Time to pay The Man

elSicomoro · 02-09-2003, 02:43 AM

Or to get money back from the Man, which should be the case with me.

For non-Americans: I'm not sure how it is in other countries, but here in the US, we have to file our income taxes with the Internal Revenue Service (and in most states, with a state dept. of revenue) each year. Every January, our employers send us W-2 forms, showing our income and taxes paid for the year. (And if you have investments, you usually receive other forms that show how much money or interest you've made in a year, and the taxes paid, if any, on said money.) Once we get those forms, we have to fill out these ridiculous tax forms, which help determine that we've given enough money to the government. If we owe money, that money must be in the mail, postmarked by April 15th.

So, I got all my forms finally last week. Ironically, the one I was waiting for was a 1099-G from the Commonwealth, showing how much money I got from unemployment. Slow-ass bastards.

As most folks know, there are lots of options for doing your taxes. Best Buy has been hawking TurboTax with all these rebates and what not. But I can't justify getting that, especially with the changes in the tax codes every year. So, I decided to try using an e-file service this year. I used H & R Block last year (b/c, for some reason, I thought doing my taxes would be a pain in the ass), and wound up getting hosed big time. Fuck that...

I've looked at a few of the e-file services, but many of them want you to download software. For some reason, I'm not cool with that. I prefer something that I can do online. So, I found one site that lets you do your taxes, shows the results, and only charges you if you print and send them electronically. It was fairly painless. They ask you 9 kabillion questions, and you have to fill in all the information you have in front of you, but then they easily compute the information.

My only issue with the service was the price--$24.95. I'm seeing other ones out there that are cheaper--less than $10. But I'm not sure how reliable they are.

What are some of you guys out there doing for your taxes? Using e-file? Going with paper? If you've used (or are using) e-file, do you have any recommendations...or warnings about some places?

wolf · 02-09-2003, 08:07 AM

My taxes are sufficiently simple (write down how much you make, make sure the gov't got half) that I use telefile for fed and state ...

When I get around to it (which is usually April 13, even though I usually get a refund) I just gather the papers, pick up the phone, and let my fingers do the walking.

elSicomoro · 02-09-2003, 11:25 AM

I can't use telefile anymore...student loan interest to claim.

wolf · 02-09-2003, 12:41 PM

So download the .pdf files from irs.gov, fill 'em in, print 'em out, and lick a stamp.

Oh, I forgot. you don't have to lick stamps anymore ... well, you know what I mean ...

I'd often rather blame any errors on my own incompetence with simple math and a calculator rather than overpriced software I have to rebuy next year ... Only reason I telefile is because I'm a total convenience hog. Otherwise, I'd still be filling out the paper forms.

elSicomoro · 02-09-2003, 12:47 PM

My plan was to go ahead and do a paper version anyway, just to see if there is a difference between what I did online and on paper. The printer is out of commission though, so I'll have to hit the library.

Dagney · 02-09-2003, 02:11 PM

Just a suggestion, but Yahoo uses the TurboTax engine on its Yahoo Finance site for electronic filing, and has some sort of arrangement set up for refund anticipation loans, you can do all different flavors of the 1040, and they're done and submitted in about 30 minutes.

Dagney

elSicomoro · 02-09-2003, 02:35 PM

I'd have to see what they're charging on the RAL. We don't need the money right away, but we did need it last year, and went with the RAL...what a rip-off.

I also need to adjust my withholding rate with my current agency. I currently claim a 1, but I think I will adjust it to a 2. Given the amount of money I'm getting back this year, I'd rather have that money right now, instead of getting a check every March or April. And I can get some interest on that money if I get it now. Slang mentioned this before, I think...and it sounds like a good idea.

wolf · 02-09-2003, 02:59 PM

You're looking at a lose-lose situation Syc ... that's the only kind you ever get with taxes!

