April 13, 2015

Those Dreaded Taxes

Well this is it, the big day that we've all waited for.  Perhaps even counted the days until its arrival.  Awaited with anticipation, angst, and in earnest.  Yes, it's the day that one just cannot hope to ignore or even deny:  April 15.

There are some who work laboriously in preparation for tax day.  They live and breathe tax law for the first four months of every year.  Others, well they just wish it would never arrive.  And some perhaps even imagine that if they do not glance at a calendar the entire month long, then it might not ever get here.  I suppose you could count me as one of those folks.

Numbers just haven't ever been my strong suit.  And figuring depreciation, exemptions, deductions and percentages, well that is where nightmares are truly made.  

I just never had to concern myself with the process of filing my tax returns, much to my relief.  When I was a young, fledgling employee, my dear dad took on the task gleefully.  To be honest, there probably wasn't much to filing my tax return and I probably could have figured it out.  I think, but I can't prove, that Dad either enjoyed the challenge of shuffling those numbers into the correct slots on the forms, or he did it merely as a labor of love.  

And then there is of course, the fact that it is the law to file one's taxes.   And Dad was and is, if nothing else, a law abiding man.

Later in life my  job put me in a position where I was forced to gaze upon those dreaded tax forms...but as a librarian that meant only providing to the public who came in search of them.  My favorite retort to those who might (just as I) have been baffled about just what forms they needed:  "All I can do is make copies - I'm not a tax adviser!"  And thank goodness for that.

Also, praise be to the folks at Turbotax, the popular tax preparation software.  They have made my life very peachy come 4/15 every year.  And as I sit down, laptop at hand, I positively thrill at the joy of completing this nasty task once a year.  On the cusp of midnight, as the final seconds are ticking away on the day.

My finger hovers over the "file" command, somewhat shaky and uncertain.  Yet I know that I must be brave.  Now is the time.....for all good men to come to the aid of their country.....NO STOP, that's the old typing class ritual and my fingers are taking on a life of their own.  Focus, stick to the task at hand.  

I tell myself, "Just push the button and be done with it."  With a measure of caution I finally acquiesce.  And the deed is done.  

I hope that most of you have far less angst when it comes to tax preparation than I. But if you fall into the category of taxfilingaphobic, feel free to contact me.  Maybe we can form a support group and have monthly meetings.  We should start next month. We can discuss ways to get organized all year long so that a year from now, filing our tax returns will not be quite such a traumatic experience.