Is it really that difficult in America? Here for most people it takes five minutes and is all online, with most of the information prepopulated for you.
I would have thought that the tax office would want to make it as easy as possible for people to, y’know, pay tax.
The two most complicated legal structures in the world are the U.S tax code and the U.S social security laws, rulings and regulations, according to a lawyer I used to work with.
Something is wrong here. Weeks ago, I did my State Taxes Online. It was really quick and easy, and I actually got a refund! I haven’t had a refund for many years, so I was sure I did something wrong. Well, yesterday, I got the refund check, but I still think I did something wrong, this just does. not. happen.
My dad was an accountant. My mom was an accountant. I am an accountant. One sister was an accountant. Baby sister was a renegade – she went into business management!
I started working for my dad (unpaid then) when I was 10. He would have me add up payroll record books of his clients on an adding machine (not even calculators existed then, let alone home computers). I studied it in college, graduated and got a job working for another accountant. Eventually the other accountant (older than dad) decided to retire and dad bought him out and I worked for dad on both sets of clients. Dad took ill and I ended up dealing with all the clients alone – but due to attrition there were not as many.
I am still working in accounting. Up until the start of Covid I went into Manhattan one day a month to a business client to do her books. (Think Gene Wilder in “The Producers” not the fancy accountants in more recent movies/ TV shows.) I now do her books from home by her by her mailing me a list of sales, a list of checks and copies of her bank statements and then do her year end corp. return. I have 4 personal returns to do.
The practices (even combined) were never huge but over the decades I have prepared returns for clients in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Mexico, California, Hawaii, Canada, Auckland New Zealand, and France. (Did I forget anyone?)
I grew up playing with the old tax forms. I set up a library and the top of old NYS returns was the application for a library card (very indulgent grandparents got cards and would borrow books – such as Nancy Drew and return them on their next visit).
Husband when we started dating had to get used to the idea of “tax season”. We would be at uncle’s house for Passover – uncle at the head of the table did the ceremony which goes with the dinner – dad would be at the foot of the table doing tax returns for relatives.
Yakety Sax 28 days ago
Coming next year: Taxes the game. . . . .
TonysSon 28 days ago
Grand Theft Autocrat I.R.S.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member 27 days ago
Is it really that difficult in America? Here for most people it takes five minutes and is all online, with most of the information prepopulated for you.
I would have thought that the tax office would want to make it as easy as possible for people to, y’know, pay tax.
Olddog1 27 days ago
The two most complicated legal structures in the world are the U.S tax code and the U.S social security laws, rulings and regulations, according to a lawyer I used to work with.
ChessPirate 27 days ago
Something is wrong here. Weeks ago, I did my State Taxes Online. It was really quick and easy, and I actually got a refund! I haven’t had a refund for many years, so I was sure I did something wrong. Well, yesterday, I got the refund check, but I still think I did something wrong, this just does. not. happen.
o_0
MuddyUSA Premium Member 27 days ago
Go to H&R Block………..
wolfgang73 27 days ago
She’s a couple of days late
cuzinron47 27 days ago
The Milton Bradley tax prep software.
Shikamoo Premium Member 27 days ago
Taxes in Canada are no fun either.
mafastore 23 days ago
My dad was an accountant. My mom was an accountant. I am an accountant. One sister was an accountant. Baby sister was a renegade – she went into business management!
I started working for my dad (unpaid then) when I was 10. He would have me add up payroll record books of his clients on an adding machine (not even calculators existed then, let alone home computers). I studied it in college, graduated and got a job working for another accountant. Eventually the other accountant (older than dad) decided to retire and dad bought him out and I worked for dad on both sets of clients. Dad took ill and I ended up dealing with all the clients alone – but due to attrition there were not as many.
I am still working in accounting. Up until the start of Covid I went into Manhattan one day a month to a business client to do her books. (Think Gene Wilder in “The Producers” not the fancy accountants in more recent movies/ TV shows.) I now do her books from home by her by her mailing me a list of sales, a list of checks and copies of her bank statements and then do her year end corp. return. I have 4 personal returns to do.
The practices (even combined) were never huge but over the decades I have prepared returns for clients in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Mexico, California, Hawaii, Canada, Auckland New Zealand, and France. (Did I forget anyone?)
I grew up playing with the old tax forms. I set up a library and the top of old NYS returns was the application for a library card (very indulgent grandparents got cards and would borrow books – such as Nancy Drew and return them on their next visit).
Husband when we started dating had to get used to the idea of “tax season”. We would be at uncle’s house for Passover – uncle at the head of the table did the ceremony which goes with the dinner – dad would be at the foot of the table doing tax returns for relatives.