If you claim 2 ... you have less money withheld, and you might end up owing Uncle Sugar come next April ... ah, but you'll get to collect all that interest yourself right? Unless you are a stronger man than most, that little bit more you bring home each week is going to be spent on comic books and cigarettes and overpriced frothy caffeinated beverages anyway ...

If the gov't holds onto it for you, you do get it back, and you come away with the happy illusion that you've won. You get the pretty multi-color gubbermint check in your hand (I don't find direct deposit as satisfying, and since they aren't charging me extra for the live check, I go for it.)

YMMV, naturally. I dig the "whoo hoo, refund" illusion.

slang · 02-09-2003, 03:04 PM

Attention war protestors

If you are truly serious about altering policy and forcing changes to US policy, don't file your taxes. The system is bullshit from word go.

Cut the head from the beast you despise, eliminate unwanted, unnecessary foreign conflicts. Refuse to *file* your returns. Wage a civil war without violence that is effective and moral. This doesnt mean you wont pay the tax, but will bring attention to the "tool of obedience" that the return system is, so that we might adopt another system that is constitutional and more easily audit-able.

I can theoretically kill 1000 people and plead the fifth amendment in a court of law and not be required to submit testimony that will be used against me. How can it be then that I am "legally" required to submit a return every year the will *most certainly* be used against me? It's horse shit!

The current system exists (IMO) for one reason and one reason only. So that the gov't has the ability to fuck you around any time, for any reason with the guise that when they do, it only because you're trying to screw the system. It's a tool of obedience, no matter who you are, where you are, what color you are, what you do for a living , the IRS has the ability to temporarily (or pemanently) disrupt your life via this Nazi style system.

So I say to the war protestors and anti-Bush folks, change the focus of your mission to dismantling the system of tax collection and gov't accounting.

If they were even *whispering* this strategy, I'd be protesting with them holding a dumb ass sign, getting on the news (once again).

Sorry, I lose my mind this time of the year

elSicomoro · 02-09-2003, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wolf
Unless you are a stronger man than most, that little bit more you bring home each week is going to be spent on comic books and cigarettes and overpriced frothy caffeinated beverages anyway ...

I claimed 2 all of last year, and still got quite a bit back. I'm listed as a one with my current agency (since I registered with them 50-11 years ago), so I do want to adjust that.

I always hate what seems to happen when you make more money...you tend to spend more. We're bucking that trend so far in 2003...and that's how I want to keep it.

Quote:

YMMV, naturally. I dig the "whoo hoo, refund" illusion.

You should have one of those docs at the hospital check you out...you seem to be delusional.

I love Direct Deposit...besides, one of these days, the paper check will be almost gone. The gov has been trying to push SS recipients to go with it for about 4 years now (and will eventually switch over to an ATM-style card for those who don't want DD). And I would think tax refunds will go the same way eventually.

I will probably buy a couple of CDs with my refund, put a little in my savings account, then take the rest of it and pay down one of my CC's. That sounds good.

wolf · 02-09-2003, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sycamore
You should have one of those docs at the hospital check you out...you seem to be delusional.

Nah ... just a little paranoid, but no more than usual.

Every step we take that moves us closer to a cashless society increases the amount of government monitoring and control of the population.

Surely there are purchases that you'd rather have "off the books" ... booze, smokes, porn, seditious literature, ammo ... and I'm just talking legal products so far.

elSicomoro · 02-09-2003, 03:56 PM

Hmmm...at this point, not really. I don't deal in anything that could leave me open to investigation. Well, maybe I do...and so long as it's not used against me at this point, I'm not worried.

I'm not saying I disagree with you Wolf, but...

