Tax returns as spectator sport
For years, the family looked at me oddly before piling into the car for a day trip. T-Day, and the T stood not for travel but rather taxes. More particularly, tax return production, wherein I covered the kitchen table with piles of paper, renewed my calculator keyboard skills and then tried to keep my blood pressure below the point where an aneurism occurred.
Things were eased when “software solutions” were available for purchase during the last decade, but the “journée fatidique” remains as a smudge on the calendar. I prepare four sets, in both official languages; feel my pain.
Today, I watched my son trying to capture the feeling. He doesn’t have much baggage (or complication in the prep), but he won’t volunteer to do anyone else’s paperwork. There was great moaning and gnashing of teeth over the level of absurdity. Don’t have your magic password? Call the toll-free number and humble yourself. Don’t understand the terminology? Join the rest of us. No wonder the tax preparation industry is as large as it is. In return for providing the government with a forensic audit of payroll practices, you may (MAY) get back some of the money that was earned, borrowed at 0% interest and held in escrow.
The politicians would have us believe that our tax load has dropped (as the deficit/debt rises). I invite you to compare your T4s from other years (and I realize that there are many, many, many other forms involved). Better yet, do the math. Divide your gross by your taxable amount and see if you feel any richer now.
Didn’t think so.
