What to do if you haven't filed your tax return.

One man's tale of how the IRS became his favorite creditor. It's sorta surreal.

And from XKCD: how to pirate techno music :)

I tried to give options for the non-US taxpayers out there, but remember you can always click "submit" without filling in the poll to just see the answers.

Poll #1171586 US Tax Day
Open to: All, results viewable to: None

Do you consider today....

Are you....

According to MSNBC, the average person spends $207 and a day to file their tax returns. Did you...

...and how much time was spent on the return (and recordkeeping, if you care to guess)?

To quote the MSNBC article again, "One reason for this annual agony is that tax law keeps getting more complex. The instruction book for Form 1040 has grown from four pages in 1945 to 117 pages in 2000 and 155 pages last year." Did you read the 1040 instruction book?

Do you file both federal and state tax returns?

Do you ...

Do you feel:

Ok, this year took longer than usual. Partly because I kept putting it off. Partly because the threads weren't coming together.

The below is mostly for my reference, so I will use an ( LJ cut )

• 11:57 Windows live site designer seems to prefer embedded flash to javascript. Interesting. kilsmith.com/jenread.aspx #
• 20:02 Dinner was made by the fantabulous JW1776. To those who ask, "But doesn't he cook as much or more than you do anyway?" I say: Exactly!!! #
• 20:34 Right. Supposed to do taxes. Or at least continue to make progress with taxes. #
• 20:57 Why does the thought of schedule D make me feel so tired? It's like an insomnia remedy. #
• 21:19 I think it's that schedule D is "sell stocks at loss, put proceeds into index funds." It's housekeeping. #

Automatically copied from http://www.twitter.com/jenk3 via LoudTwitter cause it's easy :)

IRS info on the tax "rebate". In particular, from Facts on the 2008 Stimulus Payments:

[Payment recipients] will not have to complete applications, file any extra forms or call the Internal Revenue Service to request the payment, which is automatic. The IRS will determine eligibility, figure the amount and issue the payment.

Apparently there are identity thieves mailing and calling "from" the IRS asking for information to "apply" for the rebate. Can you say "bottom feeder"?

They also emphasize that the IRS will use the 2007 tax return to calculate the payment, so even if you don't have to file officially, you might want to file anyway.

The $1 check has been cashed.

I am tempted to order a copy for framing.

Today was the recheck-with-a-fresh-mind. I also made use of an online version of TurboTax, which had pros & cons. ( details )

The Bottom Line: We owe $1.

I confirmed we have W2s, 1099s, 1098, and related info a few days ago.
I have cookies, diet Pepsi, and music.
I made IRA contributions for both of us.

6:20 update:
Schedule b done.
Made a pot of Tahitian Blend.
Starting on schedule d.
music: Michelle Dockrey, "Mal's Song"

7:00 update:
( note to self )
Music: Mary Chapin Carpenter, "River"

7:15 update:
Working on schedule A.
(For locals - King county has property tax info online - easy to look up :)
Music: Mary Chapin Carpenter, "This Is Me Leaving You"

7:30 update:
skydancer is here
Also for locals: WA Local and State Sales Tax Summary
Music: Ozzy Osbourne, "Mama, I'm Coming Home"

7:50 update:
dianthus is also here
Done with first draft - will check it over with a fresh mind before sending it in.
Music: Melissa Etheridge, "The Boy Feels Strange"

There can be wide variations in how much property owners are taxed in various cities, King County Assessor Scott Noble says. ( Read more... )

The differences are a result of the public will and taxing districts. Voter approval of various measures — school levies and hospitals bonds, for example — account for about 40 percent of a property owner's tax bill.

Then each county can have more than 100 taxing districts related to its community services — water districts, school districts, fire districts, etc. — and each will want its slice of the property-tax pie.

That's why what a property owner pays "depends on where they live — there are different rates for different parts of the county," Noble said.

And because taxing districts can overlap, King County alone has 268 total property-tax levy rates.
Source: Home Forum column

So the property tax (pdf) rate varies depending on where you live. And the assessed value varies depending on many factors...of which location is a biggie. According to the state's website, "[t]here are approximately 3,300 unique Tax Code Areas in the state of Washington."