Comments on: Hate To File Taxes? Tell Me About It. http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/ Paying taxes is painful... but reading about them shouldn't be. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:33:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Current taxgirl giveaways and contests | taxgirl http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-9661 Current taxgirl giveaways and contests | taxgirl Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:17:03 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-9661 [...] Individual taxpayers can win software. Contest ended 2/28. [...] [...] Individual taxpayers can win software. Contest ended 2/28. [...]

]]> By: Steve http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-9175 Steve Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:51:19 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-9175 Here is my horror story last year last day to file in order to receive stimulus check. I get a cell phone call two hours before midnight , just as i am about to have a " barley pop" and call it night. frantic voice can you file our taxes? We have them ready. Me being nice guy drive to pick up the have them ready. Well have them ready is everything for their personal return ,plus business return in a series of envelopes and loose paper. I knew i should have had that "barley poop" before i took the call, got the personal return e-filed with 30seconds to spare. Next day they tell me oh we wouldn't have gotten the stimulus check anyway...IRS is taking it for back taxes!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is my horror story last year last day to file in order to receive stimulus check. I get a cell phone call two hours before midnight , just as i am about to have a ” barley pop” and call it night. frantic voice can you file our taxes? We have them ready. Me being nice guy drive to pick up the have them ready. Well have them ready is everything for their personal return ,plus business return in a series of envelopes and loose paper. I knew i should have had that “barley poop” before i took the call, got the personal return e-filed with 30seconds to spare. Next day they tell me oh we wouldn’t have gotten the stimulus check anyway…IRS is taking it for back taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Colin http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-9174 Colin Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:40:43 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-9174 My tax horror story is probably going to turn out to be this year's. Part way through the year, the LLC I am an owner of stopped paying me on payroll (with deductions) and started paying me with straight-up checks. I made quarterly payments some of the quarters but forgot others. Plus, the company earned a profit so I'm going to have to pay my share on that. And finally, for some confusing reason, all the deducted taxes that I *thought* I paid when I *was* on payroll were refunded to me in one lump sum. To make matters worse, I never paid quarterly Philadelphia wage taxes. I was hoping to save money and prepare my taxe return myself this year. But I have a feeling I'll end up paying a professional. My tax horror story is probably going to turn out to be this year’s. Part way through the year, the LLC I am an owner of stopped paying me on payroll (with deductions) and started paying me with straight-up checks. I made quarterly payments some of the quarters but forgot others. Plus, the company earned a profit so I’m going to have to pay my share on that. And finally, for some confusing reason, all the deducted taxes that I *thought* I paid when I *was* on payroll were refunded to me in one lump sum. To make matters worse, I never paid quarterly Philadelphia wage taxes. I was hoping to save money and prepare my taxe return myself this year. But I have a feeling I’ll end up paying a professional.

]]> By: mari http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-9173 mari Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:44:15 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-9173 Filing your own taxes can be a headache, next year I am going to use the FREE software to manage my deductions : TurboTax ItsDeductible Online (http://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/itsdeductible/) Filing your own taxes can be a headache, next year I am going to use the FREE software to manage my deductions : TurboTax ItsDeductible Online (http://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/itsdeductible/)

]]> By: Don’t Miss Your Chance to Win TurboTax Software | taxgirl http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-9170 Don’t Miss Your Chance to Win TurboTax Software | taxgirl Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:48:27 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-9170 [...] It’s fun and easy to enter… Hop on over to the original post for details. [...] [...] It’s fun and easy to enter… Hop on over to the original post for details. [...]

]]> By: abigail http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-9165 abigail Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:55:06 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-9165 Ok, so, here's my story. There's a possiblity that others have a story just as bad, but, I doubt it. First, the basic facts: I'm a single female, 36, with two jobs, living in Southern California. I don't have any dependants. I took my collection of W2s into the place where I get my taxes done, excited because I knew that I was going to put my tax return for my moving expenses to England. I have one from a former job, and of course, 2 others for my current jobs. The total combined income came to around $22,000. I claimed "0" for two of the jobs, and "1" for the job i am paid the most, a restuarant. I have never had any idea what claiming 1 or 0 means to my life, but, I do now! So, the woman gets to punching the stuff into her computer, and she says that because I recieved the $600 stimulus last year, I wouldn't be getting anything at all. And, to make things worse, I have to pay the US government $59 and the State of California $62! She gave me a W4 form, saying that maybe I could give it to the employer where I claimed "1" and have them send me out a new W2. And, on top of all of that, she was going to charge me about $200! I was near tears! (I asked my supervisor at work tonight, about the W4 situation, and she said that it wouldn't be possible for this year, it would only be effective for next year. ) The lady felt sorry for me, because I was stunned and about to cry, so, she let the session be a "free consultation session", and gave me a bunch of flyers to put up at work, to advertise them, because they were having a special for teachers. And she gave me a coupon toward my session when I returned. So, I left the tax preparer's place, feeling like I'd been kicked by 1,000 stallions , in the gut. With the prospect of not getting any money back from the government, and instead having to pay them. I've never paid taxes in my life! I've always gotten something back! What should I do? Please help! Thanks for letting me vent. Hopefully, even if I don't win or anything, you are able to give me some concrete advice so that I can get out of this mess. Ok, so, here’s my story. There’s a possiblity that others have a story just as bad, but, I doubt it.
First, the basic facts: I’m a single female, 36, with two jobs, living in Southern California. I don’t have any dependants.

