I like to think I’m pretty good with my money, but when it comes to doing my taxes I’m somewhat scared of the responsibility, because you know, IRS and all that scary crap. I’ve been especially scared to do my 2008 taxes because of the financial mess created by selling my house and transferring jobs and having my company pay for part of the relocation, so I put them off longer than usual so I could get help from my parents.
The Modern Mom and I sat down with Turbo Tax last night and started thumbing through all the W-2s and 1040s and B-52s and all that crap. I was already stressed out because I couldn’t find a bunch of Goodwill receipts that I know I had at one point.
Turns out that was only the beginning.
I never received receipts from either of the churches I attended last year because I’m not sure either has my current address. So, we went through all my cancelled checks online and looked up each donation one by one.
Then we discovered that I never received documentation from the mortgage company on how much tax money I paid on the old house before I sold it, and boy oh boy that’s a lot of deduction that I’m missing out on without that. By the way, did you know that you can’t deduct anything from your taxes when you take a loss on selling your home to relocate? Yeah, F-U federal government for that one. That’s a knife in the back that keeps on twisting.
Both of these mishaps are probably a result of me not actually living in my own home for six months and having four — FOUR! — different mailing addresses (two of which won’t reach me anymore) in calendar year ’08. I know I haven’t been getting all my mail, despite putting in mail forwarding requests every step of the way. Lord knows what else is sitting in a dead mail pile somewhere with my name on it. And there’s no telling whether any of the missing receipts got somehow caught up in the Modern Ex’s papers or tossed while I was crashing at his place.
The taxes didn’t get done, and now all I want to do is cry. I’m reliving the worst year of my life in the form of missing paperwork and relocation documents. I feel just like I felt then when everything was overly complicated and everything I needed was wherever I wasn’t. I felt like I was finally done cleaning up last year’s mess a few months ago, but now there’s so much backtracking left to be done.
The lone comfort I’m taking from all of this is the simplicity I’ve achieved with my life this year. I know when this time rolls around next year, it won’t be this difficult. One home, one job, one much, much happier Modern Gal.
Taxes are a very strange way of reviewing the past year, aren’t they?
We broke down and hired an accountant two years ago. He pays for himself in the deduction tips and coaching J on how to organize business finances, etc.
I think this year it might be worth the mental health to dump this in the lap of a professional. I’m sorry its been so stressful for you!
Ugggg I hear ya. I just made an appointment with a tax service because I honestly can NOT face it this year! I agree that a professional can make all the difference in the world!
Relax. The extension is automatic. I’ve been in business for 32 years and have been through 3 IRS audits and a few state audits (out of state, actually, not my home state). It’s business for them and although they are a PITA, as long as you don’t hide income, you ain’t a criminal. Confused or mistaken, maybe, in their eyes, but not doing anything criminal. Unlike our Treasury Secretary (sorry, sorry). Take the time and get your documentation in order and claim everything due to you.
BTW, the last time I was able to do my own taxes was when Reagan was President. And I work in computational continuum mechanics – where laws are immutable and not subject to the whims of Congress or bureaucrats…..
Ugh. I guess we need to go ahead and tackle our taxes. Thanks for the reminder that I need to double-check that I’ve got all our receipts rounded up.
Taxes can bite me.
I am very spoiled that my taxes are easy for now. I don’t complain, but I know if I buy property that I will automatically go with an accountant.
I’m so sorry. That sounds like a nightmare. You probably won’t want to read my account of my easy time with taxes this year.
Here’s to a much easier 2009 for you!
Ugh. I hate doing taxes. I haven’t done mine yet either, and mine aren’t even that complicated.
Makes you wish the feds would break down and adopt the Fair Tax, doesnt’ it?
I hate tax time and have decided an accountant who deals with the stress for me is the best money I can spend. I am nervous about this (2009) tax year as I’ll be starting my own business.