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For the first time in my life, I’ve had to do my taxes, or more accurately, taxes for the household. My grandmother has done the taxes for the whole family since before I was in the work force. I’ve been blissfully ignorant to the whole tax thing and the stress, time, and headaches that surround the whole ordeal. Recently she has been having some issues that is suddenly having her forced into retirement, and at 80 years of age, she deserves the time off.

My mom, who also was benefiting from her generousity as well and also is now having to deal. With less than a month left to file, she purchased Turbo Tax and shared it with me (it’s good for up to 5 returns) and I set off to tackle it.

Let me tell you, having the totals for all your individual write-off catagories like cloths for your job, tools for work, etc is a huge time saver. I wrote a program to do just that. However when it’s going so well means that it can only go sown hill. Putting in the main stuff like the W2 information was easy. However because Joann is technically self employed one day a week, that job and it’s income/deductions needs to be set up and filled out. It got confusing when trying to figure out how to input non-reimbersed expenses for jobs with a W2. I struggled with it, in fact I spent most of a Saturday and 3 days after work inputting everything in.

Then the real hair puller. When it came time to file, you’re given the option to e-file or to mail. Well who wouldn’t e-file? I chose that option only to be informed that I can’t e-file federal because of certain forms that can’t be e-filed and state can’t because of some errors that I can fix. So I go through the entire state questions again and fix the error. It approves the state and I go with it. It pops up an account sign up and I input the CC info to pay for the state e-filing and it goes through. It then goes back to the main window where it  offers to choose to mail or e-file and it denies both!!!

So I printed and we mailed today before getting the email confirming that they gladly took my $20 for e-filing. Man, how frustrating. On a good note, Intuit (the company how makes Turbo Tax) has excellent customer service. They had no problem refunding the money.

This whole tax thing sucks. Funny, I don’t remember it asking me for my AGI….