Tax Time is Here and it's Not Funny!
If you a procrastinator, you might be in a panic right now, tomorrow is April 15th, normally the deadline for Income Tax filing in the U.S. Are you confused, annoyed and irritated by the mysteries and complexities of IRS form 1040, 1040A, even 1040 EZ?
Did you discover that you thought you qualify for one form but at the last minute needed another. Are you feverishly working hard to get it done on time not knowing that because of Easter weekend the filing deadline has been extended to April 17th?
That's right, if you are searching madly for forms, I have one good piece of news for you, because April 15th falls on a Saturday this year, you have a few more days, until Monday, the 17th in fact, to get your act together and file. (Unless you are a resident of Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and the District of Columbia where they celebrate the Patriot's Day Holiday. Then you get till Tuesday. Unless you are a resident of one of the listed Hurricane Katrina Parishes or Counties, then you have until August 28th. And rightly so.)
Before I say anything else I would like to point out that no one at the Peter Files Blog is a tax advisor. We are merely pointing you to a source of information. How you use it is up to you. I am not an attorney though I have played one on the stage. A solicitor, and a Barrister/Q.C. too, now that I think of it. So anyone who thinks they are getting any kind of tax advice from a comedy, commentary and satire blog, go somewhere else!!!!
However, as a service to you who might be thinking some most unholy thoughts right now, I thought it might be a good idea to provide you with the links to a number of IRS Forms and Publications links that might be helpful.
At least if you have these you won't have to try to dash out in the rain to the library if you find out you are missing form 2241 or suppository C at the last minute.
Let's start with the Main Tax Website IRS.GOV from which you can travel through all kinds of informative pages, if you have the time. Which you probably don't.
If you are going through your tax forms and discover that you are missing a specific form or set of instructions or the corresponding publication and know the form number, this link to the Forms and Instructions Search Page is probably the most handy, it lists the different forms in numerical order. Watch out though, you want the forms for the year 2005 in most cases.
The search form allows you to use the control key to select multiple files and open them all at once in either pdf format (best for printing) or xml/sgml mode which is easier to read.
Obvious Tip: If you want your files in PDF format, which have file names such as f8863.pdf (form you fill out), i945.pdf (instructions), or p502.pdf (publication), once you have opened one, if you know the actual file name of the next one you need, you can just change it in the address bar to open the next. I tend to create a desktop folder to store them in and print, then save them in that folder as quickly as possible. Later I move that folder to a more logical place.
Of course, if you are a real expert (then I don't know why you are still reading this other than for laughs or to make welcome corrections), you can just go to the FTP files and click, click, click for PDF files or click, click, click for SGML .exe files (Warning: probably no good on Mac - I did not waste my time trying). They store a whole bunch of other related forms here.
If you know what you want by name, but not the form number, then the IRS Topical Index might be up your alley. For example, the page the link above takes you to the D page, for Death, Deductions, etc. The nice thing about this way of doing things is that it is VERY comprehensive and helps you from missing things you might need or want, like a guide to medical and dental deductions. I thought when I saw this that it was very useful. Nice one, IRS.
If you don't have time to get it absolutely right? You can always file for an automatic extension of filing. You still have to pay an estimated tax due if you estimate that you owe it and its always better to be on the safe side here. Especially good if you are pretty darn sure you have money coming back instead of the other way around.
Finally, really confused, trusting, or short on the readies? You can always have the IRS figure out you Income Tax for you. WHAT you say. Yep, and they usually do a pretty good job. Not a good idea if you have a complex tax situation, etc. It's sort of like an automatic audit. But it puts off that check or refund but when the bill comes, its due pronto. However, if they make a mistake, you might still be liable. Might, maybe, its all relative and once again, I am not an expert. I may never have been pert in the first place.
And all you outside the USA who have other systems. Take this as an invite to look at what we Yanks have to wade through. Is it better? Worse? I know you have V.A.T. in some places, is there more? Of course, in some states we have to worry about state taxes too.
Sigh, well got to get back to my adding machine.
Q: How many tax accountants does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: Depends on whether its deductible, is it fully depreciated as a business expense?
Q: How many IRS employees does it take to screw in a light bulb.
A: We don't do lightbulbs. We handle taxes and taxpayers only.
Agent Friday, you're with the IRS now? What do you need?
Just the tax, Ma'm, just the tax.
The Oracle at Delphi was off by a month!
Beware the Ides of April!
Julius Peter
Don't forget to tell your friends and family about the The Peter Files Blog of Comedy.
Just use the little envelope to forward your favorite jokes to your friend family and co-workers. You'll be glad you did. We're Safe for Home and Work - no naughty bits!
Peter, Chief Editor and Spell Wrecker
The Peter Files Blog of Comedy, Satire and Commentary ===> We love comments about our posts good or bad!
