It’s tax day and I can’t stop sobbing. I didn’t even do my taxes today, I just filed an extension. I did include a check in the envelope I mailed. I figure I have 5 to 7 days to get some money in the account I wrote the check from.
There is no valid reason for me not to have done my taxes either. Luckily I don’t need one, anyone can get an automatic extension of 4 months. I’ll still wait 3 months and 28 days before I actually fill out the damn forms.
I don’t mind paying taxes either, I think it’s the price I pay to be a citizen. But damn, I pay a lot. I make about $12,000 a year gross and after expenses and whatever that standard deduction is, I pay about $1,200.
I don’ take a lot of the deductions that I could either. I don’t write off a home office, though I am self-employed and have one. I don’t write off the use of my car though I transport dogs in it on a regular basis.
I don’t write off any part of my home or yard for business use when it’s the dogs I board who use most of the 2 acres I own. I don’t even like to go outside.
I do write off supplies and repairs. Boarding dogs does a lot of damage to your house, especially the floors, doors and fences.
I don’t mind paying but it seems odd that someone as poor as I am owes so much. I’m looking at the booklet for 2018 and if you have taxable income of $5 to $15 you owe $1. That’s $1 too much and what bothers me is it’s not fair.
My sadness comes from being forced to confront my low income and the connection between that and my low self worth.
So what am I going to do about it? I don’t really know, except here on Daily Kos I will keep paying close attention to candidate diaries in the hope of getting Democratic majorities elected everwhere. I follow the group DK Fans of 90for90 so I can keep up with candidates in as many races as possible.
I also have a free bumper sticker from Rob in Vermont. That cheers me up. You can get one for free and cheer yourself up too.