"without a whole helluvalot to back it up."
I wonder what backup exactly would have been acceptable to our discerning friend. I am sorry we have failed you.
― felicity, Monday, 14 April 2008 16:14 (sixteen years ago) link
He just needed some accessories after the fact.
― Rock Hardy, Monday, 14 April 2008 16:38 (sixteen years ago) link
True, and got pissed that no chumps besides Jaymc want for the bait.
― felicity, Monday, 14 April 2008 16:49 (sixteen years ago) link
Hey now.
― jaymc, Monday, 14 April 2008 16:53 (sixteen years ago) link
Anyway, I don't think I'd recommend that anyone file their taxes late (I actually just got off the phone with someone who was contemplating doing them this weekend, and I said, "You should really try to do them today"), but for the entire time in 2006 that I hadn't paid them I wasn't worried about getting carted off to jail or anything; I just thought I'd have a ridiculously high penalty to pay.
Is it safe to say, though, that if you don't owe anything, or you owe very little, that they're not going to be as concerned than if you owe a lot? (I don't know how much libcrypt owes, but seeing as how he makes more than three times as much money as I do, it's possible the feds would be more "interested" in his case than they were in mine.)
― jaymc, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:03 (sixteen years ago) link
Doesn't late filing also flag you for a higher likelihood of being audited? That's my biggest fear of all, taxwise.
― Rock Hardy, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:10 (sixteen years ago) link
the last two years my tax return has hit my bank account on a friday when i've been out of town for rock n' roll reasons. both years it was gone before i got back to chicago.
stimulating the economy a half gram at a time.
― chicago kevin, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:14 (sixteen years ago) link
please let me know what tax forms I need to acquire that allow me to check off a box marked "for rock n' roll reasons."
― Alex in Baltimore, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:16 (sixteen years ago) link
Form 1984-VH
― David R., Monday, 14 April 2008 17:17 (sixteen years ago) link
I'd think that late filing, or not filing when the IRS has received income info from an employer (or a 1099 from wherever), would throw up a red flag. In my case, I got a letter two years after the fact (my then-husband had 1) filed late 2) not paid any of the owed tax and I had stupidly signed a blank tax return (and just as stupidly trusted him to take of stuff in my absence)). I had to file for innocent spouse relief, but still had to make monthly installment payments for several years to clear the debt (and yes the interest kept racking up the entire time).
― Jaq, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:17 (sixteen years ago) link
when I owed money and was 'required' to pay estimated tax, I never did it. because I never had the money. I just adjusted my withholdings to make sure I wasn't going to fall way behind again the next year (and of course still did, but paid up when it was due). nothing bad happened to me as a result.
― akm, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:19 (sixteen years ago) link
note that I'm talking about the 'estimated tax' and not the money i already owed, which i did pay. the esimtated tax thing is bullshit. it's like "well you fucked up, so we're going to make you pay everything in advance this year to make sure you don't fuck up again".
― akm, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:23 (sixteen years ago) link
I think that I'm in line to get a refund, so the IRS probably doesn't much care. Also, I think that audits are more worrisome to folks who itemize, which I don't. There's just not that much left to audit.
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:31 (sixteen years ago) link
tax trolls
― gabbneb, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:32 (sixteen years ago) link
Don't speak of CPAs like that, gabbs.
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:33 (sixteen years ago) link
One reason I was hoping to delay before my spirit was crushed by the ILX realist squad is that I don't have all the necessary paperwork. I mean it's somewhere in the house, but god knows where. I know, stupid stupid. Please don't hurt me.
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:36 (sixteen years ago) link
File with what you've got, then do an amended return once you find all your paperwork.
― Jaq, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:38 (sixteen years ago) link
That's a good idea.
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:40 (sixteen years ago) link
Are you a tax professional, Jaq, and if so, can I hire you?
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:41 (sixteen years ago) link
http://www.videofindr.net/imgs/724.jpg
― gabbneb, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:41 (sixteen years ago) link
i owed a big fat (for me) amount on both fed and state tax, so i paid the former right away and scheduled the deposit for the latter a few days after the 15th, anyone know offhand how bad they hit you w/ interest or penalties for something like that?
― Alex in Baltimore, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:41 (sixteen years ago) link
It has nothing to do with how much you owe or pay. Failure to file.
What kind of a home owner doesn't itemize? How do you get your mortgage deduction?
xp Yes which is why everyone has been telling you to do that all along. Alternatively it would be very entertaining for you to ignore all the advice and then live blog your freakouts until the statute of limitations runs out.
