# So, who still hasn't done their taxes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201 "2006-04-11T06:18:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/21 "2006-04-11T19:03:36Z")
Pfft. I did my taxes over a year ago. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/22 "2006-04-11T19:44:51Z")
Normally I don’t do them until the last day, get all stressed out and have to sit in a traffic line at the post office just beating the clock. This year we found a CPA, ex IRS, who came out to our house, loooked at last year’s return, asked a few questions, plugged some numbers and then a day or so later mailed us everything we needed to send in. Knocked 4 grand off what we paid from last year and all it took was an hour and a quarter of our time and $150. Stress free, baby. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/23 "2006-04-11T20:01:49Z")
I’ve done 2005s taxes, but I’ve got to do 2004 again due to a fuckup on my Uncle’s part on an estate capital loss form. Oh well, losses mean money back. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/24 "2006-04-11T20:12:25Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] This year we found a CPA, ex IRS, who came out to our house, loooked at last year’s return, asked a few questions, plugged some numbers and then a day or so later mailed us everything we needed to send in. Knocked 4 grand off what we paid from last year and all it took was an hour and a quarter of our time and $150. Stress free, baby. [/QUOTE] Good find. You ought to have him look at your returns for the last couple years and file amended returns. He might be able to knock that 4 grand off of last year’s return as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/25 "2006-04-11T20:18:46Z")
I did mine yesterday. I’m getting money back, which is a big relief for me because it’s been tight lately. Now I don’t have to worry about my car insurance! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/26 "2006-04-11T21:36:23Z")
Done. Amazingly, I’m getting a Federal refund. But I owe $49 to California. I only need to put it in the mail. (Of course, the accountant’s fee is more than my refund. But it was worth it.) ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/27 "2006-04-11T21:37:52Z")
I _think_ I don’t have to do mine this year. I only made $1100 and no taxes were taken out…I don’t even have a W-2 form on file with my “employer” (I’m a full-time volunteer who receives an $80/month living stipend). My dad (my amateur tax consultant) recommends that I file anyway just so They know I didn’t make hardly anything, but I really don’t want to bother. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/28 "2006-04-11T22:06:30Z")
Just did mine & mailed them off yesterday. Getting a small refund, but it’s better than owing , like I did last year. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/29 "2006-04-12T00:04:03Z")
Me, but Canadians have until the end of April, so no worries yet. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/30 "2006-04-12T00:06:03Z")
I pay taxes in two countries. I need at least a 2-month lead in case something goes wrong. And typically, something does. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/31 "2006-04-12T00:12:05Z")
Right now I’m trying to sort out the relative logistical burden of: 1. Gathering up a 1040, W-2, receipts, _and_ other paperwork necessary to file my taxes. 2. Faking my own death. At this point I’m leaning slightly towards number two. Sucks to be whoever has to do them for my estate! Mom? ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/32 "2006-04-12T02:41:04Z")
Unbelieveable: a Dope thread that has actually inspired me to do work: You’ll all be happy to hear that I called a guy that knows a guy that can fake my death! Actually, I seem to have done by taxes. I don’t know what happened. I woke up confused. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/33 "2006-04-12T03:18:00Z")
[QUOTE=Yllaria] Also, I’m getting a **return** so the irs doesn’t care when I turn the forms in. It’s only folks who owe that have a real deadline. [/QUOTE] (bolding added) PEEVE ALERT! A tax **return** is the form you fill out. Your **refund** is the money you get back, if you’re lucky. A friend of mine is always talking about how she’s going to spend her tax return, or how she’s waiting for her tax return to come in. Makes me want to slap her upside the head. I’ve politely corrected her, but it doesn’t sink in. To address the OP: I always do mine right away at the end of January – and by “do” I mean wrap up my bookkeeping and take the mess to H&R. With two businesses I just don’t have the time or inclination to do the taxes myself – the bookkeeping is bad enough, and if I could see a way to outsource that too, I would, but my methods are too half-assed for anyone else to see. I get the taxes done early so that in case we need to pay in, as happens sometimes, we have time to come up with the cash. I have, however, skipping getting my quarterly estimate done for January through March. Just gonna send in 20% of gross and have H&R fix it up at the end of the next quarter. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/34 "2006-04-12T03:48:46Z")
I just did mine. I’m in the same boat as Spectre of Pithecanthropus, so it didn’t take long. I owe $250. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/35 "2006-04-12T05:49:12Z")
I did mine a month or so ago. Since they owe me money, I have a feeling that my tax refund will be a long time coming ☹ Only a few bucks, but its mine and I want to spend it! ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/36 "2006-04-12T06:13:34Z")
We’ve been “doing” them year-round, really, what with the planning and the setting aside and the quarterly payments and the spreadsheets and the marking things according to their deductibility and the saving of receipts, but Mr. Legend and I sat down with the whole unruly mess the IRS calls “instructions” and ground out all the paperwork over the weekend. I filed the state return and first-quarter estimated tax payment online. I even (grudgingly) put a stamp on the federal return yesterday and actually mailed it today just so I wouldn’t have the chance to lose it in the shuffle before Monday. This afternoon, I fished the federal estimated tax forms out of the bowels of my desk and I’ll be mailing that check by the end of the week. We’ve considered hiring someone to do our return, which is much more complicated than that of the average household but probably less complicated than that of the average sole proprietorship. However, given that we’re both somewhat compulsive, we would feel the need to completely recheck the preparer’s calculations and assumptions. And given the dismal accuracy rate of places like H&R Block, we decided we might as well just do it ourselves. I think tax preparation may have become our hobby. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201/37 "2006-04-12T07:25:44Z")
me :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-still-hasnt-done-their-taxes/352201.md?page=1)