!

[@logan317b]

This is truly the weirdest puzzle I've ever seen. It's hard to believe the idea for this puzzle was ever thought up let alone designed AND mass produced. I have so many questions.

[@KarenPuzzles]

I know, right? But it was actually so fun 😂

[@millie-mayprice891]

I'm pretty sure it's a dad joke. Not sure if it's a joke BY a dad, or a joke making fun OF dads... But my money is on the latter (in a nice way). We all know the stereotype of the very square, nerdy type who does puzzles for fun and is probably a literal accountant. This puzzle is for that man. Think Mr. Bloom from the producers, tell me that man doesn't do puzzles on the weekend!

[@NitaNellEtc]

Karen! You made my day! I retired from the IRS after a 32 year career! Only YOU would find an IRS Form 1040 jigsaw puzzle! I love it!

[@KarenPuzzles]

Wow, that’s a long time to be looking at tax forms!

[@frankbeach]

I think this would be a great (and also not so great) puzzle for my grandma. We've been helping her with her taxes, and she keeps saying she would rather do something fun. Usually that means doing puzzles or something like that. It would be a bit of a twisted joke to get her one of these.

[@muskyoxes]

Actual human sentence: "I don't think this will be as fun as the income tax puzzle"

[@KarenPuzzles]

Literally my gold standard now 😂

[@middleC17]

My Dad is the exact audience for the navigational chart puzzles! He was a captain for a government agency for a long time, and is now a maritime pilot. He uses old charts as wrapping paper, and he and his wife do a lot of puzzles in the off season.

[@janesmith5967]

The tax return puzzle came out when I was in 8th grade. Back then, it wasn’t a puzzle I would have done but now I’d love to do it. I work in accounting and I love doing taxes so this is right up my alley. 🤣

[@KarenPuzzles]

I never thought I’d hear anyone say they love doing taxes 😂

[@qwerty_and_azerty]

Karen trying to give us a collective panic attack by doing a taxes puzzle and reminding us about tax season

[@KarenPuzzles]

It was the perfect week to release this video 😂

[@emma70707]

My trick is to make sure to pay just a bit more ($200-300) than I need to in withholdings. I'm always motivated to do mine before the end of February, but the interest on the couple hundred I overpay is insignificant (~$5 with a 4% HYS account). But also it's stupid we have to do this at all if we have W-2s. Darn the account lobby! Lol

[@jakebates5918]

It's just the Qween trying to tell us to get our collective lives together lol

[@sarahloomis2034]

Tis upon us

[@pvic6959]

i still need to finish mine....

[@melimsah]

I feel like this a good meditative study practice for graphic designers. You can ponder the font choices and how the information is laid out and why certain decisions were made.

[@TygerYasha]

I hope you have good luck finding the hanging jigsaw puzzle! The maze was made by Vladimir Koziakin, an author of many maze books I enjoyed as a kid. I remember enjoying so many of his books, and seeing that big banner puzzle made me remember him, so I thought I would pass along the name in case it helps you in your search. :)

[@louisejohnson6057]

Navigational chart puzzles would appeal to puzzlers who were navy veterans, or people like my dad, who was a merchant marine during WW2, and a seaman for most of his life(fisheries Canada after the war), as well as civilians who love to get out on the water, and even landlocked folks who are fascinated by traveling the 7 seas. I love old charts like this. This Way There Be Dragons!

[@KarenPuzzles]

Clearly there was appeal if they made so many of them!

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

"The distelfink was a bird that ate thistle seed and thus called the “Thistlefinch”. The Pennsylvania Dutch referred to it as a “Distelfink”. It is a stylized version of the common goldfinch, though some believe its features are more heavily borrowed from European varieties of goldfinches. Using two distelfinks together on a hex represents "double good luck." Depicting two Distelfinks crossed over each other or intertwined means “true friendship”."

