# Taxes done just in time - a Straight Dope Roll call **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036 "2012-04-17T13:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/21 "2012-04-17T18:26:59Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Slackers! Mine are done, filed electronically, and the refunds have already been deposited (and spent!) Same here. They were done in February. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/22 "2012-04-17T18:34:54Z")
Mailed them Monday morning, so they’ll have an April 16th Canadian postmark. I’m not sure if that counts for the IRS—I’m guess it takes a few days to get into the US system. Canadian taxes efiled in mid-March. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/23 "2012-04-17T18:36:04Z")
Mailed mine on Sunday evening. Getting a whole dollar back. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/24 "2012-04-17T18:59:59Z")
What I never understand is why some people wait to the deadline even if they’re getting a refund. If you owe taxes, of course it’s beneficial to wait. But if you’re getting money back, _what’s wrong with you_? Do you hate money? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/25 "2012-04-17T19:51:45Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Same here. Filed back at end of January got the return in February and the next day I mailed off checks for bills. Concur, largely. Except for the mailing off of checks. Electronic payments all around. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/26 "2012-04-17T19:57:32Z")
Mailed on Friday, with payments. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/27 "2012-04-17T20:04:24Z")
Did ours back in late February. Got the refunds a month later: feds were held up due to widespread delays, state was held up due to a misunderstanding over my now-closed employer tax account. Oh - and efiled using Turbo Tax (home version, not online). ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/28 "2012-04-17T21:44:55Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > What I never understand is why some people wait to the deadline even if they’re getting a refund. If you owe taxes, of course it’s beneficial to wait. But if you’re getting money back, _what’s wrong with you_? Do you hate money? Because through no fault of my own, the IRS snatches any refunds and puts it toward an old tax bill that I’m paying for my ex. So there’s no reason for me to get all excited- I never seen the money. Also, this year, unlike every other, I actually had to go into a brick-and-mortar place to have mine done. There were too many variables plus I had to file three state returns, and I wasn’t going to risk messing it up. So I put it off because I was annoyed at having to spend a lot of money to have someone else do my taxes, and STILL not get a refund. Ended up sticking it to the man, though- apparently you can have the cost of doing your taxes deducted from your refund. Cost of taxes = $403; amount of refund = $693. I didn’t have to pay anything, the Man got $290 more toward not-my-bill, and we’re all somewhat happy. Federal return and two state returns e-filed Friday night, final state return (because said state does not accept e-filing) sent out Monday night. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/29 "2012-04-17T21:50:21Z")
I filed for an extension. Still waiting on necessary documents from various inconsequential income sources. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/30 "2012-04-17T22:50:37Z")
I got mine done in early February. Not boasting, I didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter, as you can’t complete the goddamned FAFSA without your tax info. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/31 "2012-04-17T22:57:49Z")
We brought all our paperwork to our guy six weeks ago, and we only were able to sign off on it Friday. Then we got an email from him saying he needed to ammend it one more time. All over 40 shares of Yum! stocks. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/32 "2012-04-17T23:00:12Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > …Ended up sticking it to the man, though- apparently you can have the cost of doing your taxes deducted from your refund. Cost of taxes = $403; amount of refund = $693. I didn’t have to pay anything, the Man got $290 more toward not-my-bill, and we’re all somewhat happy… Well, The Man only got 290, which means you still owe the previous balance (less the 290), so The Man isn’t getting “stuck to”… just means they didn’t get as much now. Don’t forget that the 403 dollars is a deductible expense (if you itemize, and obviously subject to the 5% minimum or whatever is). Ouch on the ex’s tax bill though!!! ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/33 "2012-04-17T23:29:26Z")
Did mine on Sunday, mailed 'em on Monday. I didn’t owe anything this year, which is awesome because for the past two years I had to pay like $200. I’m getting about 80 bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/34 "2012-04-18T00:34:13Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Yes, I’m sure e-file is more convenient, but I like actual paper and stamp. Makes the whole process more concrete. Last year I paper-filed my state taxes, because I resented paying Turbo Tax extra to do it. This year we efiled, since with two schedule Cs, lots of charitable deductions, and all sorts of other stuff, it was almost cheaper to efile than use all that paper, ink and postage to print a gigantic stack of forms for filing. I’ve taken to printing only the essential parts and burning a CD with PDFs for the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/35 "2012-04-18T01:14:31Z")
Well, I was one day early, mailed them off yesterday, on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/36 "2012-04-18T01:16:58Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Mailed mine Monday morning. First time in years that I’ve completed and mailed my return prior to the due date. I always end up owing a bit, and I’ve deluded myself into thinking I’ve somehow stuck to The Man by hanging on to the money (a whopping $68 this year) until the last possible moment. > > Yes, I’m sure e-file is more convenient, but I like actual paper and stamp. Makes the whole process more concrete. > > I know, I’m full of quirk. I thought I was the last person on Earth who actually prefers to do their taxes on paper! Glad to see I’m not the only one. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/37 "2012-04-18T01:22:33Z")
Mine were done in February. I try to pay close attention all year to be sure I’ll get a refund. I hate having to pay and I’ve only had to do it once. This year will be difficult since we opened the deli. I have no idea how to do self employment taxes. One more thing to get educated about. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/38 "2012-04-18T02:15:41Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > US-centric… still got a couple of weeks to go here 🙂 Well I dropped mine and my wife’s off at Place Desjardins and the federal building this morning. Probably saved $20 in postage. Still have a US joint return to file, although I have till June 15. The free software I used kept reporting the most idiotic errors and refused to efile. It was worth more than I paid for it, but not much more. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/39 "2012-04-18T02:19:32Z")
Got mine in today! Whew! (What the heck took me so long this year?) ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036/40 "2012-04-18T02:35:53Z")
Finished my taxes on Sunday-getting big refund because I made quarterly tax payments based on the percentage I used for 2010. I knew 2011 had been a bad year from a financial standpoint, but I did not realize just how bad it had been. (Denial is more than just a river in Egypt) Total income minus business expenses minus itemized deductions=number so small that no federal taxes were due! Only had to pay self-employment tax on total income. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-done-just-in-time-a-straight-dope-roll-call/619036.md?page=3)