the    sides

I did our taxes this year. I hate the whole process. I mean, I don’t hate many things - even now I’m struggling to really name things I hate - but this is one of them. The kids have called tax weekend “The Funk Weekend.” For their own safety, they give me a wide berth on that weekend. There is no playing, no laughing, no fun, no joking, no smiling, and no mercy.

Furthermore, I refuse to take responsibility for it. It’s the government’s fault. Can somebody explain to me why we can put a man on the moon but have yet to figure out a simple way of doing taxes?

My tax return was 56 pages long. You read that right - 56 pages. 5 of those pages were Colorado’s return, another 6 of those were Arkansas. The rest - the sleek organization known as the Federal Government.

Actually, I don’t think it’s entirely the fault of the federal government. Ultimately - yes, they are responsible. But mostly it’s the Internal Revenue Service - the unofficial 4th branch of the government. Is there a better example of one organization being lazy and opting opt of its responsibility (The U.S. Government) and hiring somebody else to do it only to have that hired organization become a bigger mess and monster than the original (IRS)?

Jerry Jones hiring Barry Switzer comes to mind but that was mildly entertaining watching that train wreck - this is personal.

To save trees in South America - I e-filed my return. Only to later find out that if you file in Arkansas but don’t live in Arkansas, you can’t e-file your state return. You have to mail it in. And they want a copy of your federal return. Apparently, modems and phone lines to the Revenue Office are only intra-state.

Then they charge you $17 to e-file. Which I’m trying to figure out why. It seems it would be easier and faster to e-file, therefore why charge for it? Ahhhh….I forgot, I’m dealing with the government.

But the taxes are done. And the weekend of funk is over. Now on to blogging and living a productive life. And the minute a candidate runs on not only lowering taxes but simplifying the process - I’ll join his (or her) fan club.