Thursday, February 3, 2011

Civic Duty?

I paid my taxes today. Well, actually we already paid our taxes, but I let the Federal Government know that I needed a little bit back. Since the IRS is not sending me a form this year, and since my Credit Union/Bank is linking me to free Turbo Tax, I e-filed for the first time. It was an interesting process. I already knew that we don't have enough deductions to itemize any more. That's what happens when you are debt free. Somehow it doesn't make sense to get deductions because you owe money (i.e. pay interest), but no credit because you have all your bills paid. Oh, well. But Turbo Tax wanted me to go through the process anyway, so it took me about three hours to determine that I would claim the Standard deduction. In the process they kept trying to sell me a higher level tax form, for which I would have to pay. I've been doing our taxes for many years. It's not that hard, since we have no complications. Turbo Tax did it's best to make it a slow process, but I finally finalized the process and signed off. It's nice to get a refund. I finished about 3:45, and hurried to get to my exercises. That done, I checked the mail. Lucky me. I got another jury summons. More civic duty.
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9 comments:

  1. LindaFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    Now aren't you the lucky one. I don't like to do jury duty but I feel like it's better me than some small business owner so I will continue to do it and mutter as little as possible.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Congrats on the tax refund. David will do our returns on President's Day, as he has for as long as we have been married (30+ years).

    I hate jury duty because it is so difficult to find parking near the court house. However, I have been summoned but never served.

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  3. KayFebruary 3, 2011 at 10:53 PM

    Hmmmm... I've not been called in Hawaii yet. It's just a matter of time, I'm sure.

    Congratulations on finishing your taxes! Wow! You're doing it early. Now you can relax while everybody else scrambles later.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wanda.....February 4, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    We have been e-filing for a few years now, but years ago tax time was very complicated, due to owning rental property. A simpler life and retirement make tax time less stressful. We have yet to do it though.

    ReplyDelete
  5. DJanFebruary 4, 2011 at 6:13 AM

    We take our taxes to the AARP representative at the Senior Center, it takes about a half hour for her to help us file electronically, and last year we got our refund directly in our checking account within four days! Far better way to file, I think.

    Of course, it helps that now we only have our social security and annuities to file. Our refund comes from the withholding from the annuities. Nice to get a refund, in any event.

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  6. KathyAFebruary 4, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    OY on the jury summons! At least you've got the taxes done!

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  7. Great Grandma LinFebruary 4, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    you are certainly patriotic and have your taxes done already-i'm impressed. have fun at jury duty...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Linda MyersFebruary 5, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    I do our taxes. I actually enjoy it. I hate paying more, though.

    Now that our income is pensions, social security and annuities, I expect it won't be as much fun by next year. We may not even be able to itemized.

    Oh, well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Murr BrewsterFebruary 15, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Last year I spent several hours with TurboTax to find out we can't claim our deductions, too. And I know it will be the same this year, but I also know I'll still plow through the whole process and look up all the charitable contributions and medical expenses and everything. It must be some kind of OCD thing.

    ReplyDelete

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