I read the other day
that actor Wesley
Snipes has been released from prison.
For those of you who
don’t know, the actor was sent to prison in 2010 for failing to file federal taxes
for several years.
I know that it’s wrong
to not file your taxes, but my sympathies are actually with Snipes here,
because I’m doing my taxes, and I hate it.
Goodness gracious.
Ever since the bottom
fell out of the lending industry in 2009 and the powers that be had no other
choice but to admit that the economy was in a recession, we’ve been hearing how
much the government (local, state, and federal) is hurting for money. And it
seems that with each new passing moment comes another tax to “earn” money.
But that’s the problem
with the government. It doesn’t know how to earn any damn money. It only knows
how to take money from other people who’ve earned it and then give it back to
them in the form of
a bunch of crap that most of us don’t want.
I hate doing my taxes so
much, usually I just put in enough deductions to break even—I don’t even care
if I get a refund; I just want to be finished and have no further contact with
the government for 364 days. But this year, I intend to take every
single deduction known to man for which I qualify, because I am sick and tired
of forking over my dough for stupid stuff.
I don’t mind feeding
orphans and widows, I don’t mind helping people to obtain a higher education, I
don’t mind contributing to the President’s salary, and I don’t mind paying
social workers to protect our children. These are just a few of the things I
don’t mind. But unfortunately, there’s a whole lot more going on that I do
mind, and I can’t control it, but I darn sure can get my deduction for that coffee
maker I gave to Goodwill.
What about you? Is April
15th just another day, or do you dread it as much as I do?
There a lot of people who feel the same way as you regarding taxes. I don’t want getting it in my head so much either so I just pay and get it over with. I do understand your points though, that there are some tax deductions you have no clue as to where it actually goes, but you have no choice but to pay them. However, it’s still good that you don’t mind contributing to paying certain government programs and projects on education, health and welfare. Just think that you are able to help a lot of people indirectly by simply paying your taxes.
ReplyDeleteLauren Padilla
Hi Lauren! Thanks for joining the discussion.
DeleteYeah, I think that what I've learned here is that I should hire an accountant (see Kathy's comment) and that I'm in favor of a REAL straight tax. Go ahead and take my money, please, but then leave me alone.
I don’t mind paying for children’s education, women’s health, reaching out to the poor or even contributing to the President’s salary either, but I still find it a hassle when I have to do all those confusing paperwork. I prefer having an accountant do it all for me. It saves me all the time and stress of computing.
ReplyDeleteKathy Gregory
Hi Kathy! You bring up such a good point, and it's funny, because after I finished writing this piece I thought to myself "Someone's going to say 'You idiot, just hire a darn accountant!'" And I know you DIDN'T say that exactly, but it cracks me up that it took writing this piece for me to realize, after all these years, that I should just get someone else to do it...
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