being a single guy, and not a homeowner, means that I have no deductions that I can claim on the old 1040. Makes doing my taxes extremely simple, but it turns out I had to pay the piper this year. A whole $114! What a nightmare! Now I'll have to put off buying those two video-games that I wanted...for at least a week! Woebegone I am.
Actually, I'm tickled shitless to have owed a few bucks to Uncle Sam. Unlike the majority of the population, (It seems to me at least) I've never looked forward to getting a refund from the Gummint. Most folks are excited to get that check, and use it to buy all sorts of stuff that they couldn't afford through the year, or they just piss it away on useless bits of frivolity that they never would have purchased if they didn't have the bread in a nice lump sum. All sorts of bidnesses capitalize on this sort of attitude, from car lots to retailers, everybody has a sale going on to get you to spend your refund there. Nothing wrong with that I guess, but my take on things is a bit different.
I'm proud that the Feddle Gummint didn't get an interest free loan from me last year. So far as I can tell, they are the only entity in this country that can get away with that AND have people happy as hell with the circumstance. I can't borrow a nickel from a guy on the street without him expecting a 5% vigourish added to the loan, but the Powers that be are able to take my money before I ever see it, keep it for a year, and then give back what I involuntarily overpaid without any type of penalty for their screw-up? Ever since I joined the workforce, I've found this process to be a little off-kilter. Even moreso after I got my first loan, and realized how much I was being charged for the privelage of receiving same.
I know that all of this has been said before, and probably written better than I ever could, but still...I'll never understand why more people aren't out in the streets protesting this thievery. Oh wait, they get a big check once a year. What was I thinking? Here's hoping that I never get another refund check as long as I live.
Posted by Johnny - Oh at April 15, 2006 09:46 AM | TrackBackI hear you. We are generally happy if we "break even". Or if we do get money back, it is as little as possible. *I* want to have *my* money - not "loan" it to Uncle Sam...
Posted by: Richmond at April 17, 2006 03:55 PMI think they should change tax day to the filer's birthday. That would lighten the crush and decrease the need for the world's largest computer.
Posted by: _Jon at April 19, 2006 05:26 PMI've also noticed that if what you owe takes a big jump from one year to the next, they make you pay a penalty for not paying it sooner.
In other words, you have to pay THEM interest on the interest-free loan you DIDN'T give them :-/
Posted by: Harvey at April 20, 2006 10:49 AMTax refunds have been a way of preparing the American people for planning ahead. Example: My refund will offset my gasoline bill, making it seem like I get three months of free gas - like I planned it (gas bill) in advance. Or: My gas bill seems like I'm only paying $1.98 per gallon - Woohoo!
Posted by: Tuck at April 26, 2006 03:37 PM