[@steffengro1802]

"Distelfink" is also the German name of the "Thistlefinch" (hence the Pennsylvania Dutch). It's a direct translation! Distel=thistle, Fink=finch

[@maisonneuve]

This deep dive is amazing!!! More puzzle company history please!!! This is excellent content.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Karen, thank you for your videos on Sundays. It’s so much fun!

[@KarenPuzzles]

Thank you for watching every Sunday!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@KarenPuzzles Always a delight.

[@Chianti6]

I remember a lot of these puzzles. My mom loved the maze one (was there more than one? I remember more than one....). I think there were books and posters of similar mazes, and it was a bit of a fad to do the difficult art mazes like this. It might seem random to you, but for me these puzzles are organized like gift shops, which is where they were mostly sold. You wouldn't see all of their releases in one shop, just the map of your state, some puzzles for kids, and a few themed gift ideas: tennis for the tennis player, navigation maps if you were near water or in a sailing area, etc. This is before most of us had access to shopping malls, and often there were just one or two gift shops (sometimes book & gift shops) in a town or area of a city.

[@AugustoValentini]

Now I really want to see a crossover video of Cracking the Cryptic and Karen trying to solve the crossword puzzle together 🥺🥺

[@jessywanders8829]

I love these deep dive! You are the reason I got into puzzling. I'm usually a homebody and try to find different hobbies. I never knew how much I need puzzles in my life until I found your channel.

[@sydneym6696]

This is so cool! I decided to look them up. I didn’t find much , but I found library card puzzles and that’s definitely my jam 💕 thank you for all you do!

[@JohnPinkus]

Hi Karen, Lincoln Towing is still quite a loathed thing here in Chicago. Like how our 1040 Tax form hasn't changed too much, I'm glad to have that kinship with my 70s friends. I hope you find that 6 foot maze puzzle!

[@wsmith2401]

i took a forensic science type class in middle school, and the teacher filled a week by shredding real tax forms and having us tape them back together like a puzzle

[@KarenPuzzles]

Sounds like a fun week 😂

[@RosyRosie42]

I love that they tried so hard to block out the years on both puzzles, but they forgot line 56 on the double sided puzzle showing that it’s a 1977 tax form. 😁 Crazy how different the tax returns are today, but also how similar they are.

[@remiren9832]

My best friend is an accountant; I can’t wait to send her this video! I’m curious how you feel about those maze puzzles, they look _taxing_ . Also I loved your puzzle joke! 😂❤

[@susanlitynski1445]

My father was a CPA and I remember doing that puzzle 'back in the day'. I loved it!

[@mateuszpatua3016]

your deep dives are always so entertaining! love the series!

[@shinichigojir12]

The tennis court and golf course birds eye view puzzles actually looks soo interesting.

[@shavranotheferanox7809]

Its always so frustrating when she leaves a 1 piece gap in the timelaps, but then so satisfying when she fixes all those holes in a sepperate section after the timelaps, please keep doing that

[@aartadventure]

This video sent me on a deep dive of hex signs and their folklore. Always fun to learn about the culture of different places. For those also unaware, hex signs were painted onto big barns in the Pennsylvannia area of the USA by German and Dutch immigrant farmers. Their meaning is unclear, but likely a form of folk art used to encourage tourists. Some insist there is a folk magic/witchy element to them as well.

[@gigihoover3330]

Maybe it was made for me. I worked at the IRS for many years processing 1040 tax forms and now I have a jigsaw puzzle obsession! When I saw this video I had a bit of a start!! 🤣

[@DasGanon]

I kinda want to see a Cryptic Crossword crossover with Cracking the Cryptic now, where you solve the Jigsaw and then Simon solves the Cryptic crossword.

[@elizabethwickes8672]

I think this puzzle would have been an amazing retirement or CPA exam passing gift.

[@tracyalbert6056]

That's quite a different puzzle. Definitely interesting to see. A puzzle about taxes is very random. I love how in depth you go with your research on puzzles and you definitely have an addiction LOL Love your videos.