I took my collection of W2s into the place where I get my taxes done, excited because I knew that I was going to put my tax return for my moving expenses to England.

I have one from a former job, and of course, 2 others for my current jobs. The total combined income came to around $22,000. I claimed “0″ for two of the jobs, and “1″ for the job i am paid the most, a restuarant. I have never had any idea what claiming 1 or 0 means to my life, but, I do now!

So, the woman gets to punching the stuff into her computer, and she says that because I recieved the $600 stimulus last year, I wouldn’t be getting anything at all. And, to make things worse, I have to pay the US government $59 and the State of California $62! She gave me a W4 form, saying that maybe I could give it to the employer where I claimed “1″ and have them send me out a new W2.
And, on top of all of that, she was going to charge me about $200! I was near tears!
(I asked my supervisor at work tonight, about the W4 situation, and she said that it wouldn’t be possible for this year, it would only be effective for next year. )

The lady felt sorry for me, because I was stunned and about to cry, so, she let the session be a “free consultation session”, and gave me a bunch of flyers to put up at work, to advertise them, because they were having a special for teachers. And she gave me a coupon toward my session when I returned. So, I left the tax preparer’s place, feeling like I’d been kicked by 1,000 stallions , in the gut. With the prospect of not getting any money back from the government, and instead having to pay them. I’ve never paid taxes in my life! I’ve always gotten something back!

What should I do? Please help!

Thanks for letting me vent. Hopefully, even if I don’t win or anything, you are able to give me some concrete advice so that I can get out of this mess.

]]> By: I’m a Giver (and I mean it) | taxgirl http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-9135 I’m a Giver (and I mean it) | taxgirl Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:40:30 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-9135 [...] Individual taxpayers can win software. [...] [...] Individual taxpayers can win software. [...]

]]> By: Karyn http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-8989 Karyn Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:54:12 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-8989 We've moved a lot in 31 years of marriage (I got married when I was 18). Actually we've moved 26 times. The worst tax year was when we lived in three different states in one year. I always (love to) do our taxes. It's like a big puzzle. But that year was a nightmare. We had to fill out three different partial-year residents state forms. I was unaware that individual states can count a partial year differently! So one state counted income by where it was earned (they only taxed what you earned in their state). But another state counted income based on the percentage of time in the state (so if you lived there 45% of the year, they "claimed" taxes on 45% of your total year income, even if you made significantly more money in another state and hardly any money in their state)! Juggling three state returns was crazy. What was most discouraging was the realization that we had paid taxes more than once on the same income because of the different ways the states calculated their "fair share." While that wasn't incentive enough for us to permanently put down roots, we try not to live in more than two states in one year, or try to move on 12/31 to avoid another multiple-state filing year! We’ve moved a lot in 31 years of marriage (I got married when I was 18). Actually we’ve moved 26 times. The worst tax year was when we lived in three different states in one year. I always (love to) do our taxes. It’s like a big puzzle. But that year was a nightmare. We had to fill out three different partial-year residents state forms. I was unaware that individual states can count a partial year differently! So one state counted income by where it was earned (they only taxed what you earned in their state). But another state counted income based on the percentage of time in the state (so if you lived there 45% of the year, they “claimed” taxes on 45% of your total year income, even if you made significantly more money in another state and hardly any money in their state)! Juggling three state returns was crazy. What was most discouraging was the realization that we had paid taxes more than once on the same income because of the different ways the states calculated their “fair share.” While that wasn’t incentive enough for us to permanently put down roots, we try not to live in more than two states in one year, or try to move on 12/31 to avoid another multiple-state filing year!

