Fucking IRS!

[dieblucasdie]

Fuck is it ever annoying that her burlesque troupe decided to go legit and report her (some of) her income from that, though. That $700 on the 1099-misc means I have to fill out like 5 additional forms

[RoyBiggins]

Hey, just for the record, I am swamped but if you want me to check that shit, please don't hesitate to scan it and email it to me or whatever.

Also, make sure you claim expenses against htat shit--I know she got 'em.  Deduct them sequins. 

[RoyBiggins]

I mean, shit, you can probably claim plenty of expenses from all costumes against whatever Studio Lawhatzitz reports.  Text me if you want to hash out or have me call a dude to figure out the vagaries of reasonable expense reporting for costumes & such.  Also, probably some of your travel (but not meals).

[dieblucasdie]

Oh, yeah, I have more than enough expenses to zero out the liability on that $700, it's just funny/annoying that most of the work on my tax return went into that $700. Thanks for the offer; when I'm done I'll probably hit you up just to give it a once-over.

[auto-da-fey]

oh man, I just went to H&R Block and got my taxes done (for this year and last, because I . . . sort of forgot to file last year), and I got burned on city taxes now that I don't work in town anymore and never thought to set up regular paycheck deducations. it hurt, bad.

the best part was when I accidentally mentioned being married, then tried to retract it because I'm pretty certain the spouse filed as single and I didn't want to get her flagged. it confused the accountant for quite some time, then finally I just said "hey, can you forget I ever mentioned it? I'd rather just file as single." He'd already told me about getting high and reading anti-porn comics in college, and was cool about this--"you never said anything to me, right?"

Biggins, can we get in trouble for filing as single? By next year we might live together (actually, probably not for tax purposes) and be more of a "real" married couple, but right now, neither of us wanted to bother (also, I'm such a fuckup for not doing my taxes last year that I didn't want to saddle her with any guilt-by-marital-association).

[RoyBiggins]

Well, technically that's tax fraud.  If you're married, you're married.  You'll never meet the conditions for Unmarried for Tax Purposes as long as you and the lady still like each other.  However, the only likely penalty if you were found out for filing wrong (which isn't likely) is that you'd have to amend your taxes and file them separately.

In fact! IRS circular 230 tells me that it's my sworn duty to tell you to amend them and file correctly.  So, that is what you should do.  If you and M each file Married Filing Separately, that will shield her from the ill effects of you having not paid your taxes.  So, there's that.  But you can't just amend one, you'd have to amend both.  If you want to know anything more, hit me up.

[elpollodiablo]

I can understand maybe politically or personally why you wouldn't want to file jointly, but you'd likely get a nice big fat refund if you did! That's one of the material advantages.

[auto-da-fey]

wasn't really political or even personal so much as . . . lazy? I mean, honestly I am a mess when it comes to responsible-adult stuff; I harnessed my momentum yesterday to catch up on my bills and realized I hadn't paid my electric since October. they've actually been calling me for months, but I never answer my phone anyway. I used to chalk this up to depression, but not being depressed these days I have no excuse except that, well, I can get away with this sort of avoidance, so I do. not a great thing, I know.

but a refund does have appeal. and Biggins, I do appreciate your ethical obligation, and let me formally assure you we will assuredly do so . . .