Tax time

jetta SG

Here I am, sitting at my dinner table, buried in papers of all sizes. Joy. There is soooo much to organize, to turn into piles that make sense. Haiz.

Meia Gisborn SG

Do you prepare your own returns, or have it done professionally?

This will be my second year using TurboTax Deluxe. What I like about it is its ability to automatically download 1099 information related to my investments straight from the bank and incorporate it into Schedule D. In the past, when I was preparing my returns manually, it would take me nearly a week to research the cost bases of my investments in order to calculate capital gains/losses for Schedule D.

Are you expecting a refund this year?

jetta SG

Professionally. Steve, my CPA, is great. His fees are a deduction so I don't mind. He does a way better job than we could ever do. All I have to do is tabulate and hand him final figures for all expenditure since we itemize. CA has lots of energy rebates and we've qualified for quite a few so he has his work laid out in front of him. This year has also seen a jump in medical expenditure so I have waaaay more receipts to consolidate. Wish me luck.

Yes we are expending a refund this year. We tweak with our contributions yearly, after Steve is done with us. Are you expecting one too? Good to hear that your pre-Turbo Tax days are over. lol.

jennmisscs SG

good luck! SOrry i am new but I am in CA

jetta SG

Hi jen, welcome to our forum. :)

Meia Gisborn SG

good luck! SOrry i am new but I am in CA

Welcome to the Forum, jennmisscs! So what brings you to CA?

jetta SG

My appointment's in three days and I'm nowhere near prepared!!!

lostintransition SG

i just wanna cry.....

Meia Gisborn SG

My appointment's in three days and I'm nowhere near prepared!!!

You might have to resort to a little bit of, um, "creative accounting" to get the figures done on time!

littlestream SG

My appointment's in three days and I'm nowhere near prepared!!!

alamak.....this one, my ah mah will say "ai pang sai liao jia lai che jian ban". anyways, good luck.

i always do my own. no software nothing. just plain calculator. and i plan it such a way, i always get $$$ back. but then again, mine very straight forward. :P

littlestream SG

i just wanna cry.....

oh dear....another one also looking for toilet? good luck. jia you!

littlestream SG

You might have to resort to a little bit of, um, "creative accounting" to get the figures done on time!

wah MG.....looks like u have your investment all over the place hor? you raking in lots too eh? how come need turbo tax? hehehehe hmm.....u guys are lucky ah. got so many tax credits n deductions. we not so lucky here.

jetta SG

LS, I live in CA, the jialat state. Don't envy me, pity me.

Since we itemize, I have alot to sift through. My appointment's tomorrow afternoon and I'm almost done. Do you guys save your receipts and things for seven years? I don't know where to shove this year's lot!

lostintransition SG

so sian....no refund again...and have to pay $$. am i doing something wrong here??

me also no use software but paper+pen+calculator like LS.......maybe that's why got no refund isit?? sob

jetta SG

so sian....no refund again...and have to pay $$. am i doing something wrong here??

me also no use software but paper+pen+calculator like LS.......maybe that's why got no refund isit?? sob

You could take your stuff to H&R Block since they're offering to do your taxes for free until the end of Feb. I'm sure there are some disclaimers but go check it out anyway? They also have that Second Look service. Who knows they could find you some dough?

littlestream SG

LS, I live in CA, the jialat state. Don't envy me, pity me.

oh, izzit? well, my friends just returned from m'sia. she said so much wealth there. peeps seems to be getting richer. can't say for us torontonians. we seemed to be getting poorer.....although high canadian dollar....stronger than us dollar also no use de.

yah, i keep my receipts....but then again....i am a keeper....i keep mostly everything. :oops:

littlestream SG

so sian....no refund again...and have to pay $$. am i doing something wrong here??

me also no use software but paper+pen+calculator like LS.......maybe that's why got no refund isit?? sob

no lah....use paper and pen and calculator also can get refund de lah. u just need to work around it. good luck. ;-)

Meia Gisborn SG

Just e-filed my federal and state returns via TurboTax this morning. I'm expecting quite a sizable refund which will more than "pay" for my upcoming Japan Trip.

jetta SG

Japan again? Where to this time? No side trip to Seattle?

Meia Gisborn SG

Japan again? Where to this time? No side trip to Seattle?

Same as the last time: I'll be in Osaka for two weeks and change beginning the end of this month. Crashing at a hotel in Shinosaka and making day trips to points of interest elsewhere (courtesy of the JR Rail Pass and the Shinkansen), with possibly an overnight trip to Tokyo/Yokohama thrown in for good measure.

Seattle can wait...