Tax Un-Season

So I'm up late waiting for my tax software to download, and thought I'd say hi. (it's at 17% right now) Yep, you read that right. Tax software. In October.

Bet no one besides me knew that there are actually TWO tax filing deadlines every year. It's a little known secret that you don't actually have to file your taxes on April 15.

Bet no one besides me files an extension on their taxes....every year. Yep. That's me. Procrastinator extraordinaire. Look...it's in my "about me" section. (wow, can you believe I spelled extraordinaire right without even looking it up? Mr. Spell Checker says so.)

Bet no one besides me - even if they do file an extension - waits until the VERY LAST MINUTE to file, even 6 months later. Plently of people file at midnight on April 15. But seriously. I get an extra 6 months and I STILL wait until the very last minute. Something is wrong with me.

And my download is only up to 21%.

See that other little thing in my "about me" section.....the one that says "CPA"? Wouldn't you think it would be a requirement of my licensing for me to file my taxes in a more timely manner? Yeah, I'm so glad it's not. And believe it or not, I've found it's not all that uncommon for us CPA types to put off filing our taxes. I have at least 2 personal CPA friends who also pretty regularly file extensions.

See, it's also a little known secret that I hate taxes. OK, maybe not so little known. But little known to my new bloggy friends. In fact, I seriously considered changing my major in college because I hate taxes so much. Really. And then in my junior year, when we were all diving deep into our core classes, the professor of my auditing class - which I loved by the way. the class, not the professor. well, he was great as far as professors go, but I didn't want you to get the wrong idea - ANYWAY....my auditing professor saved my college career by walking into class on the first day and announcing, "I know you are all taking Tax this semester. Don't come ask me for help. I don't like taxes, I don't do taxes, and I can't answer any tax questions for you."

The sun emerged from behind the clouds and angels sang the Hallelujah Chorus.

I cannot tell you the huge weight that was lifted off my shoulders by that announcement. Who knew you could be a CPA and not do taxes? Occasionally a friend will call me and say, "Can I ask you a tax question?" And I feel complete and utter freedom to say to them, "Nope."

As a CPA, however, I just can't bring myself to pay someone else to do our taxes, so I do ours, but that's it. And I use software. Which is now only 29% done downloading.

So now you know. I hope you will still be my friend, even if I won't help you with your taxes.

I can recommend some great tax software, though.

Turbo Tax.

But be prepared for the slow download. 33%. It's going to be a long night.

Ok, so I think I'm required by law to put some sort of disclaimer in here. First, if you don't file your taxes by April 15, you DO have to file an extension by April 15. And you guys know you can't consider any of this actual tax adivce, right? You have to check with your own personal accountant for that. We're just having a late-night chat between friends. Because I don't do taxes, remember?