Another Ode to the TaxMan

Ok, so I broke down and took my taxes to a tax preparer today. It really wasn’t that painful. I worked with a woman who was upfront about what she was doing, asked good questions, knew her software, and was open to learning from me, too. By the way, the 1040 instruction manual uses a great example about deducting sidewalk improvements as a “tax” along with your property taxes.

I still think it is sad that the forms and calculation-balancing process is so complicated. I also think it is just WRONG that so much legislation happened in the 11^th hour and couldn’t be reflected on forms and instructions in a timely manner. While I appreciate the legislation working in my favor, such late changes push people to pay preparers rather than do their taxes themselves. We should all be able to do the process ourselves! But, at least I can deduct the cost of tax preparation next year…….And, my stress in having to do all of the math has been significantly reduced.

Now, if only I could just get rid of this head cold…….

The Tax Man is Evil, Evil, Evil!

Very few things in life push me to the point of wanting to display serious violence in my gestures, language, and actions. Taxes are one of those "things." I’m working through my return information today, and I am ready to just go postal on the government. Tax Man, just come and haul me away now!

What’s the problem? Sure, I may have a bit of math phobia, but that’s not it! Supposedly the legislature passed 11th-hour renewals and revisions on tuition deductions, teacher supplies to the classroom credits, and other deductions that are NOT showing up on the forms or in the directions for the usual forms. Some of the instruction manuals on the IRS Web site are still the ones for 2005. That means, many of us who need to take those deductions are going to have to seek out professional preparers and cough up the cash to do our returns – or we risk errors and audits.

Doesn’t it seem a little unreasonable that the average individual is THIS frustrated with simple tax procedures? Wasn’t there legislation a few years back about “ease of paperwork” with the tax process? The “Message from the [tax] Commissioner” states: “Paying taxes is a unifying experience fundamental to democracy and the rule of law.” Unifying, my ass! Processing these forms is creating more of a need to cut up someone into little tiny pieces and blow their body parts out a cannon.