Yes, it's that time of year. Then again, doesn't it seem like it's always that time of year? I mean, most of us are paying taxes (or sweating about not paying taxes) all year long. But from January to April, the dreaded "T" word just feels particularly rotten on the tongue.
Well, I'm not going to pretend that I'm a tax specialist. I don't even try to convince myself of that. No, I, like many others, send my taxes off to someone who knows how to untangle my yearly wad of receipts, W2s, 1099s, and whatnot. But that doesn't mean that I can't take steps to 1) Educate myself about the process, 2) Follow what's going on in the world of finance and tax law (grrr), and 3) Keep track of expenses during the next year.
So, with that in mind, read, practice, and learn about how to:
Read my column Take shelter in Office with Crabby's tax-time tips for tips on how to work toward accomplishing the above four items.
Good luck to you in your pursuit of a refund, dearie. And if you do get it, don't forget who helped you in your quest. (I can accept small gifts that will fit in my mail slot.)
"You don't pay taxes; they take taxes." — Chris Rock
— Crabby