From my standpoint, so fucking what if I buy a Desert Eagle, a ton of ammo, a ton of porn, The Catcher in the Rye, pro-Nazi propaganda, and a case of Penn Dutch Egg Nog? What the fuck is the government going to do about it? It's not illegal (yet)...and worst case scenario is that the gov thinks I'm weird and tries to keep an eye on me. Good...then they'll discover that I lead a very boring life at this time.

wolf · 02-09-2003, 03:59 PM

get back to me on the day when said purchases affect your employability or insurability ... (I'm a long term paranoid, not merely a short-term one

) Incidentally, I already know I'm screwed if the big-brother world I envision comes to pass.

elSicomoro · 02-09-2003, 04:14 PM

Well, that's what I'm looking at too. Right now, it's not affecting me in those types of things, so I'm not worried...yet.

[conspiracy]Or is it?[/conspiracy]

wolf · 02-09-2003, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sycamore
[conspiracy]Or is it?[/conspiracy]

I dunno, but you're the one with the unsolicited Harriet Carter catalog in your mailbox ...

02-09-2003, 02:43 AM	#1
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Time to pay The Man Or to get money back from the Man, which should be the case with me. For non-Americans: I'm not sure how it is in other countries, but here in the US, we have to file our income taxes with the Internal Revenue Service (and in most states, with a state dept. of revenue) each year. Every January, our employers send us W-2 forms, showing our income and taxes paid for the year. (And if you have investments, you usually receive other forms that show how much money or interest you've made in a year, and the taxes paid, if any, on said money.) Once we get those forms, we have to fill out these ridiculous tax forms, which help determine that we've given enough money to the government. If we owe money, that money must be in the mail, postmarked by April 15th. So, I got all my forms finally last week. Ironically, the one I was waiting for was a 1099-G from the Commonwealth, showing how much money I got from unemployment. Slow-ass bastards. As most folks know, there are lots of options for doing your taxes. Best Buy has been hawking TurboTax with all these rebates and what not. But I can't justify getting that, especially with the changes in the tax codes every year. So, I decided to try using an e-file service this year. I used H & R Block last year (b/c, for some reason, I thought doing my taxes would be a pain in the ass), and wound up getting hosed big time. Fuck that... I've looked at a few of the e-file services, but many of them want you to download software. For some reason, I'm not cool with that. I prefer something that I can do online. So, I found one site that lets you do your taxes, shows the results, and only charges you if you print and send them electronically. It was fairly painless. They ask you 9 kabillion questions, and you have to fill in all the information you have in front of you, but then they easily compute the information. My only issue with the service was the price--$24.95. I'm seeing other ones out there that are cheaper--less than $10. But I'm not sure how reliable they are. What are some of you guys out there doing for your taxes? Using e-file? Going with paper? If you've used (or are using) e-file, do you have any recommendations...or warnings about some places?

02-09-2003, 08:07 AM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	My taxes are sufficiently simple (write down how much you make, make sure the gov't got half) that I use telefile for fed and state ... When I get around to it (which is usually April 13, even though I usually get a refund) I just gather the papers, pick up the phone, and let my fingers do the walking. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-09-2003, 12:41 PM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	So download the .pdf files from irs.gov, fill 'em in, print 'em out, and lick a stamp. Oh, I forgot. you don't have to lick stamps anymore ... well, you know what I mean ... I'd often rather blame any errors on my own incompetence with simple math and a calculator rather than overpriced software I have to rebuy next year ... Only reason I telefile is because I'm a total convenience hog. Otherwise, I'd still be filling out the paper forms. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-09-2003, 02:11 PM	#6
Dagney The Prodigal Brat Returneth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,107	Just a suggestion, but Yahoo uses the TurboTax engine on its Yahoo Finance site for electronic filing, and has some sort of arrangement set up for refund anticipation loans, you can do all different flavors of the 1040, and they're done and submitted in about 30 minutes. Dagney __________________ The Constitution gives every American the right to make a total fool out of himself. But that doesn't mean you need to.

