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Taxes...ughhh

Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 2:23 pm
by alex.barylski
I don't know about you all, but as a programmer and computer geek I like having as much as possible automated in my life...I'm super lazy...so the easier anything is the happier I am... :)

I haven't done my taxes in a long time...and today I'm sitting down tackling the monumental task... :(

What a pain in the ass...

2 years of the last 4 I was self-employed but have lost most of the receipts, etc...so now I am scrambling to find them...and figure out income vs expenses...

Last year I switched banks and keep everything on elentronic file so I don't loose anything, as I hate clutter...and often throw stuff out compulsively...although my computer until recently was quite cluttered with junk (virtually) :)

I am so frustrated right now...as I don't want to be waste my time doing taxes...but I am also cheap and frugal (coming from a humble beginning, so it's not my fault :P ) so I am wary about seeking the assistance of an accountant :P

Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place...on one hand I'd rather get someone else to do it as I hate doing things I don't enjoy doing (my old man taught me that lesson as I hear him complain everyday about his job and how much he hates it) and on the other...money is a limited resource and I am hard pressed to part form it, unless I have too :P

I can do taxes myself I am sure, as everyone I know almost does it themselves with Intuit QuickTax, etc...

But what a waste of my time...I'd rather be working on my web site and software... :(

So I ask, what would you do:

Cheers :)

Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 2:31 pm
by feyd
On taxes, I differ to the professionals who know the nuances and bits. To save a lot on expenses for it, I organize most of everything so it's simple for him to work through and do the finalized preparation.

Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 3:17 pm
by Maugrim_The_Reaper
I do them myself (the bits that fall outside the employment net). I work in the area though - so I'm one of those "professionals". ;) Feyd is dead right though - organise, organise, organise... It makes an accountant's job a lot easier (and their expense bill lighter!). Those "lost receipts" are going to be a pain in the ass unless you can guestimate them another way...

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 1:22 am
by shiznatix
in the USA I get a pro, that stuff is crazy. To quote Einstein:
There is nothing in the world more difficult to understand than US tax laws
Or somthing very simmilar to that. As far as I am aware (i know its this way here) most European countries make your life easy with just a flat tax rate. Its like, you make 5000 so the first 2000 is not taxed so then you have 3000 that is taxed the flat tax rate of like 20% or somtin like that. Thats it, a 5th grader with a calculator could do it.

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 10:34 am
by Maugrim_The_Reaper
Yeah, but many people are being assessed as self-employed, as sole-traders, or single person businesses. That can up the complexity to a new level. It can get a lot more complicated once you leave an employed situation where your tax is deducted automatically by your employer...;).

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 5:53 pm
by shiznatix
Maugrim_The_Reaper wrote:It can get a lot more complicated once you leave an employed situation where your tax is deducted automatically by your employer...;).
It's been my expierence that that way is the easiest. 'Here is a record of my bank account transaction which prove that (insert number here) was inserted into my account each month and here is a contract that says (insert bigger number here) thats says I get this much gros(s?) every month' Then it's like yay, I get 00dles of money back. Maybe thats just where I live...

BUT! If you are self employed or you own your own company then it gets crazy probably. I say screw taxes, I'm gonna get rich, buy a small island, claim independence, higher a militia to defend me for as long as it takes to get my independence recognized, then live a happy - tax free life. Who is joining the militia (if you join you get to live there tax free as long as you help me out in the brewery)?

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 5:55 pm
by feyd
Have fun defending against pirates.


Yes, they still exist.

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 6:00 pm
by Nathaniel
feyd wrote:Have fun defending against pirates.
Fighting pirates?! COUNT ME IN

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 6:01 pm
by shiznatix
feyd wrote:Have fun defending against pirates.


Yes, they still exist.
militia...HELLO!?

and yes, of course I know they still exist...I did see 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' so I know what to do when confronted by them, don't worry kids your safe with me.

edit:
Fighting pirates?! COUNT ME IN
need I say more :P

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 6:16 pm
by alex.barylski
Nathaniel wrote:
feyd wrote:Have fun defending against pirates.
Fighting pirates?! COUNT ME IN
:lol: