Saturday, January 31, 2009

Calculating Woman

*phew*

I just finished doing my taxes. I like being able to do the whole process online, and then checking my bank account balance in a couple of weeks to find that Uncle Sam has made a deposit. If there are no snafus, this year's refund will hit the books just days before my car insurance payment is due. Again, *phew*!

In a former life, I worked at an accounting firm and during tax time I got a fair idea of how much different professions paid. I also saw that, other than during the months of January through April, the CPA's in the office did relatively little work, and thus briefly entertained the idea of pursuing that career. Three weeks into Accounting 101, however, I changed my mind. I am more the creative sort, anyway -- and we've all seen how trouble can befall financial professionals who express their creative sides.

14 comments:

  1. I always end up paying a little bit. I don't even bother with our GST rebate or the Ontario Tax Credit, as I never get either one. It makes filing that much simpler :-)

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  2. Ok, you knew I couldn't pass this up.

    Sooooooooo, the career plan just didn't add up, huh?

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  3. On another note. Since we don't have PM here at blogspot, the only way I can communicate with you is through your comment section. This is a post I think you'll find interesting: http://areyouhappynownormanmailer.wordpress.com/

    It very eloquently verbalizes something I've been thinking for a while.

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  4. I hope I get a tax refund this year. Love those!

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  5. Doug, at least you guys get more goodies than we do for the taxes we pay.

    jaded, was that you I had the pun-laden comment thread about fish with? I mean, was that you with whom I had the pun-laden comment thread about fish?
    I enjoyed the link, but could not stop myself from commenting about the misused apostrophe in the paragraph about apostrophes. (Oh, and you may e-mail intelliwench at gmail dot com if you need to!)

    Kate, refunds are like a belated Christmas bonus for me. If I am ever lucky enough to one day make too much money to get anything back, I'll have mixed feelings!

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  6. Where are the fish which with I punned at?

    As much as I hate to say this, I have to say...God almighty you make me bellow.

    Yes, I made a mental note, which included you, about the apostrophe.

    You did not let me down.

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  7. Yes...the tax thingy. We filed pronto monto electronically last week, after getting our last W2. Our refund will be in our skinny little bank account next Friday. We plan to have it spent Thursday night after our annual trek to Red Lobster...which means, I can dispense with my fish oil tablets for one day! Hot damn, y'all.

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  8. jaded, on my JS blog I posted a photo of a live bait vending machine, but referred to it as a low-carb snacking opportunity. If it wasn't you, it was randomblather who carped on and on about the topic . . .

    We're going to go to Makoto's - the Japanese version of Red Lobster - when my refund comes through. (And I recommend the lemon-flavored fish oil capsules!)

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  9. Caught. It was me...and my guppy. A highlight of my JS experience, I might add.

    You have a Japanese restaurant in Bubbaland? that's more than I can say for Huskerville.

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  10. I am in much the same situation. I got my 1099 yesterday and I need to go ahead and file online because I have some serious bills coming due at the end of February and the first of March. I've always done my own taxes. My situation isn't complex, and I'm good at math, and I'm enough of a control freak that I don't think I could fully trust someone else to do them.

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  11. Oh gosh - YOU as an accountant?!? You have far better - dare I say, SUPERIOR - things to bring to this word and I don't think numbers are it. Besides, you don't want to end up like ALL OLD ACCOUNTANTS, do you?

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  12. Mary, if you ever can afford to have someone look over your taxes, it might be worth it; the tax laws change all the time (another reason why I didn't want to do the CPA thing). The Farm Bureau actually does free tax prep - and membership only costs $25/year. The best thing is that you don't have to actually be a farmer to join.

    Tuesday, tell me -- exactly what happens to all old accountants?

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  13. that's interesting. i've been a member of farm bureau for about 15 years, and i never knew that.

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  14. Oops, Mary - I just learned I had old data -- they do charge, but I think it's a minimal fee.

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