Nothing like waiting until the last moment to do your taxes, but here I am, killing it. I looked at the calendar on my wall and I saw that April 22 is Earth Day. I then noticed the tiny letters at the bottom of April 15th and wondered about them. It wasn't for a second or two that I said to myself, "Oh yeah, you have to file your taxes!" I was going to do it sooner this year, and I meant to, but there wasn't any rush to do it.
Since long before I can even recall now, whatever I earn back from the government goes right back to it to pay for fees, interest, and other taxes that somehow escaped me back when I was just as lax about it as I am now. I suppose one day, after the Rapture of the Church, I'll end up flush with the government not owing anything -- but until that day, I fight the good fight.
Like millions of people, I used TurboTax for years, and then, because of the commercials telling me I could switch to H&R Block this year, I switched to H&R Block! I'm here to tell you, they are the same. There is very little difference between the two sites; only the animation has changed. They still charge you for the State filing, despite what you think or feel. Don't think for a second that you'll get out of it.
They like to hide their fee of course; stating that for $34 administration fee, they'll file your State taxes for free. Then, after you get all the way to the end -and their system won't accept your "selfie" picture and you have to print and mail in the paper forms - they still take your money and tell you that you're another number -- nothing has changed. I couldn't get TurboTax's software to work correctly last year, or the year before, or the year before. I don't know why I thought it would be different for me this year. I wonder if I had paid the additional $21, they would have encouraged me to pay for additional fast and easy service, and if their software would have synced with mine. ( I bet those who pay the $55 fee don't have issues, just sayin' )
Well, after I got the entire thing done, finished, and printed, I realized I had forgotten to add my Social Security payments! What? That's nuts! True, it is nuts, and it was crazy of me to have the paper in front of me, but somehow I just eliminated it. To be honest, it wasn't easy to backpedal, but I'm really glad I wasn't able to file online because I had to correct it anyway—so there's that! I found a silver lining!
After adding my SS payments literally every penny I thought I was getting back was sucked back into their system! I even owe a few dollars -- will you look at that? I can easily cut that small check or pay it online, but I filed for an extension anyway - that way I can string them along like they've always treated me. Yes, I realize that's not the best way to behave, and I know that I need to grow up a little and stop sticking my tongue out at the big, ugly government officials trying to tell me that I owe more than I should.
NEXT YEAR -- I'm told, President Trump is doing away with so many of the IRS requirements. This is going to be really something to admire. I hope it happens. I really do, but given the choice between never paying another tax and having Jesus return in the Rapture -- you don't have to guess which one I'd choose. Maranatha!! Let's go! At least now, because of the great job I had this year and the responsible choice I made to have enough taken out of my paycheck, I was able to cover my Social Security taxes by all but literally a few bucks.
I'm smiling, and the good news is that it may very well be the last time we pay taxes this way again—fingers crossed!
www.judestringfellow.com
No comments:
Post a Comment