csammisrun

More precisely, I’ve had my taxes done, and this is an odd sort of a first for me. The last couple years I did my taxes myself, and prior to that I used my family’s tax preparer. I would have continued the trend of doing my own taxes, but 2006 was an interesting fiscal year. I had six months of income from Iowa, then six months of income from Missouri, and half the year I lived in Kansas. Somehow I didn’t think Turbo Tax was going to have my back on this one.

Turns out I was right. The H&R Block preparer was very nice and very good at her job, and while she was working I recognized that it would have been basically impossible for me to have done this on my own without going completely insane. There were forms everywhere and recalculations and elf transactions (yes) and who knows what else. In the end I got a small refund from Missouri, a decent refund from the feds, and I owe Kansas and Iowa. Iowa’s getting a fat $13 from me, and I hope they enjoy the pencil they can now purchase. The biggest monocle-popper was the cost of the preparation, which after a couple of coupons still topped out over $200. Still, it seems like it was worth it, the entire operation took under an hour and was literally painless for me.

So, what will become of my newfound governmental spoils? Most of it will be going to further my 2007 resolution of paying off my credit cards. Potential other outlets include getting my French horn back into playing condition (~$300), or purchasing a bed that isn’t a twin bed (~$money). I invest in quality.