I can be happy because the IRS sent me a letter telling that I shouldn't even bother filing if I'm not making more than I was last year. Well, I'm not. No filing for me.
Actually, this means I'm dirt poor and a student. Drat.
May you all reach the post office on time!
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
Are you sure they don't want you to file because you might get a return? Have you paid any taxes? If so, you should see if you get a refund.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Yeah. If you worked at ALL, you can get Earned Income Credit.
A little side note, I redid the taxes with H&R Block's free file site instead of the other site I had clicked on from the IRS's free file page. The H&R Block program did it right and we ended up with a small refund that was enough to pay for doing the state taxes with H&R Block, too. Very happy about it.
-Katarain
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Refund already in the bank.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
My refund appeared this morning in my account. I've already tucked it away in the EuropeCon fund.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
What, not the LankaCon fund? I'm so hurt. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
We'd call that the quidCon. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Next major trip is over the other ocean, for sure. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
QuidCon, LankaCon, same thing. It's scheduled for 2006, so start saving now!
Although, depending on how many people actually come over, we may be able to squeeze all half dozen of you in various spare rooms in our house. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Kata, that's GREAT!
My taxes have been done for a couple months, but I've been waiting until today (actually, I meant to send them yesterday, but no biggie) because I owe the IRS much money. No penalties, though, because I'm making more than last year, and did have a not-unreasonable amount withheld. (Actually, the main reason I owe 'em is because I'm not getting any kid credits this year -- but that's just for this year.)
So I guess I'm glad this year I made enough to get taxed bunches? Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
No kid credits? You didn't eat all your kids again, did you? Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
How do they split 3 kids? My parents only had 2, so my dad claimed my brother and my mom claimed me. Or the other way around. Whatever.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
rivka, yes. I'm very happy about it.
Thanks for calling me Kata, by the way. In a thread the other day people were calling me Kat. I forgot to correct them. Kat=Katharina!
I just had a homemade burger and tater tots for lunch.
Random bits of knowledge, yes.
-Katarain
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I thought I recalled that we had decided you would be shortened to Kata to be distinct from kat.
No, I did not eat my children. For various support-related issues, I was convinced to let the ex have all three this year (I had all three last year). In future, it will likely be 1-and-2, but I don't remember if that's one of the issues that stayed resolved or is being renegotiated again.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
quote:Refund already in the bank.
For us it's more like "Trip to Iowa already taken."
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Yes, we did. My thanking you was my subtle way of reminding anyone who called me Kat yesterday who might fly by this thread.
I'm such a dork.
-Katarain
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I figured. I was reinforcing.
I'm such a teacher. Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
Online filing is the path, dudes.
My Jehovah's Witness study partner brought some treats for my kids yesterday. It must be hard to find a day that isn't commemorated by someone to give a gift on. I almost joked about it be penultimate tax day, but decided not to.Q:)
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Yeah. Online filing rocks. Last year, we paid nearly $300 to get taxes done in the H&R Block office. This year, Federal was free, and State was under $30. Huge savings.
It was with great reluctance that I even used the H&R Block site, but after the CompleteTax.com site and they were claiming we owed over $100, I knew I had to use H&R Block. After I was done, I made some comment about paying so much last year and my husband looked at me and said, you _really_ don't like H&R Block, do you?? But oh well.. they deserved praise this year.
Oh, the problem with CompleteTax.com: every time I would change/add a deduction, the refund would stay EXACTLY the same. I changed our education expenses from the lifetime credit to the education deduction and it made NO difference at all. But on H&R Block's site, it made a huge difference--as it should.
So go them.
-Katarain
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
Kata, my hubby is in complete agreement with you; he thinks the people in the actual offices tend to not know as much as they should (since they're probably seasonal employees brought in simply to deal with the rush). We owed a ton last year, because of some withholding problems (he insists it's their fault, though).
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Well, I'm definitely not going to dispute that point. The seasonal employees often don't have a clue. I wasn't saying that, though. My complaint with the office people (and the guy we got was good) is that it cost SOOOOO much! It was ridiculous. They did a fine job, though.
But I know that is not the norm.
The place that really almost screwed me up this year, was the CompleteTax.com site.
-Katarain
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
We e-filed in January with TurboTax for the Web, and got to use it free becuase our income is low. Our refund was direct-deposited in our account 10 days later. Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Yep, e-filed with H&R Block - actually got a refund of twice what was deducted in taxes.
Mind you, its all going to the IRS to pay off my Federal student loans, but oh well.
-Trevor
Posted by imenimok (Member # 7679) on :
H&R Block forced me to learn how to do my own taxes. Granted, the only abnormality I have is student loan interest, but I am an idiot when it comes to taxes and insurance. However, I'm currently working for the state tax department keying in returns, and I am amazed at some people. If you're going to do your own taxes, at least read the instructions.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
I used turbo tax...and found that the government owed me 40 bucks this year. Its always good to get some of your money back instead of having to pay more.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I love TurboTax. I've used it since I started filing returns, and it's very easy. A little more complicated this year, but we only had one or two questions, and with an aunt who's a CPA, we had free advice on what to do. Posted by Tstorm (Member # 1871) on :
I filed electronically. The Federal return was free, but I had to pay for the state return, $10. I thought it was reasonable.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
No state returns in Texas. One of the good things about living here. Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
My return from my state was more than I paid, and more than the federal return. Instead of calling it Earned Income Credit, they call it Low Income Credit.
I was surprised.
-Katarain
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
The IRS website has links to sites that will do federal returns for free for almost every state. Different sites for each state, I'm sure, and Illinois had a couple options. And then I file my state return from the state Dept. of Revenue site, also for free.
Just something to keep in mind for next year...
Posted by Aunty Eem (Member # 7743) on :
I wrote my stupid $300+ check last night. As Ryuko said " Mom why do you have to pay so much,your poor" Ask the state of Minnesota. I can't figure it out.
Posted by Tater (Member # 7035) on :
Happy my brother's birthday!!
Everyone always remembers his birthday because it's on tax day.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
Leonardo Da Vinci is your brother?
Posted by Tater (Member # 7035) on :
Well, no. But he's as cool as, if not cooler than, Mr. Da Vinci.
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How do they split 3 kids? My parents only had 2, so my dad claimed my brother and my mom claimed me. Or the other way around. Whatever.
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As Ryuko said " Mom why do you have to pay so much,your poor" Ask the state of Minnesota. I can't figure it out.
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