It’s that time of year when I chastise myself for keeping incomplete records, because it’s also that time of year when I need to give my accountant complete records. Because of my laxity, I’m spending the week catching up on ledgering and preparing for my meeting with our accountant on Friday. It’s pretty ugly.
I don’t know if ours is a complicated situation or if I’m just not up to the task. Both Earl and I are self-employed, so there is Schedule C to contend with. We both have owned property, so there are rental schedules to fill in. We itemize our personal deductions and we receive interest throughout the year. More schedules here.
As I think about it, I see ours is not the EZ return. It’s more like a maze. I honestly try to keep good records throughout the year, but I always come up short when faced with the meeting with our accountant.
Years ago, I took an H&R Block Tax Course and worked a season as one of the company’s many tax consultants. It was a heady responsibility, making sure either clients or the government received a just due. Thankfully, I became pregnant (not through any fault of H&R), and I didn’t have to return the next season. But I should have taken note, because Earl’s and my tax returns today are as complicated as the ones I did those many years ago. I just didn’t have as vested an interest.
I think it’s Steve Forbes who advocates a flat tax, one where you pay a percentage of your income and deductions have nothing to do with it. I’m inclined to agree with him, especially this time of year.
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