No, Really, Taxes are Actually Done Now...

Every year, I say I'm going to do our taxes early so as to not wait until the last minute. Most years, I even get started on them in mid-January, getting a rough draft together. Then, every year, I don't finish them until the 2nd week of April. And every year, I get stressed about them.

I was so happy to finally be done. Sunday night, I finished federal and state for my family and my sister. All my paperwork was finished! I didn't realize it, but there was one problem that would need my attention...

Dad wasn't done with his taxes.

Last night, 'twas around 9:40pm, and I was enjoying some popcorn, a glass of Coke, and conversation with my wife. Tobe was peacefully asleep, and I was basking in the glory of how wonderful it is to put him to bed. Then, the Bat Phone rang. It was a panicked Big Papi.

I pulled in his driveway at 9:59pm, and began beating the ever-living $#!& out of his Federal Schedule A, Federal Schedule 8283, and Ohio Schedule A. By 12:20am, I was on my way home.

I wish that last paragraph was as simple as it sounds.

I know I've already said this ad naseum, but it shouldn't be so difficult to do taxes. My dad and I are both intelligent fellas. We both have math-and-business-oriented brains. We both have business degrees. We both can read and comprehend above a 5th-grade level. I have an accounting degree and my dad has extensive knowledge when it comes to investing.

Oh well, at least, now, finally, we (as a family) are done. Until, of course, we have to amend because we find mistakes...

Call it stupidity, call it pride, call it what you will... I just refuse to pay an accountant to do my taxes when I feel I should be capable of doing so myself.