Retirement is a week filled with Saturdays and Sundays interrupted only occasionally by a holiday.

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Monday, March 19, 2007

Taxes, Bloody Taxes

After much procrastination, Hubby finally sat down yesterday to do our taxes. He has always prided himself on his ability to do our taxes without the help of an accountant (or a tax preparation software package...think TurboTax) and this year is no different. He took all the documents, check registers, blank forms, calculator, blank paper, and pencils to the kitchen table and began the arduous task of filling in the blanks. I'm always amazed as he works through this system he's set up using last year's completed forms as a guide along with a worksheet he completes with all our earnings, interest, and deductions listed and added carefully. Then he proceeds to bury his head in the federal and state booklets looking for changes in instructions and calculations from last year's returns. From there, he prepares a draft of our federal and state tax forms with all the pertinent information filled in.

So where do I come in? My role is to review everything to make sure there are no errors. This year, thank goodness, everything seemed to fall right into place. All I had to do was fill in the final forms (since I have the better handwriting); we signed the forms; I wrote the check to the Feds (yes, we owe them this year while the State owes us); we attached all the forms and then sealed them in the envelopes. This morning Hubby took the envelopes to the Post Office and, for yet another year, our taxes are done...hooray!!!

Now...how about yours???

12 comments:

Renee Nefe said...

My DH does it all w/o software too. Last year we were offered free software...so he did it all by hand and then filed online with the free software...this year we were offered free software again, but it was a different brand. Since he didn't want to learn yet another system...he just did it by hand. I think we sent it out two maybe three weeks ago. It will be direct deposited, so I'll never see it.

Yes, Lilly is a girl and she's wearing one of Darly's tutus. It's one of the kinds that are ribbons tied to elastic waist and fabric roses are glued to the ends. Darly loves dressing up Lilly, who is a great sport for all of 3 seconds and then undresses as quickly as she can.

Funny, your sister asked what that was too. LOL

Joan said...

Renee: I've tried to get Hubby to consider filing online but he's way too old-fashioned.

I think both Lynn and I are amazed that you managed to get a photo of Lilly with the tutu still on. I was wondering whether it was some special doggie outfit that dogs actually like...I've yet to come across one, that's for sure.

Pam said...

Congrats on finishing the taxes. Ours are done and the refund has already been deposited! A benefit of being married to my bean counter husband -- he always does it early.

Midlife Mom said...

Ours aren't done as yet. I think the accountant has everything but with the businesses it takes quite awhile to do. My Redesign business was easy, I only did one house this past year so my stuff was a snap! I save EVERYTHING so it's pretty easy for me to get things ready for the accountant, she loves me! lol!

Anonymous said...

mine are done and both the fed and state are in the profit side this year thanks to my house, surgery and all those clothes donations.

jaded said...

Congrats on a job well done. I started collecting papers and checking on MIA documents this week. The Mister is more than happy to have his accountant to the dirty work next week : )

Lynn said...

Went to the accountant today. He's such a nice guy, but I find I always have a stomach ache when I'm preparing to see him (must be due to my non-existent filing system). (sigh)

Patti said...

Spouse will be doing it online this year. I will stay out of the room.

Joan said...

Pam: I'm so envious...your very own bean counter...I want one too!!! ;-)

Midlife mom: My husband uses a big manila envelope to store all our receipts, tax related documents and forms as we get them. Without his organizational skills, we'd be in one heck of a mess.

Only oldest: Lucky you!!!

Patches: I'm beginning to think using an accountant would really be a great idea...wonder how I can get Hubby to agree next year.

Lynn: That's what big manila envelopes are for...see my comment to Midlife mom! Without Hubby, I'd be lost. This inability to file must be in our genes.

Joan said...

Patti: I wish your hubby could convince my hubby to do the online filing...it would be so much easier. Of course, in our case, Hubby would expect ME to actually do the online part...he's so computer phobic!

Iamthebookworm said...

I LOVE the software. I plug in all the little numbers where they tell me too. Plus I got my refund in a little over a week.

Joan said...

Iamthebookworm: OK...you have me convinced. Between now and next tax season, I am going to find a way to shove Hubby into the 21st Century even if I have to drag him kicking and screaming.