Despite the good weather, I spent the day today working on my taxes (I have a terrible cold, so I just wasn't up to doing anything fun). If I wasn't sick before, I am certainly sick now.
I recognize an obligation to pay taxes. I believe it is part of the price of living in a free country.
However, when I think about the vast number of people who pay little or nothing in income taxes, I become angered. I am even more angered when I think about those portions of my taxes that (a) are wasted, (b) go to support people who are unwilling to contribute or who do not need support, (c) go to pay for things for which the government has no business involving itself, or (d) pay for services that should be paid for by state and local governments. Finally, I become angered when I realize that I am ineligible for many deductions and credits precisely because I pay a lot of taxes.
Personally, however, I am even more frustrated by the amount of time I need to invest to prepare the returns necessary for the privilege of paying taxes. Sure, I could pay someone else to do them, but that adds salt to the wounds suffered in paying the taxes in the first place. I hate to pay people for things that I am perfectly capable of doing myself.
4 comments:
I had my fair share of frustration this year as well. Due to some unfortunate circumstances last year, we had to take some measures I would have rather not. This affected the way we completed tax reforms.
Normally, we use the EZ forms, no money, no kids, no itemized deductions. It usually takes me 30 minutes tops, from gathering the forms to putting the stamp on the envelope.
This year, two and a half hours. Just because of two numbers. It took me about 45 minutes (and a lot of cussing) to just find out what lines they went on.
Capper, it sounds as if normally you enjoy the beauty of an uncluttered life. I unfortunately go through many hours of mind-numbing reporting - nothing fancy, no wacky deductions, just a lot of time invested because my life is not uncluttered. It happens with kids, a home, a business, savings, investments and so on. Shame on me for doing that kind of stuff. The government obviously has concluded that I should be punished.
Oh, and I forgot the time spent following up for things that did not come in the mail that are necessary for reporting. I love spending a half hour to gather a piece of paper to ensure that I can properly report $100 of interest.
This year, my taxes were easier than normal. I will have probably spent 20 hours gathering information and loading it on the computer. Last year, it was closer to 40 hours.
I do try to follow the KISS principle when possible. It does produce less stress.
Maybe that's why I'm liberal. No stress to make me grumpy and conservative. ;)
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