― felicity, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:43 (sixteen years ago) link
Nope sorry libcrypt. But I've been through the wringer enough with the feds (and states in a few places) to continue to want to avoid any more trouble with them and hate to see others fall into their nefarious clutches.
― Jaq, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:44 (sixteen years ago) link
What kind of wringer if I might be so bold as to ask?
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:44 (sixteen years ago) link
I love how being a white-collar defense attorney and former DOJ Tax Division Criminal Section prosecutor carries absolutely no persuasive weight with libcrypt. I must not know what the hell I am doing.
― felicity, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:45 (sixteen years ago) link
Are you dating Tom, perchance?
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:45 (sixteen years ago) link
tax resisters are basically like look at me! look at me!
― gabbneb, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:46 (sixteen years ago) link
Fuck you. I worked for Janet Reno, you sexist troll.
― felicity, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:47 (sixteen years ago) link
I don't know what you mean taxes are 100% voluntary and the 14th amendment was never ratified because Ohio isn't a state. (xp)
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:47 (sixteen years ago) link
libcrypt: you need to file, file an amended return, and if you own a house, I think you have to itemize, or you can deduct nothing about your house. or file for an extension. why wouldn't you file for an extension if you aren't ready? i'm confused
― akm, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:47 (sixteen years ago) link
was janet reno a good boss? he seemed like a dick
― akm, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:48 (sixteen years ago) link
I am too big a man to have to mail something to the government
― gabbneb, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:49 (sixteen years ago) link
e-file niggaz!
― Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:51 (sixteen years ago) link
-- felicity, Monday, April 14, 2008 5:45 PM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Link
he's probably ignoring you?
― Mr. Que, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:51 (sixteen years ago) link
akm, I may file an extension. I'm just collecting info on my options before I take action.
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:52 (sixteen years ago) link
postmarked on/before the 15th = not late, correct?
― sleep, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:53 (sixteen years ago) link
try mailing an envelope with nothing in it and claim you forgot to stick the form in.
― akm, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:53 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, actually you can get a postmark up until midnight in many cities. (xp)
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:54 (sixteen years ago) link
Probably go for the e-postmark, tho.
sweet thx
― sleep, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:54 (sixteen years ago) link
felicity - i am trying to help someone file a return for 2006. i'm no accountant but i at least understand a little bit about it. they have none of their tax forms from previous years and 2007 was the first year they filed. they did receive a letter saying that they needed to file for 2006. what is the next step?
― bell_labs, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:57 (sixteen years ago) link
Postmarked by midnight is fine. Yeah I should probably get back to work paying my mortgage with money from spoiled rich people who are crying about being indicted for tax fraud.
xp I would hire a tax lawyer.
― felicity, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:58 (sixteen years ago) link
I e-filed this year for the first time for the sole reason that I have my W2s sent to me online but I don't have a printer. Thought about going to the library, but the $8 fee was worth it to stay at home in my PJs and not have to whip out a calculator.
― jaymc, Monday, 14 April 2008 17:58 (sixteen years ago) link
e-Filing is indeed very pleasant. I have this vague notion that I shouldn't e-file any more, since somehow owning a house makes it financially inadvisable not to have an accountant, but maybe I'm wrong.
― libcrypt, Monday, 14 April 2008 18:01 (sixteen years ago) link
-- akm, Monday, April 14, 2008 10:48 AM (26 minutes ago) Bookmark Link
She was really tall. Reno's big thing was using the Internet to catch catch child pr0nographers and sex offenders.
― felicity, Monday, 14 April 2008 18:18 (sixteen years ago) link
like, even in the workplace?
― Alex in Baltimore, Monday, 14 April 2008 18:27 (sixteen years ago) link
She was really tall
otm!
― gabbneb, Monday, 14 April 2008 18:28 (sixteen years ago) link
I think it may have been a political p.r. maneuver to deflect attention from the criticism of the disproportionately harsh mandatory sentencing guidelines for drug crimes.
Civil forfeitures are fun.
― felicity, Monday, 14 April 2008 18:31 (sixteen years ago) link
I still love the idea that my inability to suffer fools gladly comes in "episodes"
― El Tomboto, Monday, 14 April 2008 18:40 (sixteen years ago) link
Can't wait for the May sweeps.
― Rock Hardy, Monday, 14 April 2008 18:58 (sixteen years ago) link