*gibber*

[zana16]

Buggeration!

As the supreme procrastinator, I finally made myself sit down last night (after the fortifying bottle of wine--this is the one occasion I ever let myself drink to nerve myself up) to do my taxes, and discovered that I have completely misplaced my W-2 for one of my jobs.

Aha. Ahahahahahaha.

So, I'm filing for an extension. Then I remembered I'd have to file an extension with Maryland, as well. So I went online and this is what the website says: "If you already requested an extension from IRS for your federal return and you do not owe additional state tax, you receive an automatic six-month extension for filing your Maryland return." They go on to explain other options, none of which I qualify for. I haven't a bloody clue whether I owe additional state tax, but I doubt it. I never have before, anyways.

Sooo... I don't have to do anything? "Automatic" makes it sound like I don't have to do anything. But I distrust the government on this. I fully expect to get bitten if I take this at face value.

If I thought I'd get through to an actual person, I'd call the help line, but I'm at work all tomorrow then at the Center til nine, and I can't just hang around on hold for up to an hour, my boss'd throw a fit!

It doesn't make it any better that this is completely my own stupid fault.

Comments

[melodyclark.livejournal.com]

I can only tell you what my tax guy (who was once an IRS auditor) told me. He told me I can file an extension whether or not I owe money. I will be charged for late payment if I do owe but the IRS huns don't ransack the taxpayer's house and steal their sheep or something. lol He says the state automatically gives the taxpayer an extension when we file for a Federal extension. I've filed extensions for the last twelve years and I've never had a problem, not even when I owed (other than paying a few more bucks).

[zana16.livejournal.com]

Okay, that sounds reassuring. I don't make much so it's not much worth their while to come after me anyways, and usually it's them that owe me not the other way 'round.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

It does sound like it will be fine. Also state taxes are usually so low that a penalty would be very small if your extension with the IRS didn't fall under Maryland's exact tax laws. But it really sounds like it does and I say don't fret!

[zana16.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I woke up with a horrible stomach ache but I'm trying to make myself believe that it's not worth the worry.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

It will be OK. Definitely not worth a stomach ache! *makes you ginger tea*

[zana16.livejournal.com]

Awww, thankee.

My stomach ache went away and I was in a surprisingly great mood today, no idea why, so apparently I've laid the worry to rest somehow!

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Good! :D

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

If it helps at all, my US taxes were about 3 months late a couple of years ago, with no extension, through no fault of my own, and I was panicking about it. I was fined for the late return - but it turned out to be something like $3.00 a month... I imagine it would be worse if someone did it regularly, but I'm sure it'll be okay! Stoopid taxes. Bizarrely enough they sent me tax papers this year even though I've not been in the US for two years now... I presume I don't have to do anything! Eep!

[zana16.livejournal.com]

I don't understand taxes at all... some people owe huge amounts, I rarely do. $3 a month sounds just fine, really. I don't know why they'd send you papers unless you're an expat? When I lived in France I had to have my dad file for me cause it totally slipped my mind, but my income was all technically in Massachusetts even though I was living in Paris so who knows.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ah, see, I'm not an ex-pat cos I was never a pat *g* but I'm an ex-non-resident alien because I did my MA there and then went back to do a PhD (not finished yet!) But apparently if you touch foot in the US for more than 5 years, you become a NRA - not eligible for any of the good stuff, but more than eligible to pay taxes, thank you very much... *headdesk* I guess they just didn't notice that I wasn't still there?! But weirdly enough I can earn money from an American company if I'm living in the UK and not be taxed in the US on it! I dunno...

[zana16.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I didn't think you were, but then I didn't think the US would tax noncitizens. Really, tax law is just so strange and convoluted, I shouldn't even try to make head nor tail of it.