At Least I Had Clothes On

My work sent around one of those helpful "check on your withholding status because the end of the year is coming and we're going to be preparing your W2" notes recently.

I can only assume that it was this which prompted my brain to deliver me a dream in which it was April 15th and I had completely forgotten about taxes.

I was frantically explaining to someone that it was all because of the baby having distracted me (a pretty good excuse) and trying to gather my paperwork, convinced that I could still get it done in time.

With online filing, this is probably true, although not recommended, so I was right not to be totally panicking in the dream.

"Having a baby should just automatically get you an extension!" I said.

So thanks, I guess, work. That was entertaining.

Right...the Taxes

Oh, I see it is a new year, which means we should be thinking about taxes soon. 

I keep getting it wrong when I do them myself, so I think this year I'm going to have to...sigh...purchase tax preparation software. The past couple of years, I've thought we owed money, but we actually didn't. 

Which is OK, I guess--unexpected refund!--but I'm worried that one of these years I'll think we're getting a refund, but we'll actually owe money, and then we'll have severe penalties. That's bad.

Paying Up

I have sent in my federal taxes. Now to wait anxiously and see if the IRS accepts the e-filed return.

I was drinking some wine while I did the final data entry here, so I was more relaxed than if I'd merely been wired on caffeine or something. We'll see if I was as accurate.

I am fairly pleased by the MassDOR online filing system, which is not as clunky as the Free File Fillable Forms (even the name is clunky), but I'm waiting until I hear from the IRS before I complete the state return.

I should owe some money to the federal government, and get somewhat less back from the state. I'm not sure why it works out that way. Maybe because the state lets me deduct (a portion of) rent and commuting costs.

Anyway, time to eat some celebratory ice cream.

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The Thrill of the Forms

Ugh. Time to think about doing taxes again. I'm having some issues with Free Fillable Forms, where I can't find a place to enter my W-2. I'll have to try again later.

I shouldn't have gotten married--my single income would be low enough to let me use one of the other, less clunky free e-file systems.

Ah, the halcyon days when I was young and poor and filing single with the smooth-running software of professional tax-preparation firms!

Needless to say, I'm not about to pay to file taxes now. I just don't hold with it. You can keep your smooth-running software, professional tax-preparation firms, while I fight it out with pencil and paper, if need be. When I get fabulously wealthy, which will surely be any day now*, I may reconsider.


*I have big plans involving grease. Or possibly savings and wise investments. But most likely grease.

Further Bulletins from Taxville

Well, the IRS is too darn fast. We just received a check for the refund we were apparently owed, even though I can't figure out why we should get it.

Also, the number they give you to call is just an automated system, so I can't ask any questions about it.

"Shut up and take the money!" the IRS is as good as saying.

So I'll tell you what I'm going to do: shut up and take the money.

I'm going to be mildly irritated if they want it back later with interest, on account of I never claimed to deserve it, but heck, these questions keep life interesting. (Maybe this is a new revenue-generating scheme. Unrequested interest-bearing loans! Seriously, the banks would be all over that if they could. Come to think of it, I guess that's kind of what they were onto with the "we'll encourage you to overdraw your account and charge you high fees for the convenience when you do" idea.)

Also, when I contemplate the odds on whether me or the IRS has better math skills on staff, I kind of have to think maybe they're just right.

But I was doing it online! The internet does math, right?

Ha.

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News From Taxville

So we got a letter from the IRS, which is always something to be greeted with some trepidation. It turns out  it was a nice letter, because they said they've determined we're eligible for some credits we hadn't claimed, and now we get a refund instead of owing money.

Except, I don't really follow the math here, because even if we do get those credits, it doesn't fully account for the difference between the taxable income I calculated and the taxable income they mention in the letter (their number is smaller, hence the refund). So I think I'd better call them.

"Look, are you sure you don't want this money? 'Cause I'll take it, but I really think you should have it. Honestly, buy yourself an inch of highway or something. You know I depend on you to maintain the nation's infrastructure."

Because I love me a fat tax refund, and I'm not saying my math is so awesome that I couldn't have made a mistake (and thanks, by the way, for thinking of credits for me!), but I'd rather double-check before I start making plans for this money.

'Cause you know if it turns out the mistake is on their end, they're gonna want it back.

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Scuffling with Taxes

I'm using Free File Fillable Forms this year. 

It requires some math, unlike the super easy software programs that do it all for you, but I couldn't find a version that will do our return for free (we have 'additional income'), so this is the best I could do.

At least it adds up a few things for you (basically, you have to enter all the main numbers from your tax forms, but it will add the various lines), and you can e-file. 

That saves a precious, precious stamp, as well as some paper, but one of the main benefits is being able to type into the form instead of write it in by hand. I'm sure the IRS will appreciate the improved legibility.

I'll be sure to post an update if we wind up getting audited for bad math.