tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post2785665649604552223..comments2023-10-28T05:33:15.060-05:00Comments on The Writing Playground: Taxes and the SuperbowlMarilyn Puetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16073134550080890157noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-87572920135179619002009-02-05T20:44:00.000-06:002009-02-05T20:44:00.000-06:00Taxes will be interesting for us this year due to ...Taxes will be interesting for us this year due to move and all those crazy deductions. Fortunately, dear hubby handles that ... I save receipts and file.<BR/><BR/>Superbowl... gladly missed it this year due to my DH's travel schedule. I was able to hang out, watch HGTV, and blissfully not pretend to like it at all.<BR/><BR/>Sigh.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-81479136428622182122009-02-05T15:20:00.000-06:002009-02-05T15:20:00.000-06:00YAY STEELERS - I'm from Pittsburgh :) I enjoyed t...YAY STEELERS - I'm from Pittsburgh :) I enjoyed the remake of the Mean Joe Green commerical and all the Budweiser commercials.catsladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06375770995988927860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-44093940452506042202009-02-05T14:56:00.000-06:002009-02-05T14:56:00.000-06:00Alabama is one of many states where tax preparers ...Alabama is one of many states where tax preparers don't have to be licensed. The legislature is working on it though. I just saw a news clip the other night. A new law would require passing a proficiency exam, get a license and enroll in continuing education to stay abreast of ever-changing tax laws.<BR/><BR/>You have to have a license to do nails, cut hair and keep someone's children. But there's no such requirement to prepare someone's taxes. Sheesh.Playground Monitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07444337591281145863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-61090763541781270152009-02-05T13:43:00.000-06:002009-02-05T13:43:00.000-06:00Taxes? Oh heck. Though I sold last year, I didn'...Taxes? Oh heck. Though I sold last year, I didn't get any money until this year. So, a big fat loss again, and that should thrill the IRS to no end.<BR/><BR/>My understanding about clothes is that they pretty much have to be theatrical. Something you could not wear anywhere else for any reason. If you can wear it, even if you don't, it doesn't count. But that's my understanding and I'm not a tax person. :)<BR/><BR/>I forgot all about mileage for 2007, but won't for 2008. And the tax person I saw didn't mention per diem. I will not be returning to her. I could file an amended return, but I hate to upset the IRS over a couple hundred bucks or so -- you know?Lynn Raye Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05823590040842807378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-6808611757070858182009-02-05T13:24:00.000-06:002009-02-05T13:24:00.000-06:00Sigh... my tax software came in the mail yesterday...Sigh... my tax software came in the mail yesterday, so I'll probably do it this weekend. I spent a whole night logging receipts and expenses into my handy dandy spreadsheet so I should be ready to go. Just hate doing it...<BR/><BR/>I watched the Superbowl, every frustrating second of it. I did like the Budweiser commercials, as always. There was a funny one for career builder that I liked too. Guess it doesn't make sense unless you're living in a Dilbert Cartoon like I am. "If you hate going to work, your boss thinks you're a jerk...."Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pantshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13518751514879244662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-17562113093935932592009-02-05T13:13:00.000-06:002009-02-05T13:13:00.000-06:00Don't get me started on taxes. Luckily, we have an...Don't get me started on taxes. Luckily, we have an accountant because my husband owns a small business. Unluckily, she questions every last one of my writing expenses. If I could just sell a damn book, I'd be happy... or should I say SHE would be.<BR/><BR/>I usually watch the Super Bowl, but not this year. The hubby went to a friend's house to watch it, so I didn't get to see the commercials. Sounds like I missed out on some interesting ones.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for reminding me about the mileage thing! I need to go back and add up how many trips I made to the post office and such. Add that to my growing tax pile...<BR/><BR/>AngelAngelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17010424240956906870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-48494338167385227822009-02-05T10:44:00.000-06:002009-02-05T10:44:00.000-06:00I can answer some of your questions. The dress is...I can answer some of your questions. The dress is NOT deductible because you can wear it other places. It doesn't matter that you don't; it matters than you can.<BR/><BR/>Mileage to RWA meetings, to the airport to fly to conference, your airline ticket, conference fees, national and local dues, hotel rooms, office supplies that pertain to your writing -- those are all deductible. Also promotional items, website and blog prizes, postage and mailing supplies. I bought a new monitor last year and that will be deducted. New computers are deductible too, but I think there's something about depreciating them over time? Again, check with your accountant.<BR/><BR/><BR/>One tip though (check with your accountant) -- when you stay overnight for something writing-related (i.e. national conference) you can take a per diem deduction for meals instead of keeping up with actual costs. The amount varies by city and I'm sure San Francisco probably has a high rate. The DH does that for me and I come out ahead because I never spend as much as they allow me to deduct. Go to www.gsa.gov and click on Per Diem rates. If you don't use the standard deduction for meals, then you can only deduct 50%.