I Hate Taxes

I don’t think I’m alone in saying I hate taxes. I mean REALLY hate them. My brain does not like numbers. And this year was a complete headache because I saved all of my writing expense receipts and deducted every last one of them. Which would be fine if I would actually remember to enter them into my Excel spreadsheet when I have the expenses. I started out the year well, I really did. Up until about March, I did have the expenses listed. And then after that, I just shoved the receipts into a big manila envelope and dreaded the day I’d have to add them all up.

That day was today. And it took several cups of coffee, chocolate, and spreadsheets to get it all sorted. You’d think that you could just add everything up and deduct. But no. You have to label which ones are education expenses, meals, travel, etc. etc. I thought my brain would blow up. And this was using a tax software that walked me through it, step by step.

I am sorely tempted to hire a tax accountant next year and let that saint person add everything up and deduct it all. I’m sure there were deductions I could have taken but didn’t.

In any case, it’s done now. My husband will check the numbers by doing the taxes himself. Fortunately, we’ll be getting a refund, but it’s still a hassle. I believe there are some Cadbury’s Creme Eggs calling my name. And jelly beans. I may need to go buy Therapeutic Jelly Beans to keep my sanity. I’m one of the weird folks who actually likes the black ones.

I should probably never tell my editor that she could pay me in Creme Eggs and Cadbury’s Picnic Bars, and I’d be one happy camper. Dear editor, you did NOT just read that.

So what about you? Do you loathe taxes as much as me? Is a tax service really worth it? Or should I just stick to my tax software and try to remember to add it up as I go next year?