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It was a day of low-grade good news around here. My tax returns were accepted by both the IRS and the state of California. And I got my new driver’s license.
The tax preparation program notified me that the returns were accepted, but I still had to access the site and print the final instructions, plus copies of everything. As always, I do what I’m told. The federal tax return was 8 pages long. The state tax return was 27 pages long.
This is typical of California, which likes to think of itself as a little more independent than other states. We are better than you, and we don’t mind telling you about it. We are the vanguard; all trends start here. Don’t mess with California, because we can buy and sell at least 47 other states. You have to store your federal tax returns for three years, right? Well, Californians have to keep their state returns for four years. So there.
Anyway, it’s done, and I didn’t have to mail anything to anyone (not even the state tax board). I have copies of everything, and believe me, I’m not going to be audited. It appears my partnership in The Kennel didn’t affect my taxes in any way, positively or negatively. I just had to report it, and that was all. And my charitable contributions, as much as they seemed to me when I was writing the checks, didn’t amount to as much as the standard deduction I’ve always taken. No itemizing needed.
What a big relief, though, to have this behind me. And still with four days left before the deadline, too. That’s so unlike me. |
