Accounting Firm “Shares the Loss on Tax D-Day”

A 42 year tradition in Oradell has continued to stay strong as male members of the Oradell-based accounting firm, , began growing their beards on January 1 and were recently shorn of the facial hair on April 17 at the close of this year's tax deadline. The event was created by Traphagen founder V. Peter Traphagen, CPA, PFS, CFP.

“Our clients get a kick out of it, we tell them that we can’t share their pain with the IRS, but we’re volunteering to get ourselves sheared like everybody else on April 17^th,” said Jim Lawrence, partner in . “All we lose is some facial hair on April 17^th, which is less than most people lose to the IRS on that day.”

The annual event took place on Tuesday at 3pm inside the corporate office at the Thunise Cooper House, a 246-year-old historic structure in town. It was also videotaped by the Star-Ledger. 

“I’ve had clients come in to do their taxes and joke impishly that they’d love to send their checks to the IRS with our beards,” Lawrence said.

Joe DeSalvo from in Glen Rock once again assisted in the “shearing.”

 is currently celebrating over 40 years of dedicated service with a diverse clientele that parallels the diverse interest of their partners. V. Peter Traphagen, founding partner has sailed across the Atlantic in a 32-foot sailboat while other partners have distinguished themselves by completing numerous marathons and triathlons.

The firm is committed to improving the community and state through public service and volunteer work. The firm is registered with the IRS as an official Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, which provides free tax preparation services for seniors and low-to moderate income individuals who cannot prepare their own tax returns. is the only CPA firm in the United States that hosts VITA in their office.