>>>I finally concluded that nobody with an IQ under 180 was capable of understanding this accounting chaos. I certainly don't. And I deeply resent them imposing the necessity of hiring a tax preparation expert to explain to me how much money I owe.<<<
This discussion is off topic. However we all pay taxes, and from my perspective you have hit the nail on the head.
I have gone to my congressman, explained to him that I have an Ivy League degree, that I can force my eyes (repeatedly) over the language of the Alternative Minimum Tax, and have no clue what meaning they are trying to convey to me.
I get letters from the IRS with incomplete sentences. I get letters from the IRS saying call this phone number, and the phone number will have 8 of the ten requisite digits. It took me a 16 months a while back to get a refund. The refund did center around Sec 29 tax credits. They had lost one of my returns. I invited them to my house to examine the my copy of the original. They turned me down and explained that if I wanted my return I would have to make a copy and mail it to them. I went to my congressman's office in Washington, and had them do it. They didn't see the humor in that, and in fact were quite POed. It was 80 pages. I was trying to transmit a message. I think that maybe I got through.
I have read that the cost of compliance with the tax code - the time value for the labor we spend reading the horrible language, keeping records, filling out the forms, etc. - amounts to 20% of each tax dollar collected.
Estonia implemented a flat tax after the Soviets were kicked out. Their economy is vibrant. In the mean time the dollar is falling, nobody seems to want our goods, Detroit is closed for business, and there are beaucoup potholes in the street in front of my house.
I have a certain minimal amount of info on the IRS, and the feedback I get is that they are overwhelmed. Probability is on your side to file as you see fit. As least you have made a good faith effort. That at least is what I do. I stopped worrying about the wash sale rule long ago. My Schedule D is about 30 pages. There is no way anybody is going to comb through that stuff.
Grrrr. How is that for on OT rant??? |