[@erjusik]

I had no idea puzzle research can be so ... exciting!😅😅

[@9sheri9]

Accountants everywhere are flipping out 😂

[@tdawg6365]

Karen! I just got cascade gradient in the mail yesterday! My sister and I spent most of the evening doing the background and today we are finishing it! Very fun puzzle I just got to say! Love the unique shapes and colours are just begging for me to tape it and hang it up

[@leothompson2777]

Why ask why haha!? The sheer randomness of it should be more than enough reason. This totally beats all the 'art' puzzles, as a sheer conversation piece to put on the wall. (Obviously you wouldn't, because your apartment is very tastefully decorated, naturally lol. But still.... Vintage, random, unique.... I do love it!)

[@nathij77]

Dear Karen, finally I’m holding your puzzle in my hands and I’m so excited to start it 😍 thank you for your content, sending you lots of love from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[@patmurkland4161]

I’d compare the puzzle IRS forms with our current real IRS form, but truth is, I don’t want to look at the current IRS form more than I have to! 😂 I couldn’t believe you even have a second version of the IRS form that’s double-sided! Such a fun and interesting video, and the randomness of these puzzles is truly amazing. “Who are they targeting with these puzzles? Ship captains?” Right?! Thanks, this video is so well-edited with excellent storytelling! Great research and detective work. Thank you, library. Looking forward to the next chapter. Best of KZbin. Thank you. Taxes!

[@lauratrompe7016]

Do you still have to fill out a form? In the Netherlands you can do it digital since 2007! And you have to ask for a paper version. They even have an app for a simple version. Different taxlaws so won't bore you with details ;-), no puzzle of the old tax forms though.....

[@tazz378]

I think it would be fun to do as your tax form. You have to put it together then do the taxes in ink. Tear apart the puzzle box it back up and mail to the IRS. They have to put it back together before they can process

[@kkuudandere]

Kinda nice to think that, no matter how weird or obscure your interest, there's probably someone out there that has the same idea lol. The subway puzzles inspired me to look to see if Seoul subway puzzles exist (they do!)

[@kelleesummer]

Karen, I just wanted to say thank you for inspiring me to keep going on what is one of the hardest puzzles I’ve done. It’s the 1500 piece Colorful Places Puzzle which may seem like a chumps puzzle to you. But thank you for being my inspiration to keep working on it.

[@elizameeks]

I wish they still made these because this would be a fun gift for my accountant brother 😂 He likes jigsaw puzzles! And he always helps my family with our taxes.

[@seanfleming1485]

hi karen its 3am here in wales uk , and i have been binch watching your channel whilst i am doing my puzzle, i must say k love your cheerful way you present your show, and you make me laugh, keep up the great work xx

[@jmason1770]

I'm interested in the one-sided 1040 *TAXES* puzzle. I'm also interested in the the city maps puzzles. Thank you for the information. Looking forward to the follow up video!

[@gordonglenn2089]

My first thought seeing the single-sided 1040 form was that it certainly got bigger and became the current double-sided form. Then Karen showed that newer version!

[@dawnchesbro4189]

I used to have the Squirrel Nutkin puzzle when I was a kid!! I remember putting it together many times. Too bad I don't have it anymore.

[@mackberg1792]

I have a turbo tax ad on this video, because it’s also early April 🤣🤣🤣

[@thatmagichatguy8761]

The top puzzles of the year: -colorful gradient puzzle -beautiful image of supplies -puzzle with new cool idea -giant puzzle -a dozen ravensburger puzzles -inventive tiny puzzle -1040 tax return -solid color puzzle wait 1040 tax return wha--

[@miles4711]

Excellent song choice starting at 5:22 🥰. So glad Google Music search recognized it and Spotify has it: Daniele Musto - Poco. I love it when I stumble upon new great stuff which is a bit outside my usual bubble of music.

[@luccamalualves8261]

As a musical theater fan I NEED that Fiddle on the Roof poster puzzle

[@charlottemakesbooks]

I’m wondering if Gameophiles found a niche marker for souvenir shops. I could imagine those map puzzles selling well in region or state specific stores, etc!

[@Jellybeansatdusk]

The most fun anyone has ever had looking at a 1040

[@gordonglenn2089]

I had never thought of the possibility of CRYPTIC CROSSWORD JIGSAW PUZZLES - - two of my favorite kinds of puzzles TOGETHER!

[@chibisocks3509]

Hey Karen. I have been watching your videos for years. I love puzzles too! I saw last video that you have my favorite puzzle of all time in your to do shelf. LOST IN A JIGSAW by Buffalo Games. I just resolved it since the 1990s and it is still a blast.

[@tamtrack]

I had an aunt who was in the navy who loved puzzles and would have 100% bought those navigational charts puzzles for her collection.

[@icturner23]

I really love these treasure-hunt videos. So satisfying.

[@EFergDindrane]

Off topic: I'm a huge Disney nerd, and I love their Villainous puzzles series. Have you seen those? The Queen of Hearts one is my favorite, but I also have Ursula and the Evil Queen. I want the Scar one, just for the pictures of Simba on it. :D

[@marglarsen7101]

I want the Texas road map puzzle. No, I've never done or even seen any of those puzzles. Thanks for the info. What a researcher!

[@BanaiFeldstein]

omg, I had the tennis puzzle! I got rid of it a few years ago, before I found this channel. KZbin showed me this channel too late. I didn't realize puzzles were so expensive and so rare and collectible before I got rid of a bunch.

[@RoundSeal]

I adore the idea of this 😅 Just the double-take factor of having a jigsaw that's just...a tax form, lol. Love it.

[@GregWeidman]

Love ❤ the research. So fun! The "taxes" 😊 puzzle looks enjoyable. I think I remember a neighbor in the 1970s with the Fiddler on the Roof puzzle.

[@jlotrujillo]

You should try doing a puzzle like this without the picture/cover art. I finished the color pencil puzzle without the picture and it’s to date one of my favorite solves I’ve done.

[@jenniferk1633]

TAXES! I love your thorough research.

[@vaughn53]

Genuinely thought this puzzle was a joke when I saw you mention it in your "Day in the Life of a Puzzle Influencer" video haha I can't believe this is not a parody of a puzzle 😅

[@KarenPuzzles]

I know, right? It's so funny 😂

[@zacgallenlover911]

SAME!

[@SiN-re7ev]

you’re my favorite person to watch do this you scratch an itch in my brain from my adhd 😅

[@katieglabe919]

Karen! I stumbled across an eBay seller who has listed their grandma’s puzzle collection. 250+ vintage Springbok’s, many still sealed in the packaging. I saved the page if you would like me to send it to you! ❤

[@alkiq00]

I would definitely do this puzzle during tax season. It’s Sunday night, taxes are due Tuesday, and I still haven’t started them! Great video!

[@hoppy6141]

I'd love to get this for the office at work...we're knee deep in returns and can't wait for 4/18!

[@AlyssaPerrine]

my papa is a dairy farmer, so i think the farmers almanac is definitely going in my wishlist. the taxes one is pretty neat, though!

[@zacgallenlover911]

Karen i thought this was part of your april fools video and not real 😂 You never cease to amaze! Unique puzzle videos like this make my sundays. My mom and i still puzzle on sundays 🧩 Can’t wait to do the new puzzle with her

[@kelseyis...264]

I have a mini tabletop vacuum just for puzzle dust and I love it!!

[@KarenPuzzles]

I’d be worried about vacuuming up pieces!

[@lizhart81]

I regularly clean my puzzle board with a handheld vacuum, though not when there are loose pieces on it. It works great on the blue Ravensburger dust that still clings on even when I've snipped the bag corner and shaken it over the bin, and then shaken all the pieces around in the box lid. Some of that dust is really determined to stick around!

[@kelseyis...264]

The kind I have is tiny. It has the suction to lift up a piece but the hole is less than an inch wide so there's no risk to an average size puzzle piece. Puzzle dust is my main pet peeve though!

[@carolinayoshida762]

Love how much effort you always put on your videos Karen! 😊

[@KarenPuzzles]

Thank you!

