It's tax night at the post office
I'm as grouchy as they get when it comes to my taxes. I never pay them even a day before I have to. And I make it as difficult as I legally can for the government to get my money. I file on paper, in hand-addressed envelopes, and pay by check. I would never give them my checking account number; I don't care how much they owe me, they're bound to screw up and make some sort of mistake that will take months to correct.
And so I found myself driving up to the main post office early this afternoon for the annual ritual of dropping off the tax forms. This year, taking into account everyone in the family, we had 10 -- count 'em, 10 -- envelopes to go off with our money.
The Postal Service has a special drop-off setup going in the middle of Hoyt Street, and as usual, there were some demonstrators on hand. There was a sign protesting Wal-Mart's taxes, and somebody with a sewing machine -- I'm not sure what that was about.
What wasn't there were other vehicles. The real last-minute types won't show up until later tonight, of course, but even in the late afternoon, there was nobody else there but me.
With electronic filing quickly becoming the norm, the scenes of lines around the block appear to be just a memory. And with them disappears another graphic reminder of how crazy our tax system is. As it retreats behind the electronic curtain, that system becomes just a wee bit more insidious, and a wee bit more impervious to reform efforts. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, it's your fault.
| Posted at 6:31 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (15)
I'll be at the NW Hoyt Street drop after 11:00 or so tonight, with my four (OK, two are extensions). Every year I've gone there, the scene there has fully lived up to your description (OK, one year it was closed and I had to go to the Airport station - definitely not the scene out there, if you're into that sort of thing).
So why April 17 this year?
Posted by John Rettig | April 17, 2007 6:54 PM
If you pay by check, how are you not giving them your checking account number?
Posted by Steve | April 17, 2007 7:08 PM
April 17 for two reasons: April 15 was Sunday, and Monday was a government holiday (Emancipation Day) in D.C.
I'm a fan of electronic filing, but not of refunds -- I've had refunds transferred electronically in years past and got them very quickly, which was nice. But I've been trying hard to avoid overpayment in recent yeas, with some success. And electronic filing loses some of its appeal when the !@#$% Intuit folks charge $16.95 . . . twice -- once for the federal return and once for the state. If the authorities want bits rather than paper, they would do well to make it more attractive to the filer.
Posted by Allan L. | April 17, 2007 7:10 PM
not giving them your checking account number?
They just cash the check. They don't enter the number into their computer system.
Posted by Jack Bog | April 17, 2007 7:17 PM
they would do well to make it more attractive to the filer.
There's a movement afoot called Free File, which would let you file online for free. It's not a real popular proposal with Intuit and H. & R. Block, who are fighting it tooth and nail.
Posted by Jack Bog | April 17, 2007 7:19 PM
I always file on the last day. Years ago, I read somewhere that one is least likely to get audited if one files on April 15, presumably because of the volume. Is this myth or fact?
I filed electronically this year because I didn't want to print out another copy of all the tax forms and docs, some 72 pages on the federal alone. So what is the disadvantage of electronic filing, other than the $16 fee? I did give them my bank account number. Should have used my Amex card.
Posted by Gil Johnson | April 17, 2007 10:06 PM
It is pretty bizarre to go down to the post office right about now (10 p.m.) and see people sitting at tables with shoe boxes full of receipts and other tax info and just starting to do their taxes.
Posted by Gil Johnson | April 17, 2007 10:08 PM
I did give them my bank account number. Should have used my Amex card.
It probably doesn't make any difference. I'm just a grouchy and paranoid old coot.
Posted by Jack Bog | April 17, 2007 10:51 PM
he real last-minute types won't show up until later tonight
I cruised through at 10:45 and there was nary another soul in sight. TV and radio crews were out in force, but I was the only person dropping off. Just a few years ago traffic would be backed up across the Broadway Bridge. I must say, I kind of missed that whole experience. You're right, I blame e-filing.
It's not a real popular proposal with Intuit and H. & R. Block, who are fighting it tooth and nail.
NPR had an interesting bit on this a few weeks back. Intuit has an eight-figure war chest ready to go to fight any attempt to break their monopoly and lawmakers know it. Hence, I wouldn't look for change anytime soon. It's gonna take a security breach to get the wheels turning. Of course that's just a matter of time.
Posted by Chris Snethen | April 17, 2007 11:25 PM
Tax season is like being in an arranged marriage with a meter maid. Only worse. No, wait. Only not as bad.
Posted by telecome | April 18, 2007 1:54 AM
You're right, I blame e-filing
Yeah, well, how about repeated messages last night that the e-filing lines were busy and to try again in half an hour? Not super helpful...I imagine we'll not be the only ones filing late today because of this.
Posted by Frank Dufay | April 18, 2007 6:01 AM
Too bad these people have an effective monopoly:
http://forums.turbotax.com/intuit/board/message?board.id=ef06&message.id=5315
Posted by Allan L. | April 18, 2007 7:13 AM
You really don't think the IRS has your checking account number somewhere in their system? When they "cash" it, I doubt that some little clerk is walking it across the street to the neighborhood bank in exchange for the cash. I'm thinking more of a machine scan of your check and electronic presentation, like most check transactions these days.
Posted by Jud | April 18, 2007 9:45 AM
Maybe they forgot about the extension to the 17th? I know that one took me by surprise so I dropped our returns off at lunchtime.
Posted by Bart | April 18, 2007 12:24 PM
You really don't think the IRS has your checking account number somewhere in their system?
Not in the same place that they have it if you give it to them on your tax return.
Posted by Jack Bog | April 18, 2007 2:05 PM