Tax Time

[42]

When did you mail in your tax return?

[Franchise]

I mailed mine much later than usual due to extenuating circumstances. I moved and changed jobs during last year, so I had a professional do my taxes this year. Took longer, but it was well worth it.

[Cho Da]

Why send them 4/15 when they aren't due until 4/16?
Woohoo Patriots' Day!

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Wasn't there a Patriot's Day in Early February. The kick heard 'round the world?

[Actuary321]

What do you mean mailed? Who still mails their return? I have been e-filing for the last 7 years.

And by the way what happens if you don't get it in the mail by April 15? Has anyone ever filed late without filing for an extention? If you are getting a return are they going to fine you and throw you in jail if you are a couple of days late? That just means they get to hold on to the dough a little longer.

And to encourage people to e-file they are trying to extend the deadline for e-filers to 4/30 while paper filers would still be required to file on 4/15.

[Redhead]

I have a professional do mine, ever since I had a house a few years ago, and sell stock. It's so worth it. I only owed, are you ready, $11! Whooooooo! That's why I sent mine in February.

[egg]

I e-filed on March 19th. But then of course, I recently found out that I received an important tax document at my parents place - changing my taxes. I still have to file 1040X - I haven't yet, but I should be able to slip it in under the 3 year deadline.

[The Mister]

I have a professional do mine, ever since I had a house a few years ago, and sell stock. It's so worth it. I only owed, are you ready, $11! Whooooooo! That's why I sent mine in February.OK, I can understand having a professional do it if you invest in stocks or other taxable funds. However, if you own a house, it's not that difficult to fill out a Schedule A (or C, whichever) with a) mortgage interest paid, b) points paid (if first year - partial credit if refi), c) property taxes paid, and d) charitable donations. Is there something I'm forgetting about that could save me money? I mean in excess of what I'd be paying the professional?

[MG]

I mail in my federal return as soon as I can and wait until the refund has been deposited (I love direct deposit) before sending out state taxes, for which I always owe.

I actually enjoy doing my taxes, so I've never consulted a professional. I still mail them - I've never e-filed and I don't think I would unless there was a worthwhile monetary incentive to do so.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Every time I've tried to do my own, I mess it up. And spend a lot of time doing it. Way more than my current average hourly salary and exam increase per hour of study.
This year, though, my tax guy messed up. Typo'ed my kid's SS# (this is a new automatic checking feature, due in part to people claiming more kids than they support, using phony SS# on their forms), so I had to call the IRS to get a second check sent to me. That was surprisingly very pleasant, though the second check will take some time.

[42]

I used H&R Block once. I had moved from Canada to the U.S., sold a house in Canada, bought a house in the U.S., received moving expenses from my new company, sold stocks, and a few other quirks that rarely come up. Otherwise, I just do it all myself, and it only takes about 20 minutes, including checking it.

[Mulan]

I'm with MG - I enjoy doing them and do them as early in the year as I can. I do e-file them - Turbo Tax rebates the filing fees.

I recommend Turbo Tax Deluxe, instead of having a professional do it, for all but the MOST difficult and complicated things. It walks you through it and is very user friendly.

[Patience]

Federal early - I always get back
Two states as late as possible - I usually owe

For the federal I e-file & direct deposit I usually have the money very fast.

I do the states by hand, because I don't trust the program (Tax Cuts) to coordinate both states properly.

[42]

I actually enjoy doing my taxes.

I'm with MG - I enjoy doing them.

OK, you two are now officially wierd.

http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/explode.gif

[Maine-iac]

I used to do my own, but had a professional do them when we had some moving expenses, two houses sold, and miscellaneous drivel related to moving all in one year.

I didn't mind doing them, but the convenience of having someone else take care of it when I was busy studying was pleasant enough that I haven't taken the job back.

I probably will after I get the FCAS (I can dream . . . .)

We usually get a refund, so we file as soon as we can. E-file gives you a better trail if something gets lost than swearing "But I put it in the mail!!" and the refund comes faster.

[Actuary321]

There was a big storm that came through here on Monday and knocked out the power to about 100,000 people Monday evening. Lots of tax preparers working by candle/flashlight with handheld calculators (hopefully not solar powered).

This article talks about it. http://www.sltrib.com/04172002/utah/729075.htm

It also says that (in Utah) if you are getting a refund you get an automatic extention to Oct. 15. I wonder if Uncle Sam is the same way. (Yes I have missed the deadline a couple of times, but I was always getting a refund and have never heard a word from them.)

[Polly Nomial]

My father was an auditor for the IRS for most of his working years. I feel compelled to do my own taxes.

I'm proud to say that I managed to get through rental property with depreciation and the sale of said property. (thank god!)

I can't figure out what the big deal is! :)

[Mulan]

OK, you two are now officially weird.

And this is news to who???

[Don Quijote]

Generally speaking, if you have paid more than you owe by April 15th, the IRS doesn´t care too much when you file the return, it´s the people who need to pay more that need to get that postmark.

Personally, I file the extensions, pay a preparer and double check his work ´cuz I´m just anal. (Redundant maybe for an actuary to say that)

[Patience]

My father was an auditor for the IRS for most of his working years. I feel compelled to do my own taxes.

I'm proud to say that I managed to get through rental property with depreciation and the sale of said property. (thank god!)

I can't figure out what the big deal is! :)

Cool. My dad was a special agent for the IRS his whole working career. Retired in 1980.

[openminded]

....

[42]

What a waste, Ded. You could've gotten 40 minutes more interest! :lol:

[Kitten]

:lol:

[openminded]

I was being frivolous.

[Polly Nomial]

Cool. My dad was a special agent for the IRS his whole working career. Retired in 1980.

Actually, my dad was a special agent too. I just didn't want to brag! j/k

(Actually, I'm not sure what his title was. Among other things, he did field investigations of suspected tax evaders. He busted several TV celebraties and recording artists.)

Should I have sent this in a PM instead? :lol: :lol:

[Patience]

Actually, my dad was a special agent too. I just didn't want to brag! j/k

(Actually, I'm not sure what his title was. Among other things, he did field investigations of suspected tax evaders. He busted several TV celebraties and recording artists.)

Should I have sent this in a PM instead? :lol: :lol:[/quote]

Sounds like they did the same stuff. Official title was Special Agent (I still have his old business card). My dad also had some very high profile.

Actually after he retired my dad was hired to defend several recording artists and a few other well known names.

Are you a NYer?

[42]

OK, you two are now officially weird.

And this is news to who??? Good point. Moo, did you actually correct my misspelling of "weird" when you quoted me? Hmmm, weird and eh-nul. Yup. Definitely an actuary. :wink:

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

She did not, however, use the objective form of the pronoum who.

[Mulan]

She did not, however, use the objective form of the pronoum who. :oops:

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

On the other hand, I misspelled pronoun. :oops: :oops:

[Mulan]

Repent Obi and you will be forgiven! LOL

[42]

OWK, I hope you and http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/mica/FarSCow1.gif both check your tax returns better than you check your spelling and grammar.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

Dont ewe mene grammer?

I use Tax Cut.

[42]

All right, stop it! This is a clear attempt to beat me to 1000 posts, and it's not going to work, you wily wizard. :evil:

[snafu]

For 2001, e-filed on the 15th for my $26 refund.

For 2002, my tax situation is suitably screwed up as to require professional assistance. I'm already looking for a tax professional with the appropriate specialty skills.

[Troy McClure]

Haven't filed yet. You have three years to file federal to get a refund, no extension necessary.

For my state, I filed late a couple years ago, and they fined me. I wrote a bunch of complaining letters about how this was inconsistent with the federal tax code, and, further, their instructions were misleading by saying the state filing period is the same as the federal filing period, and the next year they changed it. Don't know why they changed it, but I will always claim it was me!

[42]

Hey! What happened to the other two choices in the survey?? There used to be six choices, including "Sometime in February" and "Sometime in March", but now they're gone, and the votes for these choices are gone as well. I assume that I would be the only person who could make changes to the survey choices since I was the one who set up the survey in the first place, but I didn't touch it. Time to call Glenn! :-?

[Maine-iac]

Same thing happened under "Sports" in the "Who will win the Stanley Cup"
poll. I thought the author had done it, but maybe not . . .