I'm not a procrastinator who waits until April 15th at 11:59 pm to send in my tax return. I usually have mine done and in the mail by late February. And I have never had to send the IRS a check. Actually, I usually get a decent refund, despite the fact that I take every possible exemption on my W-4. Even so, I hate tax season and I'm sorry to see it here again.
My problem is that I resent the fact that I have to do anything - anything at all - to get my money back. I shouldn't have to lift a finger. That's my money and the process of having it returned to me should be effortless on my part.
Instead, I, in effect, have to perform uncompensated work for the federal government when I sit down to do my taxes. That amounts to about three hours every year. I know that doesn't sound like much, compared to how much time some people have to spend on tax preparation, but it's still three hours of my time that I could otherwise use for something more pleasurable.
With a sales tax as a replacement for the federal income tax, that number would drop to zero. A flat tax would be almost as good, taking my time spent down to about 15 minutes. But I'm not going to hold my breath for either of those potential improvements in the tax code.
Of course, I could always pay to have someone do my taxes for me. However, that comes with a price tag and I refuse to spend money to have someone else do something that I could very easily do. That's one of the few things that I can do for myself. I've been doing my own taxes since I was 18. I usually have to call in an expensive expert for anything else that needs to be done around the house.
I've often been asked why I don't use software to aid in my tax preparation or utilize e-filing. I prefer to do my taxes the old-fashioned way - with pen, paper, and a calculator. Software and e-filing may be faster but neither of these is free of charge. In addition, no tax software, regardless of how technologically advanced, is completely intuitive. That means I would have to read a set of instructions to learn how to use it. As a general rule, I don't do instructions.
For some people, getting that refund each year is such a thrill that they don't mind doing their own taxes or paying to having them done. For me, though, even a refund of $20,000 would not be all that exciting. I'm not impressed with money when I'm on the receiving end. After all, what has money ever done for me? Now when I have to pay it out, however, that's a completely different story. I'll fret over what I feel is an unnecessary expenditure of ten cents.
My problem is that I resent the fact that I have to do anything - anything at all - to get my money back. I shouldn't have to lift a finger. That's my money and the process of having it returned to me should be effortless on my part.
Instead, I, in effect, have to perform uncompensated work for the federal government when I sit down to do my taxes. That amounts to about three hours every year. I know that doesn't sound like much, compared to how much time some people have to spend on tax preparation, but it's still three hours of my time that I could otherwise use for something more pleasurable.
With a sales tax as a replacement for the federal income tax, that number would drop to zero. A flat tax would be almost as good, taking my time spent down to about 15 minutes. But I'm not going to hold my breath for either of those potential improvements in the tax code.
Of course, I could always pay to have someone do my taxes for me. However, that comes with a price tag and I refuse to spend money to have someone else do something that I could very easily do. That's one of the few things that I can do for myself. I've been doing my own taxes since I was 18. I usually have to call in an expensive expert for anything else that needs to be done around the house.
I've often been asked why I don't use software to aid in my tax preparation or utilize e-filing. I prefer to do my taxes the old-fashioned way - with pen, paper, and a calculator. Software and e-filing may be faster but neither of these is free of charge. In addition, no tax software, regardless of how technologically advanced, is completely intuitive. That means I would have to read a set of instructions to learn how to use it. As a general rule, I don't do instructions.
For some people, getting that refund each year is such a thrill that they don't mind doing their own taxes or paying to having them done. For me, though, even a refund of $20,000 would not be all that exciting. I'm not impressed with money when I'm on the receiving end. After all, what has money ever done for me? Now when I have to pay it out, however, that's a completely different story. I'll fret over what I feel is an unnecessary expenditure of ten cents.