According to the Internal Revenue Service, we owe them a little over $3000 because of some error on our 2008 tax return. We’ve been talking back and forth, but we all know how that story will end. Yeah, with me writing a check, and gripping the pen so tightly I suffer permanent nerve damage in my action hand.
But the episode has made us a little gun-shy about using Turbo Tax. I know that’s irrational, but we’ve got to blame somebody or something for this issue, and Turbo Tax it is.
So, we made an appointment with an accountant, and went to her office last night. She’s going to do our taxes for last year, and will also check out our 2008 return. Hopefully she can find something that will save us three grand, or at least confirm there was a problem. I don’t mind paying if we really owe, but I don’t see where we screwed it up. Maybe she can shine a little light on it for us.
While we were there, the accountant asked us a few questions, especially about the 1099 forms (is that correct?) from Amazon and Google Adsense. They cover my meager Surf Report earnings, and she wanted to know more about it. I answered the questions, and we left.
And Toney said I was borderline rude to the woman. I was dumbfounded — shocked and dumbfounded. I was rude? How??
She said I was abrupt, and it came across as almost rude. Not quite rude, but certainly not friendly. Abrupt? I replayed our brief conversation, and genuinely didn’t understand. The woman asked her questions, and I answered them. I think lots of people launch into long, drawn-out stories, and provide way too much unnecessary information. I try not to do that; I like to keep it simple.
For instance, if she’d asked how long we’ve lived in our current house, another person might say, “Well, we moved from California in 2000 because of a job transfer, and we bought our house in April of that year. It’s the longest we’ve ever been in a house, we only made it three or four years in our previous two homes, but we’ve been in this one for a long time…”
And I would say, “Eleven years.”
Is that abrupt and rude? I don’t think so, but maybe it is. I know I shouldn’t care, but I do. I don’t want people to think I’m an asshole. I just try to answer questions the way I prefer people answer my questions. Ya know? Just spit it out already!
A few years ago, during one of my performance reviews at work, my boss at the time said that some of the employees are “intimidated” by me. I shouted, “What??” How in the hell could somebody be intimidated by me? I’m about as laid-back as they come. I even make a point of walking around every night, and spending a little time with each of them, asking how things are going, etc.
But, one or more of them apparently reported that they’re scared of me. It’s mind-boggling. So, it’s possible that I’m not very self-aware. Perhaps I’m sending out rogue vibes? It bothers me, if you want to know the truth. At this point in my life, I should have my vibes fully under control.
Do you have any experience with this kind of thing? Have you ever discovered that people have a completely off-the-wall opinion about you? Something that’s so far from the truth, it blows your mind a little? If so, please tell us about it.
Also, if you’ve ever had any “disagreements” with the IRS, I’d like to know about that, as well. Use the comments link below.
Buck sent me this picture yesterday, of a sports team from an elementary school with an unfortunate name. The school is now gone, but it was in Lincoln County, West Virginia. What do you think their team nickname should be? The Thirteen Year Old Boys? Or maybe The Fightin’ Thirteen Year Old Boys?
Do you know of any schools with questionable names? How about team nicknames? If so, please share.
And I’m going to call it a day, my friends. I have to have my “book” completely finished by the end of the month, so next week might be a bit unpredictable. But I’ll do the best I can.
I’ll see you guys again on Sunday or Monday.
Thanks for reading!
Now playing in the bunker
Buy Jeff a beer, he requires a beer.
That’s what their mouths say. Their hearts say that you are so intimidatingly good looking that they simply could not bear the emotion if they actually had the labia to approach you.
@Jeff…Yes, hire an accountant, but make sure it is a GOOD account. My most expensive accountant did not do squat for me. My BEST accounant was a 70-something old lady operating out of her house, had an ashtray filled with Camel Straight butts in her ashtray, and a pint of Old Crow Whiskey in the top right drawer of her desk. Here’s a hint on hiring a tax accountant…if they talk normal…pass them by. If the talk with a smokers rasp/cough, they are probably okay. But if you REALLY want a good one, they need to be talking through that voice box microphone thing that they use for people who have had their larnyx (sp?) removed.
Rule #4. Send letters to Obama saying he is the worst president ever and you will get audited for the first time ever.
I once got the letter from the IRS that I owed thousands of dollars (I was expecting a refund). Upon further review I left off my 3 dependents SSN’s and the IRAS computer recalculated as if I had no dependents. One phone call cleared it all up. I hope you have similar luck.
As for Turbo Tax; I submuitted my taxes this year and later noticed an error in favor of the IRS. I am now debating whether I should just let it go (lose a couple of hundred bucks) or open up that can of worms?
eBay fun:
Sold a motherboard/cpu combo from a working machine. worked fine when I pulled it. Sold AS-IS with no returns. guy that bought it says it shuts off with no warning. never did that to me. Now I don’t know what to do. I know I will never sell that type of thing again.
Chuck, I haven’t bought or sold on Ebay for 4 or 5 years, exactly because of shit like this. You are not obligated to do anything, but if you have trouble sleeping refund a third or half his bid price. If you’re sleeping like a baby, you’ll have to respond to any negative feedback he leaves you. Sold “as is” — the risk is his.
jtb
I should have known better. From now on I will stick to vintage cameras or old auto repair manuals. Too many variables to be selling computer parts. It was a weak moment.
Son of a gun. Just saw the date on that comment. Ha, it’s my birthday. Sixty-one and closing fast on the Death Star. Hope everybody has a great Sunday.
jtb
Happy Birfday, Dude. I’m not far behind you. Boobies and beer!!!
H-B-Day
Have a good one John!!!
Happy Birthday!
Years ago, my girlfriends sister played tennis for a club that was sponsored by a real estate agent called LJ Hooker. Of course all the girls became known as the Cottesloe Hookers.
putski…is that Cottesloe in WA? Spent many a happy Sunday at the OBH when I was over there.
I’m. Not. Abrubt!
I’m late to the game here but I was recently hit with a bill from the state of KY for $118 for 2007 and $340 for 2008.
2007 was for settling a debt which the unsettled amount gets reported as income.
2008 was because even though I worked in IN but lived in KY I owed KY all of the taxes from that year. Jerks.
I have a friend that has told me repeatedly that when he first met me he thought I was an asshole. Our other friends said to give me a chance and he did, now we can talk some serious shit to each other with no problems.
A girl I had a huge crush on at my first real job out of college (Emery Worldwide Airlines, Vandalia, OH) after about 6 months confronted my one day and this conversation happened.
“Do you know why I don’t like you, Tony?”
“Uh no?” (I almost said, because I’m awesome and you’re intimidated by me?
“Because you’re fake”
That knocked me on my ass. I asked a few other people about it and they seriously disagreed with her since I’ll pretty much tell you what I think, sometimes to my detriment.
She said it was because in the morning I greeted her cheerfully. Am I supposed to be a grump all day, morning or not? What a b.