My path to a federal cabinet position

Or maybe not, as I don’t have the expertise, experience or desire. But I did file my taxes last night. And today. I am a late comer to this crazy online thing called eFile. The IRS seemingly forced the tax prep software companies to give you free federal eFiles. But they could still charge for the state, which Turbo Tax still wanted $19.95 for. As a small business owner, I already pay for the most expensive Turbo Tax product.  I have stubbornly mailed in my taxes, federal and state, for the last, well, forever. I am annoyed enough that my interest-free government loan seems to get larger each year. Paying money to get my money…no thanks. (I realize I have annoyed all of the accountants I know. I’m sorry.)

The state of Wisconsin skirts ever closer to the line of just offering free online tax software. (I think there is a law that prevents them for  just doing this – I had to type in a lot, but they did all of the math and even the calculations.) And a free eFile. Rob let me prattle on with my worries and wonder if I could TurbTax the feds and use the state website for the state. And let me say, having done it, you can! I hope. It looks like it was accepted.

Taxes bring out my neuroses about screwing up and having very bad things happen. I think I am following the rules – I certainly am not planning to defraud, cheat or lie. But could I have made an error egregious enough to have a tax judge or the newspaper doubt my stupidity? I don’t want to go to jail! Or owe anyone other than my mortgage company hundreds or even tens of thousands of dollars!

On the bright side, our interest free loan to the government was up this year only because of Arabella. It turn out the cash payment last summer, was only preliminarily based on 2007 taxes. Babies born in 2008 will net you another $300. In addition, she brought us another child tax credit.

Over the years, we have owed the IRS more money than I thought I could save in 3 months. In other years, we have gotten back large-to-me amounts. It does make the first run-through of the taxes sort of exciting. What’s a word that means exciting in a roller-coaster sort of way, during which you may laugh, scream or vomit? I usually dilly-dally with the information from January until March. This year, the 8-14 days direct deposit come-one marketing effort from the IRS paid off. I looked them over. I was delighted that the state came up with the exact same numbers as Turbo Tax. And I clicked the button in TurboTax and again from the state.

I just hope I survive the vetting.