Tax Returns 2009

[iAmBaronVonTito]

i know its early, but i figured we'd all have our griefs or triumphs over this year's collection or debt of taxes in 2009 so i started a new thread.

i signed up for an electronic W-2 this year and received my form yesterday.  naturally, when i got home i installed my turbo tax and went at it.  after 20 minutes i was done* and looked up at my total return: i owe close to $1,000.

now, ive never owed the government in my life and i have no problem paying if i need to, however, if i select for the government to withdraw as much as they can from each paycheck (including state), how can i still owe so much?  this is less of a complaint and more of a plea for some kind of explanation; im a real dunce when it comes to economics- i pay my taxes, remain broke all year so i dont have to pay in april, and repeat.  do any FOTs know what may have happened here to explain such an insane, unfair, six sides of nuts outcome for this?  


*i dont own a house, no kids, im not married, not paying school loans, etc. i still use a 1040EZ, no kidding.
PS apologies to any FOTs on twitter or facebook since ive made this outburst a few times since last nite.  im not upset at this point, it is what it is i guess.

[B_Buster]

i know its early, but i figured we'd all have our griefs or triumphs over this year's collection or debt of taxes in 2009 so i started a new thread.

i signed up for an electronic W-2 this year and received my form yesterday.  naturally, when i got home i installed my turbo tax and went at it.  after 20 minutes i was done* and looked up at my total return: i owe close to $1,000.

now, ive never owed the government in my life and i have no problem paying if i need to, however, if i select for the government to withdraw as much as they can from each paycheck (including state), how can i still owe so much?  this is less of a complaint and more of a plea for some kind of explanation; im a real dunce when it comes to economics- i pay my taxes, remain broke all year so i dont have to pay in april, and repeat.  do any FOTs know what may have happened here to explain such an insane, unfair, six sides of nuts outcome for this?  


*i dont own a house, no kids, im not married, not paying school loans, etc. i still use a 1040EZ, no kidding.
PS apologies to any FOTs on twitter or facebook since ive made this outburst a few times since last nite.  im not upset at this point, it is what it is i guess.

Check that you didn't make a mistake entering information in Turbo Tax. I've done that before. Also, check last year's return to make a comparison with this year's return.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

The Sympathetic Ear gives me peace once again.

[<<<<<]

Yeah, that doesn't sound right.  There has to be an error in there somewhere.

[Jack from Arkansas]

Check to make sure you've entered the deduction that's in a seperate section of the ez book.  I'll bet that's what happened.

[erika]

taxact.com is a really easy, cheap (it might even be free depending on what you do) way to do your taxes.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

im going to try all of these things tonite.

PS for the record, the Sympathetic Ear does not give tax advice. 

The Sympathetic Ear AP Mike gives me peace once again.

[snogrog]

I have NO idea how to access my W-2 information from working at Best Buy. I never signed up for a password account!!! Grr.

Also, my other job doesn't take taxes out which sucks. And they just took me from 43 hours a week to 20 which, living in Boston, sucks big time...but I guess that's neither here nor there.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

you should be able to call HR and have them mail you a copy, yeah?  i dont know how best buy works, but they wouldnt be the first company to make it impossible for you to file your taxes.

jerks.

[JP]

I am CPA so if you want to PM me I can help you.

[Sarah]

Did my taxes today.  For the first time in more than twenty years I'm getting a refund.  Exciting!

Sorry to gloat in your thread, Tito.  I hope your mystery was solved and all is now well with your return.

[Kim Kelly]

You know where I'm not getting my taxes done? Liberty Tax. I'm sorry, but putting a grown man in a Lady Liberty gown and styrofoam tiara and making him dance around does not give me faith in your accounting skills.

[hugman]

If you are a slob and you do your own taxes and you end up owing, you probably screwed up. PAY A PROFESSIONAL.  It is worth it.  After I got over being a cheapskate about it and paying a real pro to do my taxes I started getting thousands back. Of course, I itemize, so if you're a standard deduction kind of person, it's hard to say how that'll pan out. Get a referral from someone. I ain't talking about HR Block.
Anyone in the LA are, I have a guy that RULES.  PM me if ya wanna.

[Jixby Phillips]

My mother has done my taxes (as well as everyone else's in the family) for my entire adult life. The results have always been good.

So my advice is: Ask my mom to do your taxes!

[iAmBaronVonTito]

no worries, Sarah, gloat away.  ive always received a return and it feels good.  unfortunately, this year will be the first of paying my dues. 

trust me, when youre taxes are as easy as mine, ive never needed a pro...i definitely owe this year.  bogus, but necessary, i suppose.