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[jay-ell]

CONGRATULATIONS SMICK

YOU ROCK

PLEASE DON'T HURT MEEEEE

[pmcd9]

Smick gets a tiny can of Diet Dr Pepper for the rocking BMI.

[CortJstr]

...get a paper copy of a catalog from Think Geek in the mail. Doesn't this seem wrong?

They must've had some mess up. Because I always check the "no paper catalog" box whenever I order something or enter a contest with them and today I got one also.

[AugustWest]

Smick gets a tiny can of Diet Dr Pepper for the rocking BMI.

From me as well. That rocks.  I'd have to lose about 25 more pounds for that.  It could happen.

[theinevitable]

I have never done my taxes. I guess I will have to do them soon. It can't be that hard, right? no loans, no credit cards, no dependents, only a tiny amount of income.

[CortJstr]

I have never done my taxes. I guess I will have to do them soon. It can't be that hard, right? no loans, no credit cards, no dependents, only a tiny amount of income.

If you go to IRS.gov there are links to lots of free tax services. With low income you should qualify for most if not all of them. Until this year I've always used H&R Block's free-file and if I hadn't bought a house I would have again.

But some of them will only offer the free version if you follow think from IRS.gov so start there.

Or you can do it on paper, I guess.

[jay-ell]

My advice: e-file, and do it early. You will get your refund much, much, much faster.

[Victoria Waterfield]

Just remember: You don't want to go makin' stuff up.

[wombat]

If you go to IRS.gov there are links to lots of free tax services. With low income you should qualify for most if not all of them. Until this year I've always used H&R Block's free-file and if I hadn't bought a house I would have again.

But some of them will only offer the free version if you follow think from IRS.gov so start there.

Or you can do it on paper, I guess.

Have things gotten much more complicated since I was young? When I was in Inev's position I could do my own tax return in like five minutes, there was definitely no need for a tax service, free or otherwise. And this is definitely not because I am clever with numbers, because I am not.

Now it's so complicated that the Tech Staff does it all and I just sign because my ears start buzzing when he tries to explain it. Really, god knows what he could be doing. Good thing I don't ever want to run for office or anything.

[jay-ell]

I enjoy doing my own taxes and always used pencil and paper until I started freelancing in 2008. I still basically do it myself, with my BFF's help and software to help me do the math.

But it's totally worth it to get the software even if your finances are simple because it's the only way you can prepare it yourself and still e-file (especially if you know someone who has it and can split the cost -- you can file up to 4 returns per license I think). As I mentioned, e-filing gets you a refund weeks and weeks sooner -- last year we e-filed our federal around the beginning of March and the funds were direct-deposited three weeks later. (Our state return was a different story -- I balked at the $20 filing fee and we ended up having to wait 'til July or something obscene -- the state had to add interest to our check because it was so late.)

[Choop]

returns? you lucky homeowning so-and-so's, i haven't gotten money back since i was in college

[Nabubrush]

My two oldest brothers jury-rig it with deductions and additional payments and suchlike so they are balanced (more or less) at the end of the year. Financially, that's the wisest thing to do, but I don't have the time, inclination, or interest in looking into it.

[greenkoolayd]

if one can make it so that they have a zero balance, i think that is optimal.  the less one has to deal with the gov't and money, the better.

[Nabubrush]

Especially since they demand interest from you if you owe them but seem reluctant to pay you interest if they owe you.

[CortJstr]

Have things gotten much more complicated since I was young? When I was in Inev's position I could do my own tax return in like five minutes, there was definitely no need for a tax service, free or otherwise. And this is definitely not because I am clever with numbers, because I am not.

You can still do that, but if you use one of the free-file services that allows you to e-file and have your refund direct-deposited quickly like JL said, but without the need of finding a friend with a Turbo Tax &c license. Until this year my taxes have never taken more than 20 minutes, and most of that was H&R Block asking things like "are you sure you don't have any kids?" or "are you sure you don't want to pay $29.99 for the full version?" But now that I bought a place I think I have to itemize which I can't do until 2/15 even if I wanted to.

Especially since they demand interest from you if you owe them but seem reluctant to pay you interest if they owe you.

I've heard you can actually get in trouble for having too large of a refund. Like if you're entitled to 4 deductions on your paycheck but take 0 and thus get back like $20,000 in April. Supposedly the IRS can fine you for that.