My income tax is often on my mind. Funny thoughts surface out of the blue: “Have I paid this month’s tax?” Fear and trepidation of the Croatian tax authorities is with me all the while: “What if I forgot to pay last month’s tax?” Which is why I check my tax record several times each month. As the end of the month approaches, such thoughts surface ever more often. They become a real nuisance sooner or later. To stop myself from occasional panic attacks, if this is what they actually are, I just paid this month’s tax. What the heck. When I subsequently checked my tax record, which I maintain with utmost care, I realized that this is the earliest date I have made the payment ever since foreign pensions started being taxed in Croatia. That was two years ago. Although I feel a bit sorry for myself, I am quite happy at the moment: “This month’s tax is behind me already!” In fact, I am no less than elated: “Nothing to worry about any more!” As I write, my mind is buzzing along happily. And all this costs me is about three-hundred and fifty euros. Peanuts. In return, I will not think about the damned tax authorities for about a month. The bliss.

Addendum (December 17, 2016)

The fear of the Croatian tax authorities is with me to this day. Which is why I do my best to pay my income tax as early as possible every month. This month, I made the payment on the twelfth. Last month, I made it on the fifteenth, which was kind of late by my standards. A few months before that, I paid it on the third, and I was over the moon with my alacrity. Although I have not yet had any problems with the authorities in question, the fear is rather deep after so many years in Croatia. When it comes to money, all authorities in this country are no less than frightening. After all, so many people working for the state must be paid each and every month. And there are loads of them. When it comes to these lucky people, the state is as stern as states ever get. Pay or face the lot of us, if you dare!