<BR/><BR/>If you have a separate business telephone in your home, that's deductible. If you only have one line, it's not. You can, however, deduct your business-related long distance phone calls.<BR/><BR/>The hair appointment is real iffy and probably not worth the risk. The cost of having your press photos taken is deductible.<BR/><BR/>Vacation travel can also include some deductions if it meets certain criteria. My trip to Atlanta in December included a lot of research on locations I used in my NaNo book. I stayed in the hotel where my H/h went for their honeymoon. I ate at a restaurant I used as a model for one I invented in the book. I went to Tiffany's and browsed because the H bought an engagement ring there. I ate lunch at the Varsity because that's where my hero loves to eat. I had fun, but I also took a lot of notes and photos.<BR/><BR/>I'm trying to find a way to make my trip to Curacao deductible, but foreign travel has its own set of rules. I have a year to figure it out. ;-)Playground Monitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07444337591281145863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-47950481599959785982009-02-05T10:31:00.000-06:002009-02-05T10:31:00.000-06:00I'm pretty good about keep up with my stuff. Actu...I'm pretty good about keep up with my stuff. Actually, I keep good records on the computer, but am not so good at keeping up with the receipts, which could be a problem if I'm ever audited. I do have an expand file that the various receipts go into though. :-) Some of them actually make it in there...Rhonda Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14282645541260334424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-81476729000531292652009-02-05T10:12:00.000-06:002009-02-05T10:12:00.000-06:00It IS too dang complicated, Susan. I know I'm mis...It IS too dang complicated, Susan. I know I'm missing some deductions simply because I haven't kept up with them - like mileage (have some,sure there's more). And can I deduct the hair appointment I had before getting my head shots done for my publisher and website? What about the dress I bought that I only wear at nationals? I probably won't deduct those becuase I'm not entirely sure. I think Zilla thinks I'm too conservative when it comes to the IRS but...I have a healthy fear of being audited. Not sure where it comes from though - my grandfather used to work for the IRS. <BR/><BR/>InstigatorKira Sinclair - AKA Instigatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14274056066229852126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-87610006255163719762009-02-05T09:51:00.000-06:002009-02-05T09:51:00.000-06:00My husband is meeting with our accountant even as ...My husband is meeting with our accountant even as we speak. We have a business to do taxes for, too. Thankfully the busienss stuff is all done on the computer, and after a few years, I'm finally getting the hang of Quickbooks. <BR/><BR/>So we've been frantically getting everything together for a while now.<BR/><BR/>You know, when the people who are supposed to run this government can't get the tax thing right (as evidenced by several of them lately, including the guy who is now supposed to be in charge of the TREASURY, for goodness' sake) then that's a big indication that something is WRONG! It's too darn complicated!<BR/><BR/>I'm not holding my breath that they'll change that anytime soon, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-40998769219265232232009-02-05T09:50:00.000-06:002009-02-05T09:50:00.000-06:00Thinking about taxes makes me want to stick my hea...Thinking about taxes makes me want to stick my head in the toilet. I don't keep up with it. each year I swear I'm going to and then I back slide. Ack!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-78595060179734781752009-02-05T09:10:00.000-06:002009-02-05T09:10:00.000-06:00During the year I put anything related to tax stuf...During the year I put anything related to tax stuff in an envelope in the front box that I use to file my bills, etc. So at the end of the year, I pull that envelope out, and anything that I receive in the mail during January I put in tax envelope, gather it all up and get it ready for the tax person. <BR/>And yes, I did watch the superbowl. I liked the stick commercial by Budweiser, grease monkey and favorite was the one about the various pets that people have and "Don't you want a dog?". Grandma chasing her emu had me rolling on the floor.<BR/>robertsonreadsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-83851057916940696322009-02-05T09:07:00.000-06:002009-02-05T09:07:00.000-06:00There was a football game? My receipts for 2008 ar...There was a football game? <BR/><BR/>My receipts for 2008 are in a pile in DG's inbox. I don't do math. Period. <BR/><BR/>But can I squee that I have writing *income* instead of just outgo this time?Problem Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01456049865200737618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-3480951952531342752009-02-05T08:37:00.000-06:002009-02-05T08:37:00.000-06:00Let's don't talk about taxes, ok? I've pulled out...Let's don't talk about taxes, ok? I've pulled out my folders and I'm sure the DH will dive into Turbo Tax next week. Of course, I still don't have a 1099 that I need. I should call them about that.<BR/><BR/>I didn't watch much of the game, except that 98 yard touchdown. And that was when the DH rewound it on the DVR. And while I can't tell you what my fave commercial was, I can certainly tell you what it wasn't. The Teleflora commercial that slammed romance novels. They got an email from me about it and responded with a weak apology and a $15-off coupon. And from what I'm hearing, I"m not the only writer who complained.Playground Monitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07444337591281145863noreply@blogger.com