ENTER TAXMAN
I filed the first week of February. I got a refund. It’s gone. Some people raised an eyebrow when I said I received a refund. Get over it. I did. You see, I was audited many, many years ago and since then I have been a receipt-keeping, bill-organized, journal-keeping madman. After the audit, I owed the IRS $1500. Not a devastating amount, but at the time I was a struggling comedian so it was all the money in the world. The audit pointed out what I had done wrong in my filing and but also pointed out what I could do that was right to not only avoid future audits but maybe actually get some money back. Everyone complains about the “tax laws” when they go against them, but you would be amazed at what the government and the ”tax laws” are willing to give you back if you put the time and effort in to make it happen. My advice? For starters, get an accountant- a good one. There a lot of bad ones out there, using the same Turbo Tax program you are. Find one that’s well-versed in tax laws, updated on the constantly changing tax code and can use that updated knowledge to your advantage. Don’t get me wrong- I hate taxes. I hate organizing them, filing them and paying them. But if they are going to take (and trust me they do. a chunk), I feel I should do my fair share to try and take a little back. Legally, of course and above reproach. I don’t EVER want to be audited again.