[@kvstar100]

This was so fun to watch, thank you Karen!

[@kimberlee9608]

My wife is a corporate tax accountant and I haven’t even watched this yet to know I need to get her this puzzle.

[@theshep]

What's odd is I used to do drawings similar to the look of the A Maze Ing puzzle, while knowing nothing of the brand or the product. Just fun to draw lines over and over.

[@pjuster2]

The perfect puzzle to give your accountant after tax season

[@bengosling4606]

This is just bizarre and i love the fact Karen is doing it...

[@todd8051]

Thank you for another great puzzle video Karen. Your patience in solving it was commendable. Solving a tax puzzle like this would certainly be a taxing reminder of how much I owe in taxes this year.

[@michaelmoss5976]

Who wants that Chesapeake Bay Navigational Chart Puzzle??......THIS GUY!

[@msclrhd]

Imagine completing the puzzle, filling out the form, breaking it apart, and mailing it to the tax office!

[@kray3883]

At first I thought the tall edge pieces were meant to reduce the number of solid color pieces around the edge but it looks like it missed on that... I think it could be a really effective technique, though, if you wanted a solid border for some reason or if your image doesn't have quite the same aspect ratio as your standard puzzle like in this case. Like the Sudoku puzzle border could have been very solvable if the pieces on the border were tall enough that they had actual image on them.

[@jeannietrapnell1000]

This puzzle almost makes TAXES fun! Yes I would do the 1040 tax form puzzle. Would love to see how my solve time compares to yours. I think I would be super on my game if I solved it in 10 hours or less. Not a fast puzzler, but I sure enjoy jigsaw puzzles. As always I enjoyed your informative video!

[@johnnzboy]

Love these deep-dive videos into the companies!

[@AntonyBrotherton]

The 70s was a strange time but this is the strangest puzzle I’ve ever heard of love it❤

[@ihearthim13]

Why did I get so excited for a tax form puzzle? 😆 I actually really want this~

[@parmentier1984]

Seems like they were producing puzzles for gift shops. Tourist shops, national parks, rest areas/truck stops, those kind of places.

[@gridsgrid5768]

The amount of work and research that you put on your videos! You are our Queen of Puzzles! 😘

[@scofah]

Darling! Interesting! Taxes! History! Public libraries! I hope you find all the puzzles and get to talk to those people. 😊

[@ijlayugan4149]

I just laughed from the title itself. First Gameophile puzzle and its the tax form lol I love that.

[@juanchoplaz]

Sheldon Cooper loves this puzzle 👍 BAZINGA!

[@LilBruno63]

(TAXES) I love when you deep dive into one of the puzzle companies, its so interesting

[@multiple_oranges]

okay (maybe weirdly 😂) this is one of my favourite puzzles i've seen you do on your channel! I would love to do this puzzle!

[@liminal-refridgerator]

This was very interesting! These puzzles suggest such a different culture around puzzles and entertainment. If you are able to talk to any of the people who ran the company, I would love to hear about their business model and their customer base. Who did they imagine was buying a puzzle about TAXES? Was it supposed to be a joke??

[@RangeGleasry]

My favourite part of this series is the mystery Taxes

[@thegrokewillgetu]

This video has been truly amazing. I found the tax form a fun puzzle to watch you solve, but the history of the company had my full attention! My partner and I moved to central NJ around when Covid started, and we have fell in love with this state, we are both European but lived in US for quite a while. We go to Morristown often, and the mall that had the draw-your-own puzzle event is an hour away, to which we plan to spontaneously pop today to because of this video. (I can't believe the mall is still open!) I love jigsaw puzzles, but it's more of a passive hobby whenever I'm down and need a pick-me-up activity rather than passion, however I am happy to announce that I've ordered on ebay a gameophiles New Jersey Road map puzzle and am thrilled to put it together and hang it at our place. I also work with old maps everyday so that's another connection that sparked my interest. :) I just wanted to say thank you for this educational video and a new found fact about the place I love. All the very best Karen!