Comments on: The Taxman Cameth

By: laura

laura — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:41:21 +0000

Ok El, that does have us beat. But I think you nailed it with **

By: Ellen

Ellen — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:48:21 +0000

I got that beat . . . *
Provincial sales tax: 7%
Goods and services tax (nationwide sales tax): 5
For a grand total of 12%**
12 forms plus 3 attached statements for the US taxes (though we don’t actually *owe* any US income tax, once all is said and done). Sam, you are my sister in form-filling!

Great post, Laura, and a hilarious comment thread.

* “Indianapolis” scene in Jaws — anyone?
** Worth it for the health care.

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:57:19 +0000

Well, I did break down and start using Turbo tax a couple of years ago (it was depreciation that did it), but it does strange things if I don’t enter info in just the right way, so I’m glad I have a vague, if maybe entirely wrong, understanding of what goes where. It also helped to have a roommate who had worked for H&R Block.

By: joe

joe — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:19:34 +0000

guys, the absurdity of that process was humorous to read about. Tom, your commend was funnier. Laura, your response to Tom made me laugh out loud. Sam, you have my utmost respect. Not only can I not understand the instructions but I’m not sure I’ve ever actually been able to read an entire set of them all the way through without suffering some kind of psychological event.

By: laura

laura — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:56:43 +0000

Tom – haha. haha?

Joe – dang! I didn’t realize everybody has use tax! I think maybe you should come out here and buy some things at 9% and then submit a use tax form to MA next year for a refund.

Sam – I always knew you were a glutton for punishment!! 12 forms?! I got up to about 8 or 9 by the time I left Ithaca and I swore never again. Well done you! And well done, Aaron! I knew he was a smarty.
(btw I also don’t know anyone who pays use tax. It was just too great an opportunity to poke fun at it…)

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:34:01 +0000

Ahh, yes, New York also has the “use tax”. Now, I must admit that I like doing our taxes (mind you, I don’t like paying taxes). I take it as a personal challenge to figure out exactly what the instructions mean, and usually after 10 readings or so I figure it out. With a home office, nannies, rental property, and a home business, I’m up to 12 forms! Aaron despises anything with a whiff of paperwork attached to it. I’m starting to think he married me so he’d have a personal accountant.

But really, I don’t know anyone here (even those who organize their receipts and like doing taxes) who bothers to deal with use taxes- I don’t know how much the states are expecting to squeeze out of people this way.

By: joe

joe — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:59:24 +0000

Laura – if it makes you feel any better, I think every state with a sales tax (including MA) also has a use tax. At least according to Turbotax they do. Stupid taxes.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:47:20 +0000

Sure – that was easy, thanks for the filling tips! How much do we owe on those fancy bottles of liquor we bought in the duty free shops?

Also, when are our taxes actually due.