Daily affirmations of a word mercenary
The sound of papers shuffling
23Jan2008 Filed under: RandomataLast night I started my taxes. Just a little bit: I started sorting all the receipts I’ve saved to expense for 2007. It’s a funny thing: while I’m super good at detail work, this kind of administrative/bookeeping stuff makes me go cross-eyed. Combined with the fact that I have varying degrees of no fucking clue what I’m doing, and it makes for an evening of deep sighs and semi-confusion.
My life would be a lot easier if a good bookkeeper fell into my lap. I barely have enough work to justify it though. Is one hour a month too little?
- Tags: bookkeeping, freelancing, money, taxes
11 Responses to “The sound of papers shuffling”
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Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, is in bookstores now.
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Joy
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 am
I’ve started doing my taxes, too, and I wish someone would do that for me. I actually had my tax paperwork (receipts, etc.) shipped to me while I’m on vacation. Waaaah.
I love detail work, and sometimes when I go about all my business expenses for tax purposes, I’m just about ready to had a box of receipts and pay my accountant my whole month’s salary just to spare me of the work. Good luck to us. :-/
heather
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Enrolled agents (EAs) are your friends. Best $250 my husband and I spend every year.
brodie
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
We have found that there are a lot of good bookkeepers out there who are SAHM’s. It is a word of mouth thing, but who knows, put out the feelers…
Nancy
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
My taxes are relatively simple but I always shell out for an accountant because I, too, have no clue what I’m doing and the money I pay is well worth the many thousands of dollars that I get back. I’ve never owed fed taxes and usually owe a minimal amount in state taxes (one year, it was 7 dollars, I kid yo not!)
brit
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I highly reccomend the Quicken / Turbo Tax combo. Hubby is self employed and Quicken lets me track all of his business expenses and income very simply so when tax time comes it’s just a matter of plugging the numbers in Turbo Tax.
We’ve also managed to reduce our debt and put some money in savings because of Quicken. AND you get to make pretty pie charts and stuff!
michelle
January 24th, 2008 at 5:03 am
i go the CPA route. so worth the $300-400 a year for this self-employed gal. we do it all virtually too; he’s 850 miles south of me (i USED to live in the same city as him; liked him so much i kept using him). i still have to go through 1099 forms from clients and total up expense receipts, but my homemade spreadsheet templates for all this make it relatively painless.
dori
January 24th, 2008 at 11:34 am
i just file it really well and dump it on an accountant.
Phyllis
January 24th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Ariel! In case you decide to continue DIY, a $10 seminar is coming up that may help you. It’s sponsored by Washington Lawyers for the Arts. I went to it when I started freelancing; now I actually ENJOY doing my taxes. “Results not typical,” I’m sure. You can buy a ticket here. Whatever you decide, good luck!
Phyllis
January 24th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
OK, the ticket link is HERE.
Molly
January 27th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Big thumbs up for the Washington Lawyers for the Arts recommendation. Their seminars are spot-on. Additional thumbs-up for getting a good accountant. One hour a month is totally not a waste for all the money (a good one) will be able to save you. I have a great one in Bothell. Let me know if you’re interested.
amber
February 6th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
while i don’t do taxes…i can create a mean spreadsheet
http://www.assorted-stiles.com/va.htm