02-09-2003, 02:59 PM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	You're looking at a lose-lose situation Syc ... that's the only kind you ever get with taxes! If you claim 2 ... you have less money withheld, and you might end up owing Uncle Sugar come next April ... ah, but you'll get to collect all that interest yourself right? Unless you are a stronger man than most, that little bit more you bring home each week is going to be spent on comic books and cigarettes and overpriced frothy caffeinated beverages anyway ... If the gov't holds onto it for you, you do get it back, and you come away with the happy illusion that you've won. You get the pretty multi-color gubbermint check in your hand (I don't find direct deposit as satisfying, and since they aren't charging me extra for the live check, I go for it.) YMMV, naturally. I dig the "whoo hoo, refund" illusion. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-09-2003, 11:25 AM	#3
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I can't use telefile anymore...student loan interest to claim.

02-09-2003, 12:47 PM	#5
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	My plan was to go ahead and do a paper version anyway, just to see if there is a difference between what I did online and on paper. The printer is out of commission though, so I'll have to hit the library.

02-09-2003, 02:35 PM	#7
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I'd have to see what they're charging on the RAL. We don't need the money right away, but we did need it last year, and went with the RAL...what a rip-off. I also need to adjust my withholding rate with my current agency. I currently claim a 1, but I think I will adjust it to a 2. Given the amount of money I'm getting back this year, I'd rather have that money right now, instead of getting a check every March or April. And I can get some interest on that money if I get it now. Slang mentioned this before, I think...and it sounds like a good idea.

02-09-2003, 03:04 PM	#9
slang St Petersburg, Florida Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,423	Attention war protestors If you are truly serious about altering policy and forcing changes to US policy, don't file your taxes. The system is bullshit from word go. Cut the head from the beast you despise, eliminate unwanted, unnecessary foreign conflicts. Refuse to file your returns. Wage a civil war without violence that is effective and moral. This doesnt mean you wont pay the tax, but will bring attention to the "tool of obedience" that the return system is, so that we might adopt another system that is constitutional and more easily audit-able. I can theoretically kill 1000 people and plead the fifth amendment in a court of law and not be required to submit testimony that will be used against me. How can it be then that I am "legally" required to submit a return every year the will most certainly be used against me? It's horse shit! The current system exists (IMO) for one reason and one reason only. So that the gov't has the ability to fuck you around any time, for any reason with the guise that when they do, it only because you're trying to screw the system. It's a tool of obedience, no matter who you are, where you are, what color you are, what you do for a living , the IRS has the ability to temporarily (or pemanently) disrupt your life via this Nazi style system. So I say to the war protestors and anti-Bush folks, change the focus of your mission to dismantling the system of tax collection and gov't accounting. If they were even whispering this strategy, I'd be protesting with them holding a dumb ass sign, getting on the news (once again). Sorry, I lose my mind this time of the year __________________ FTFF Last edited by slang; 02-09-2003 at 03:08 PM.

02-09-2003, 03:56 PM	#12
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Hmmm...at this point, not really. I don't deal in anything that could leave me open to investigation. Well, maybe I do...and so long as it's not used against me at this point, I'm not worried. I'm not saying I disagree with you Wolf, but... From my standpoint, so fucking what if I buy a Desert Eagle, a ton of ammo, a ton of porn, The Catcher in the Rye, pro-Nazi propaganda, and a case of Penn Dutch Egg Nog? What the fuck is the government going to do about it? It's not illegal (yet)...and worst case scenario is that the gov thinks I'm weird and tries to keep an eye on me. Good...then they'll discover that I lead a very boring life at this time.

02-09-2003, 03:59 PM	#13
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	get back to me on the day when said purchases affect your employability or insurability ... (I'm a long term paranoid, not merely a short-term one ) Incidentally, I already know I'm screwed if the big-brother world I envision comes to pass. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-09-2003, 04:14 PM	#14
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Well, that's what I'm looking at too. Right now, it's not affecting me in those types of things, so I'm not worried...yet. [conspiracy]Or is it?[/conspiracy]

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