]]> By: Joan http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-8778 Joan Sun, 08 Feb 2009 03:49:34 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-8778 I am a 70 year old widow, retired Federal employee now working full-time in another line of work, and never had any problems with my tax returns - until last year. My tax preparer filed my federal and state returns on time. However, for the first time I owed to both but did not have the funds to send the amounts owing. I told my tax preparer to indicate that I wanted to pay the amounts in installments. My NYS tax owing was small and I was able to pay it in one shot. My tax preparer told me I would receive a notice from the IRS. I assumed that the notice would arrive within a few weeks or a month. When I hadn't heard from the IRS within a month I tried calling the 1-800 number I had been given but, as is typical with government numbers, I never got through to them. I then found out that the local IRS office had been closed and the nearest office is in Albany, NY, 200 miles away. I tried calling them to no avail. Finally I wrote to the IRS office where my taxes had been filed, explaining that I had requested to pay in installments and how much I could afford to pay each month, but had not as yet received a notice from them. I never heard from the IRS until approximately 5 months later (December 2008) at which time they sent me notice of amount owing plus penalty and interest. They did deduct the $600 stimulas amount from the amount I owed which lowered the it. By now I was a nervous wreck. But the nervousness turned to anger when I read on the notice that the penalty and interest is charged on the original amount owing and will keep accumulating each month based on the original amount. I find that unethical and do not understand how they can do that. Plus I had made a real effort to get started on making the payments but they took over 5 months to get the notice to me so I was charged with those extra months. I dread filing my 2008 return because in all probability I will owe again and have not yet been able to pay off the amount for 2007 because of the penalty and interest which keep adding up each month. I have tried unsuccessfully to borrow the money to pay it off. If I were dealing with a corporation I could probably legally fight it but with the IRS no one wins. Thanks for letting me vent. I am a 70 year old widow, retired Federal employee now working full-time in another line of work, and never had any problems with my tax returns – until last year. My tax preparer filed my federal and state returns on time. However, for the first time I owed to both but did not have the funds to send the amounts owing. I told my tax preparer to indicate that I wanted to pay the amounts in installments. My NYS tax owing was small and I was able to pay it in one shot. My tax preparer told me I would receive a notice from the IRS. I assumed that the notice would arrive within a few weeks or a month. When I hadn’t heard from the IRS within a month I tried calling the 1-800 number I had been given but, as is typical with government numbers, I never got through to them. I then found out that the local IRS office had been closed and the nearest office is in Albany, NY, 200 miles away. I tried calling them to no avail. Finally I wrote to the IRS office where my taxes had been filed, explaining that I had requested to pay in installments and how much I could afford to pay each month, but had not as yet received a notice from them. I never heard from the IRS until approximately 5 months later (December 2008) at which time they sent me notice of amount owing plus penalty and interest. They did deduct the $600 stimulas amount from the amount I owed which lowered the it. By now I was a nervous wreck. But the nervousness turned to anger when I read on the notice that the penalty and interest is charged on the original amount owing and will keep accumulating each month based on the original amount. I find that unethical and do not understand how they can do that. Plus I had made a real effort to get started on making the payments but they took over 5 months to get the notice to me so I was charged with those extra months. I dread filing my 2008 return because in all probability I will owe again and have not yet been able to pay off the amount for 2007 because of the penalty and interest which keep adding up each month. I have tried unsuccessfully to borrow the money to pay it off. If I were dealing with a corporation I could probably legally fight it but with the IRS no one wins. Thanks for letting me vent.

]]> By: Lori http://www.taxgirl.com/hate-to-file-taxes-tell-me-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-8776 Lori Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:21:12 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2221#comment-8776 Last year I was supposed to get money back from both state and federal. Not much, because I'm married without children. I e-filed and got direct deposit. I got my federal back pretty quickly, but it took forever to get my state. I never saw it deposited into my account. I called my bank and asked about it, and I called the state and asked about it. State said they deposited it on a certain day, the bank said they never rec'd it, so I kept checking. About a week later I called the bank again and she told me that it was deposited in my account on this day which would be right. But I could never find the record of it, and I couldn't remember spending almost $500. Still a year later I don't know what happened to that money. Last year I was supposed to get money back from both state and federal. Not much, because I’m married without children. I e-filed and got direct deposit. I got my federal back pretty quickly, but it took forever to get my state. I never saw it deposited into my account. I called my bank and asked about it, and I called the state and asked about it. State said they deposited it on a certain day, the bank said they never rec’d it, so I kept checking. About a week later I called the bank again and she told me that it was deposited in my account on this day which would be right. But I could never find the record of it, and I couldn’t remember spending almost $500. Still a year later I don’t know what happened to that money.

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