Did you discover that you thought you qualify for one form but at the last minute needed another. Are you feverishly working hard to get it done on time not knowing that because of Easter weekend the filing deadline has been extended to April 17th?
That's right, if you are searching madly for forms, I have one good piece of news for you, because April 15th falls on a Saturday this year, you have a few more days, until Monday, the 17th in fact, to get your act together and file. (Unless you are a resident of Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and the District of Columbia where they celebrate the Patriot's Day Holiday. Then you get till Tuesday. Unless you are a resident of one of the listed Hurricane Katrina Parishes or Counties, then you have until August 28th. And rightly so.)
Before I say anything else I would like to point out that no one at the Peter Files Blog is a tax advisor. We are merely pointing you to a source of information. How you use it is up to you. I am not an attorney though I have played one on the stage. A solicitor, and a Barrister/Q.C. too, now that I think of it. So anyone who thinks they are getting any kind of tax advice from a comedy, commentary and satire blog, go somewhere else!!!!
However, as a service to you who might be thinking some most unholy thoughts right now, I thought it might be a good idea to provide you with the links to a number of IRS Forms and Publications links that might be helpful.
At least if you have these you won't have to try to dash out in the rain to the library if you find out you are missing form 2241 or suppository C at the last minute.
Let's start with the Main Tax Website IRS.GOV from which you can travel through all kinds of informative pages, if you have the time. Which you probably don't.
If you are going through your tax forms and discover that you are missing a specific form or set of instructions or the corresponding publication and know the form number, this link to the Forms and Instructions Search Page is probably the most handy, it lists the different forms in numerical order. Watch out though, you want the forms for the year 2005 in most cases.
The search form allows you to use the control key to select multiple files and open them all at once in either pdf format (best for printing) or xml/sgml mode which is easier to read.
Obvious Tip: If you want your files in PDF format, which have file names such as f8863.pdf (form you fill out), i945.pdf (instructions), or p502.pdf (publication), once you have opened one, if you know the actual file name of the next one you need, you can just change it in the address bar to open the next. I tend to create a desktop folder to store them in and print, then save them in that folder as quickly as possible. Later I move that folder to a more logical place.
Of course, if you are a real expert (then I don't know why you are still reading this other than for laughs or to make welcome corrections), you can just go to the FTP files and click, click, click for PDF files or click, click, click for SGML .exe files (Warning: probably no good on Mac - I did not waste my time trying). They store a whole bunch of other related forms here.
If you know what you want by name, but not the form number, then the IRS Topical Index might be up your alley. For example, the page the link above takes you to the D page, for Death, Deductions, etc. The nice thing about this way of doing things is that it is VERY comprehensive and helps you from missing things you might need or want, like a guide to medical and dental deductions. I thought when I saw this that it was very useful. Nice one, IRS.
If you don't have time to get it absolutely right? You can always file for an automatic extension of filing. You still have to pay an estimated tax due if you estimate that you owe it and its always better to be on the safe side here. Especially good if you are pretty darn sure you have money coming back instead of the other way around.
Finally, really confused, trusting, or short on the readies? You can always have the IRS figure out you Income Tax for you. WHAT you say. Yep, and they usually do a pretty good job. Not a good idea if you have a complex tax situation, etc. It's sort of like an automatic audit. But it puts off that check or refund but when the bill comes, its due pronto. However, if they make a mistake, you might still be liable. Might, maybe, its all relative and once again, I am not an expert. I may never have been pert in the first place.
And all you outside the USA who have other systems. Take this as an invite to look at what we Yanks have to wade through. Is it better? Worse? I know you have V.A.T. in some places, is there more? Of course, in some states we have to worry about state taxes too.
Sigh, well got to get back to my adding machine.
Q: How many tax accountants does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: Depends on whether its deductible, is it fully depreciated as a business expense?
Q: How many IRS employees does it take to screw in a light bulb.
A: We don't do lightbulbs. We handle taxes and taxpayers only.
Agent Friday, you're with the IRS now? What do you need?
Just the tax, Ma'm, just the tax.
The Oracle at Delphi was off by a month!
Beware the Ides of April!
Julius Peter
Don't forget to tell your friends and family about the The Peter Files Blog of Comedy.
Just use the little envelope to forward your favorite jokes to your friend family and co-workers. You'll be glad you did. We're Safe for Home and Work - no naughty bits!
Peter, Chief Editor and Spell Wrecker
The Peter Files Blog of Comedy, Satire and Commentary ===> We love comments about our posts good or bad!
Please make comments by clicking on the word "Comments"!
Click on the Envelope to forward posts to your friends! Thank you! The staff.
posted by The Peter Files Blog of Comedy : Friday, April 14, 2006
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