counting the beans......

Yup, it's here again. My my, how time goes by so fast when you're having fun, huh? Just when you think things are on an even path, it's time to fill out those confusing tax forms. For most people, the forms will be the 1040EZ... but not for me. I have to hire a CPA to do mine, as they are so complicated, and I am so mathematically and directionally challenged.

That I have made simple mistakes in the past that cost dearly, I no longer rely on the handy adding machine that sits on my desk. Let that be the problem of the accountant. Besides, they are up to date on all the new tax laws, which would require me to stay awake through long passages of boring materiel to read. If you think they simplify the instructions for you, then think again. You not only need a "dummies" book to get through the initial instructions, you need a "dummies" book to get through the first "dummies" book. Personally I am under the belief that the government gets a kick out of complicating things further for you. I can just imagine the IRS agents that sit at their desks looking over the forms we send them, and laughing over our inability to put things in the correct spaces. Laughing to the point that might end up costing you dearly on penalties and interest., as well as red flagging you for audits in the future. Believe me, once you are on the audit list, you are on it for life. (It's kind of like the jury duty lists.)

It all seemed so simple when I did my first tax return back in the 70's. Living in New Hampshire, I only had one form to fill out, as the state had no sales taxes. Grabbing a 1040 form, and getting advise from everyone I knew that was well versed on government tax processes, I filled it out in a matter of minutes and mailed it along. Within a month, I got my first check back in the mail. Oh joy, I thought, this was one easy process, so what me worry? Ha! The joke would be on me in enough years to come. Not only did the tax laws change and modify (which was ok), but moving to Georgia meant that I now had to fill out state forms. Ok..... I managed that with little to no problem.

Then there was the challenge of forms I butted up against when I became owner of my own business. No more 1040's for me, and no more W-4's either. I was introduced to the world of 1065's and K-1's. (yeah, I had the same reaction... what the heck was all this?) Not steady on my brain of such numbers or procedures, I hired an accountant to handle it all for me. I gave him the explanation that I cook the beans, not count them. After he hooked me up with a wonderful bookkeeper who could make sure my quicken files were always straightened out, we enjoyed eight wonderful years of solved tax filing.

Last year, my CPA retired, and I was on the lookout for someone who could fill the void I had so easily not concerned myself with. Well I found her, but she does not come without a cost (to the point of $900.00, just for the business taxes.... I can't wait to see what she'll charge for my personal ones). Being that this is her first year with me, she had to plow through the last three years of forms (business and personal) and I can conclude that it took some time for her to do so. She did send me a tax organizer to fill out, to the tune of 50+ pages. This was a bit confusing in itself, but next year she'll have all my information in the right areas so that I can fill it out without all the extra notes I had to write in, as I wasn't sure where everything really went. Yeah, I got the name and social security numbers in the right place, but I have a mountain of deductions that all had their own pages... some of which were similar to different pages of the organizer. Calling her, I asked where I should put "x" deduction. No problem, she said, just put it down on page "y" and she'll figure it out. Well that's comforting, if nothing else about the process is. I also enjoy the fact that I can call her, and she doesn't charge by the minute. All questions are free, as well as time on the phone with her.

My son will be filing his first 1040 this year. In a way, I almost envy him, but not quite. Since he has no idea what it's all about (other than he made too little for the government to keep very much of it), he is looking to me to help him through the process. Not confident that I am still versed in the tax methods, I'm counting on help from my bookkeeper. She on the other hand is happy to do it if I can pay her off in lasagna and banana bread. Such a deal, huh?