The scene where Homer was pressed into FBI service was taken directly from the film JFK.
Similarly, Agent Johnson, one of the FBI Agents who placed Homer on the job, was named after one of the FBI Agents from the film Die Hard.
When questioned by Kent Brockman in regards to why he procrastinated in regards to the Tax deadline, Otto remarks that he thought that the tax-line was actually the line for a Metallica concert.
Mr. Burns claims that he owns the suit that Charlie Chaplin was buried in, a reference to the fact that Charlie Chaplin's body was stolen from a cemetery in Switzerland.
When Castro remarks that Americans aren't all that bad as they named a street after him, he reacts in shock and horror when he learns just who dwells on that street, a reference to Castro Street in San Francisco, a street that is a gay community (although its true namesake was Joaquin Isidro de Castro, one of the founders of San Francisco), though the joke makes more sense when you consider that Cuba had severe issues with homophobia under Fidel's regime.
Goofs[]
Ned with a teal section of his head
When Ned realizes it's January 1, the top right hand corner of his head repeatedly turns teal like his night clothes.
The "to do" pile next to Homer didn't appear until he mentioned it.
Flanders was able to send out his taxes on New Year's Day, despite the fact that post offices are closed on that day (though most post offices do have it so that way the lobby where one can drop off mail is open, but the mail won't be sent until the next business day).
When Kent Brockman begins reporting on Tax Day, a man in the background has stubble that repeatedly disappears.
Even if Burns did have a trillion dollar bill he would never be able to spend it because the US only made the one and it was known to have been stolen therefore would never be honored
Krusty with a purple bowtie
After Kent Brockman interviews Krusty waiting in line at the Post Office, Krusty's bowtie changes color from purple to its correct shade of blue.
Flanders inserted mints into his tax package, but was able to insert it into the tax slot just fine.
Ned Flanders was fine with going to the post office in this episode, but in Hurricane Neddy, he states that he hates the post office.
He could've meant that he hates it when the post office is crowded (which he did say on "Hurricane Neddy"), but when there's hardly anyone there (or if he's just there to drop off some mail), it's fine.
Despite what Homer says, Lisa's book doesn't have pictures in it. He was being patronizing to her. Plus, Homer is an idiot.
When Homer gets a hot dog, the hot dog vendor initially wears an apron. However, in the close up, his apron is gone.
At the IRS office, Homer's taxes on the desk change into a ball of string in one shot, before once again becoming Homer's taxes in the rest of the scene.
At the Cuban airport, the clerk which Burns, Smithers, and Homer go to has yellow skin in the faraway shot, dark yellow skin in the close-up from the back, and brown skin in the close-up from the front.
Much like in "Mr. Plow" (even though the $10,000 bill that Homer described where all the Presidents are having a party and Jimmy Carter [who was alive at the time of the episode's premiere] is passed out on the couch isn't real), this episode features a large denomination dollar bill that wouldn't exist in real life, as it was made at the time the U.S. President or statesman that appeared on the bill (in this case, Harry S. Truman) was alive (which is illegal), not to mention the economic issues that would come with a trillion dollar bill existing in the first place (such as no country being fully able to make change or pay it off, a country going bankrupt if it ever got lost, etc).
Previous Episode References[]
Realty Bites and The Last Temptation of Krust: Gil the real estate agent appears (only in the latter episode, he may or may not be the shoe salesman who waits on Lisa and Bart),
Homer's Odyssey: Homer attempts suicide (throwing himself into the river with a rock tied to him/taking a cyanide pill), but is interrupted.
Simpson and Delilah: Karl (the gay secretary who worked with Homer when he got promoted) is seen at the post office.
Brush With Greatness: Marge's painting dreams get dashed (her high school teacher bashes her Ringo Starr portraits/Marge sadly muttering, "You really had a lotta talent, kid" as she hangs up the sailboat painting).
Bart vs. Australia and Simpson Tide: A Simpson male causes an international crisis (Bart's crank call to Australia and refusing to get booted as punishment/Homer's sub going into Russian waters/Homer, Mr. Burns, and Smithers abscond with a trillion dollar bill, then give it to Fidel Castro, who keeps it for himself).
Mother Simpson and The Springfield Files: Homer has a run-in with federal agents (FBI agents [both Mother Simpson and The Springfield Files]/IRS agents).
A large group of people celebrating New Years' Eve.
Professor Frink mentions someone forgetting to carry the one while calculating a math problem.
Whacking Day: Bart says, "Cool!" to something bad happening to him (becoming a monster from testing dangerous food additives/Homer saying that Bart's been wounded in Vietnam).
Bart on the Road: Someone mentions a magazine that has long since folded (the review about Andy Williams' concert from Look magazine/Mr. Burns thinks Homer is a reporter from Colliers').
Boy-Scoutz n the Hood: Homer gets stranded at sea with a character (or characters, in this case) voiced by Harry Shearer (Ned Flanders/Smithers and Mr. Burns).
Das Bus: Characters are left stranded on an island/at sea and are inexplicably rescued by the next episode.
Brother from the Same Planet: The Cuban kid who gives Homer donkey meat (carne de burro) almost looks like Pepe (the kid Homer adopted after seeing Bart with Tom).
