Hi Lori,

I feel rather sorry that you're feeling so stressed out over this, Lori.

You're not going to like me when I say that taxes are just part of the routine of living.

And as you've kept good records, have stayed within the law, not made use of any questionable procedures ...

.. no lying (unless you may be lying to us??) ...

... the possibility of being audited is very small.

Even if you were - you'd be able to answer all of their questions without difficulty.

But can you imagine how stressed you'd be if that happened?

Ease off, as much as you can.

And try to help yourself get ready to ease off even more, as time goes along.

Gosh, girl ... we don't want to hear of you having a heart attack over the likes of doing your income tax (especially when you'd been behaving yourself, for gosh sake!).

Sweating blood is only for a lot more serious issues than the yearly business of income tax preparation!

Can you imagine how you'd be feeling if you'd been involved with some of this shady mortgage business that's going on,these days?

Relax - they're not going to steal your youngest child. Villify your name through the city in which you live. Or any of those things.

They're not going to throw you in jail, you know! Well - if they do, we'll bring you some bread and water ... and, maybe, a muffin!

Here's to developing a more relaxed attitude in preparation for ...

... (next year's season).

ole joyful

I'm right there with you, Lori.

I went out to eat one time with a friend and a couple of gals she worked with. Found out one of their husbands worked for the IRS. I got physically sick and couldn't eat...to think that one of them was "that close". Sorry if that offends someone.

Same thing happened at an Iris convention was sitting next to an older guy, having a pleasant conversation. He told me he was retired from the IRS and again, instant anxiety.

I used to hate talking to the people at the central appraisal district...so much that the idea of going in the court house gave me anxiety, but once we moved to another county, they were so much nicer than the ones where we used to live, that I got over that...a little.

My anxiety isn't up there with yours and Marilyn's, but it's definitely with me. I think part of it is how much I pay my tax accountant. She charges a lot! She came highly recommended by my DD, who found her for me. (DD is an accountant herself, although she doesn't do taxes.)

I feel your pain!

Ours is due the end of February - so I am done - hooray!

I have to have it all done (my end of the bookkeeping) in December - right at Christmas time!

We have to make sure we have spent enough - I know that sounds kooky - but by the time the crops are in and we have an idea of what we have for income (or lack thereof :0 )- if it has been a good year, we might need to have more expenses.

We also purchase all of our inputs for the next years crop before year end - so that has to be all figured into it also.

I almost get ill thinking about it...it really makes Christmas time awful.

I think part of the anxiety is worrying about if you made a mistake on the return, and you get what we call in our accounting office a "love letter" from the IRS. Those are very intimidating to some people.

I WORK for a Lawyer who also does taxes...and after 10 years here...I STILL get sick to my stomach when I am working on my own!!! I can work on others, but when it is my own...OH BOY! Most years it is the same thing...get back a few bucks...he has it down to where we only get a few back....not letting the Gov. use our money for free!!! This year is WAAAAAYYY different! We sold some land, and had alot of things along with that. What a MESS! Unfortuantly...we will be sending checks to the Fed/IA/MN!! "/ Oh well...such is life.

We have many that come in here just sweating bullets! LOL I tell them that I am STILL nauseous when I get mine done! (Which is usually one of his first ones in Jan.!)

I hate dealing with my taxes even though we get a big chunk back each year. We use the chunk to do something with our house each year, a fence one year, new flooring, remodeling a room in the basement will be this years plan. I luck out that my Dad is a CPA and can get just about anyone a refund:) I asked about claiming all our kids but dad reminded me that we would spend all the extra money each month and at least this way we have a large ammount of money each spring to do a project.

Stacie

I usually get some back. Not a lot, but enough for a little something extra. Not this year. They weren't taking tax out of my SS check. Now I have to request them to take tax out of that so I don't owe next year. Really pi$$ed me off. They tax everything. I just had mine done today. Believe me, they won't get it until the last stinking minute.
Leslie

I just met with our CPA this afternoon. It takes me several long weekends to get ours ready to go to him, and we are fairly organized... ??

I have to pay in quarterlies because of my freelance business -- which is a good problem to have, I guess, because it means I'm making money. :-) I made considerably more in 2007 than in 2006, though, so I still owe. *sigh*

Screw you Ed.
Hard.

Lori

WHere do you get off, ed, suggesting that I am lying to you or anyone else at this board?

What or Who makes you think you are wise and insightful enough to condescend to me about my anxieties about anything, including taxes I pay in the UNITED STATES or give me your preachy yadayadayad BS about relaxing or comparing any reaction I may have to someone stealing my youngest?
Don't answer that, your narcissistic glassbowl.

Stay out of my posts.

Lori

Ah Ed....surely you aren't suggesting that Lori is lying to us here at KT are you??
You said, .. no lying (unless you may be lying to us??)
Why on earth would she do that? She has no reason on earth to lie to us here. Or anywhere else for that matter.
When I read your post I thought geez, Lori was merely commenting about her taxes, she didn't ask for a lecture in handling life's trials and tribulations.

LMBO!

Lori, you mean you actually took time to read that? You're tougher than me, girl! I just exercise my "scroll-y" finger when I see certain poster names.

:-)

PS: I feel your tax pain...

I feel the same way about taxes, only to a slightly lesser degree, so I know where you're coming from, Lori. We go out of our way to be extra careful and honest and report every little thing, but it still causes anxiety. My dad used to be a tax preparer in his business as an accountant and I saw the stress he was under and it rubbed off on all of us. Now when we do our taxes, we sleep on 'em for a night or two to be SURE that we're comfortable sending them in as is.

I think honest people sweat more about taxes than cheaters do. And I think if someone questioned my veracity regarding my tax return, I'd be very offended, too. Sheesh.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to avoid an audit....

My taxes are very simple now, but in the past they were more complex, and did cause me some anxiety. However, I still feel some hesitancy when I file my taxes--not completing the form, but transmitting it.

I have been contacted about my tax returns a couple of times, but both times it was because some information was omitted. When I supplied the needed information, everything was fine.

Leslie, isn't that awful? My 78 year old dad didn't start oweing at tax time until he began drawing social security. I think it's backwards that someone who's worked most of their lives has to pay out so much when they should be worry-free and enjoying the rest of their lives.

It even irritates me that us working people have to pay so much of our money to a government that wastes so much. Let us keep our money and invest it for our retirement as we see fit.

Sorry, Lori, I would be stressing too if I had a more complicated income situation than I do. I do my own taxes, very simple, but then I don't own a ranch like you do and two family income outside the ranch. I don't think Ed could possibly know just how complicated our tax system is. Has he ever seen one of our tax forms or booklets? As simple as mine is, the first time I did my taxes on Turbo, I had to read a bunch of the explanations attached to some of the the questions to make sure I really qualified to take that tax break. They make it as complicated as they possibly can. I'm thankful they have Turbo and other on-line (simplified programs) because reading through the actual hard copy of our tax booklet is a pain in the butt.

I believed you when you said that you were honest while preparing your taxes Lori. I feel like I know you well enough that you didn't even have to admit it.

The IRS is one agency I don't EVER want to have to sit across the table from. We have our accountant take care of our taxes. Although his fee continues to increase every year, it's still worth the peace of mind that he'd be the one to answer to them if the need arises. I don't envy you one bit having to prepare yours and yes, I'd sweat the small stuff too.