Well, I've really done it this year. Get the coffee pot primed.....gather the microwavable foods and sandwich makin's at the ready.....make sure there are some fruits, nuts, other energy snacks at hand -- guess I'll definitely be spending this weekend doing my federal and state income taxes.
I pulled together all the paperwork, gathered the tax booklets and forms, or printed them off the Internet -- collecting this all in one file by the time January ended. Why I haven't done any more since then would be hard to explain. I remember hearing we had more days than usual this year to submit our returns and pay our taxes. I'm sure I've had good reasons why I haven't done more before this, but I expect you would likely tell me, "That's no excuse!"
Since I began doing my taxes manually, by default, after my husband's death (he had always done them), I've just continued doing so. I've become much quicker at the process as each year passes.
Yes, I know I could hire someone, or I could do them online or with a computer program, but I confess to having an attitude about doing so. I've always liked playing with numbers so the mathematics isn't an issue. But, something is terribly wrong with a tax system into which we pay that has become so complex we have to pay even more just to have somebody else figure out how much tax we owe -- even if our government tries to pacify us by making the cost of doing so tax deductible.
Of course, hiring someone does create employment opportunities, so this may be our government's idea of one way to address creating more jobs. I hope this doesn't mean I'm not a good citizen. Maybe I better have a glass or two of the ol' vino with which to relax and contemplate this matter after mailing my tax form envelopes Monday.
At least I am supporting the postal service, so that must count for something toward my good citizenship. I still like receiving mail in the box outside my home's front door. Besides, I've never had a problem with anyone hacking into my ordinary mail -- not that they couldn't access it in other ways. As much as I appreciate the digital world's mail speed, I can't help wondering if that older mail system provides more privacy ... as long as what's been mailed gets there. I must say in all my years I've never had anything I mailed or that I knew was sent to me be compromised.
Perhaps you don't procrastinate or fret about privacy, so maybe my thoughts are just tilting at windmills.
My husband does ours. I used to have more input into it but now days I just sign on the dotted line. Our taxes grew more complex with the farm, his consulting business, retirement investments, rental property, and now my books. I am very happy an accountant can keep track of it all because figuring out what is deductible is confusing to say the least. It seems it should be easier because it does definitely provide someone else with an income as it is.
ReplyDeleteI can certainly appreciate with multiple involvements as you describe why having a professional prepare the taxes would be wise. There were times years earlier with more involvements professional consultation was beneficial for us. After my husband retired and the older I've become, worked less, my taxes have become less complex though it can vary from year to year.
DeleteThis is our situation too. Our finances have become too complex. We need an accountant. My husband had to give up trying to do the taxes on his own. I don't have much of a head for figures but mostly I'm just lazy about money matters.
ReplyDeleteI had always put together the figures associated with whatever I was involved with, semi-kept up with what my husband was doing which helped when I suddenly had the full responsibility after his death. I could refer to previous returns, his meticulous work sheets and viewed doing the taxes myself as a challenge. If we had had more involvements, or my business and other matters had not become simplified by then, I'm sure I would have sought an accountant. Its not always easy to be aware of the various deductions that can apply. In fact, that first year I did consult with an accountant, planning to have him take it over, but then just undertook them myself and have kept going.
DeleteI'm reminded that we had friends a decade younger than us, both of whom actually had management positions with the IRS. They had both just retired when he died suddenly shortly after she was finally diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disease from which she had been having increasing physical symptoms for a year or two. A neurologist friend and neighbor of theirs at a prominent university was chagrined at not having recognized her disorder sooner. She became quite distressed trying to sort out all of her husband's financial activities which included computer activity. She didn't have necessary information to access or even know what all she needed to know as he hadn't planned on his sudden exit from life. Usually the wife, but any spouse, will be glad they're well-acquainted with everything if they ever must suddenly be in charge.
In January I make a March 15th appointment to get my taxes done with a CPA. I could probably do my own now that I'm retired and my husband passed away but I've done it that way for decades. Some people love the pressure of working close to the wire, me I'd rather avoid that stress. Life gives me enough of that that I can't control.
ReplyDeleteI see you work in the speech-language pathology. I have a lot of respect for people who go into that field. My husband had severe aphasia, apraxia and agraphia for over 12 years before he died. For six years we went to a college twice a week where we worked with student speech therapists and their professors.
I appreciate your comment. Continuing with how you were accustomed to preparing your taxes sounds quite logical, plus your accountant would have been intimately familiar with needed information. I've worked both ways -- completing taxes early or "close to the wire" but didn't really feel that much pressure this time. I had a good idea of how much time preparation would take as I had long ago compiled all the needed data. In fact, I completed both the federal and state taxes beginning yesterday afternoon, then today as I viewed a movie, I simply copied the information to the forms I'll submit tomorrow. What intrigues me is why I didn't complete them earlier.
DeleteYes, I've provided speech-language pathology services to those like your husband who have had strokes. I visited your blog and read some of those older posts you wrote about your experience. What you have written is a truly excellent personal account I would recommend as a resource to stroke patients, family caregivers, friends, other Speech-Language Pathologists -- anyone who wants to understand Aphasia's (loss of language) complexity from the human emotional aspect and the technical angles a layperson would value.
I'm glad you had access to post-stroke groups once formal therapy ended as they can be so beneficial. I've been involved with some and wish all stroke patients could avail themselves of such programs. Caregivers uniformly report the benefits they receive from networking with others like them navigating this major life-altering adjustment.
When it comes to privacy and personal information confidentiality I am a bit of a fanatic I suppose. To the degree that on a daily basis I am normally checking my accounts on-line to insure there are not any unfamiliar activities occurring.
ReplyDeleteEven though the complexity of my finances has evolved into pure simplicity over the years, I have continued to use my tax accounting firm for my tax preparation. I am a meticulous record keeper and I supply my tax accountant with a one-page computer printout of my yearly financial transactions in early February along with tax documents and by mid-February my taxes have been completed and the refunds posted in my banking account. No muss... no fuss!
The firm I do business with is a small business with two tax accountants. I feel very comfortable with the security of my information in their hands. On the other hand larger firms such as H&R Block are very suspect in my opinion when it comes to keeping my information secure. Having used them for a number of years before literally firing them for not knowing how to handle certain financial transactions when filing my taxes, I realized that they were simply filling in the blocks on their computer screens and actually had limited knowledge of the tax code.
Sounds wise to continue with the system that has worked efficiently for you even though your tax computing has simplified. I think a major key to it all is keeping good records and documentation throughout each tax year.
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ReplyDeleteMy husband used to do our taxes and I tried to continue but with his illness now I just don’t have the time or the patience.
ReplyDeleteI went back and read the comments you left on my blog. Thank you. No, I do not have any assistance taking care of my husband. There are a couple of places where people with Alzheimer can be left for some hours, by they are so far away that it would take me 4 hours of driving, back and forth. Many European countries give extra social security type money to caregivers – for example 1 ½ time their monthly amount, so that the caregiver can get some relief, but I don’t think this will ever happen in the US! I am not surprised that 6 out of 10 caregivers die here before their sick partners – it is a difficult task, the beauty of spring helps though.
Yes, caregivers providing long term care can benefit from respite care, but as you note its not always available to many people. Perhaps one day in the future, though I would be surprised if it happened in my lifetime, there will be financial support for family providing caregiving in the home. There are many sound reasons to do so, including being financially less expensive to our present health care system than long term nursing home care. Another interesting point you make, about caregivers longevity making it so important people such as yourself find ways to take good care of yourselves or you won't be able to care for yourself or your loved one -- easier said than done.
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