Saturday, March 13, 2010

A Taxing Experience

How am I supposed to know how to file these taxes? I'm no accountant. But TurboTax isn't quite as helpful as I hoped.

I worked three Saturdays for a medical group witnessing as lots of people suffered through colonoscopies on my watch. It turns out that 1) I hate working Saturdays in the summer and 2) I need to eat at regular intervals or I get pretty cranky. Even if all my patients are having colonoscopies. I still have a healthy appetite. Yeah, that per diem job taught me a lot. But that is not what I'm here to tell you.

I'm here to tell you that taxes were not taken out of my paycheck and I am now trying for the life of me to sort this out. TurboTax thinks I am self-employed. I tried telling the TurboTax Virtual Assistant about my problem, but that biotch Tina was no help at all. Well, the convo went a little something like this...


You (Uptown Girl) said:
I was in no way, shape, or form performing colonoscopies out of my apartment. I don't run a small business, I promise.

Tina said:
I'm sorry, but I didn't understand your question. Please try restating it using different words and I'll try to find you an answer.

I am a computer, not a person, so please keep your question short and ask one question at a time.


Rude.

I may have to go pay H&R Block to help me file these taxes. I have this hang-up about filing my taxes the right way and not getting arrested or something down the line. I think it stems from the time I went out with a tax attorney (a one date wonder) and let me tell you, those IRS guys are pretty darn serious about taking all the money from my paychecks as is legal.

8 comments:

City John said...

Ur not alone in this UG. As my company made me a 1099 employee last December as it didn't renew our contracts soooo I also will be owing taxes. We should create a club for people in this scenario. While I didn't perform any colonoscopies, I still feel like I am getting screwed over by the tax peeps. I too know the pain u speak of.

Amanda @ It's Blogworthy said...

My hubby was a temp for about 6 months in 2008. They didn't take ONE PENNY out in taxes, boy was that a big slap in the face.

Of all the things to be running out of your apartment....

HEre's how I do my taxes:
1) put w2s in an envelope
2) add some items from our marketing specialty item closet
3) send them to my accountant sister.

mCat said...

Wha? We're supposed to file taxes?

I'm sure Splenda takes care of all this. And I am glad, cause I wouldn't have a clue and someone named Tina would be punched in the face

Colleen said...

HI Maria,
Im trying not to comment for Lent - but you do have to pay SE tax on that income. Anyone who gets paid in full, and then gets a 1099-Misc has to pay those taxes. Hopefully you have withheld enough from your W-2 job that you won't have to owe in the end. Hope that helps :)

ann. said...

agreed. taxes=bleh.

Uptown Girl said...

Colleen- not commenting for Lent!!! you are way holier than me. I'm trying to not make nasty comments for Lent (in real life)... and it is way harder than I thought.
I did withhold a lot in my regular W-2 so as not to owe more $$ this year, thanks to my accountant friend's advice last year :)

kado! said...

i LOVE tax stuff...but I'm very weird like that...

If you go and pay for tax help...the amount you pay is tax deductible so be sure they tack that on for you. Wish I could help you with your question but I have not personally had that situation...

Urban Mom said...

"You don't pay taxes. They take taxes." -- Chris Rock

Wish I could offer something more helpful! Good luck!