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cinaedAce: Hey, I need to file my state and federal tax returns before I go back to college.
Mom: Great! Here's an advertisement in the newspaper that says if you go to the IRS webpage, you can e-file your state and federal returns for FREE. It even says no hidden fees! Here, use TurboTax!
Ace: Yay! *goes to TurboTax website and basks in the shiny glow of FREE* Okay, let me grab my W2 form and get this done! It shouldn't take too long! *begins to fill out the online form*
...a half-hour later
Ace: *stares at the endless list of questions* No, I did not donate money to a charity or politician. Look, I just want my money back, please. Enough with the questions!
TurboTax website: ...So, have you had jury duty this year?
Ace: *whimpers a little and keeps on answering stupid questions*
...a little while later
Ace: Aha! Finished! Okay, now just to file it for free-- wait, a $55 fee? What the fuck? That isn't free!
TurboTax website: *cheerfully* Actually, if you look at the small print, only your federal tax return is free. The state tax return has a $30 fee AND since you wanted it to go directly into your bank account, there was a second $25 fee. So you need to give us $55 before we file your returns.
Ace: But-- but-- "no hidden fees" and, and FREE--
TurboTax: But the fees aren't hidden! They're very clearly on the front page in the tiny print in the corner.
Ace: But, free--
TurboTax: Give us all your money, now.
Ace: Oh, fuck all that in the ear. *cancels and goes to the IRS website* What? All the websites have a, "free! (except for the $10/$20/$30 state tax refund fee, but pay no attention to that)" disclaimer. You LIED to me, government! You LIED. What's next, there really WEREN'T Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq?
Mom: *glares a little, enough to point out she is, in fact, Republican* ...Just file the damn taxes, dear.
Ace: *hangs head and goes to the $10 site, muttering darkly under breath and answering the same endless questions as on the TurboTax site*
...a little while later
Ace: Aha! Finished! And it only took me-- two hours? Fucking hell.
Mom: Oh, you're done? Wonderful! Now you can help your brother file his!
Ace: ...Woe.
TJ: *files his taxes in thirty minutes* This was easy! Why were you so pissed off and complaining earlier?
Ace: ...I hate you all.
Maggie: *chews on TJ's W2 form, tail twitching*
Ace: *pats fondly and pretends not to notice that the cat bites at her hand instead* That's right, Maggie, stick it to the Man.
Mom: Great! Here's an advertisement in the newspaper that says if you go to the IRS webpage, you can e-file your state and federal returns for FREE. It even says no hidden fees! Here, use TurboTax!
Ace: Yay! *goes to TurboTax website and basks in the shiny glow of FREE* Okay, let me grab my W2 form and get this done! It shouldn't take too long! *begins to fill out the online form*
...a half-hour later
Ace: *stares at the endless list of questions* No, I did not donate money to a charity or politician. Look, I just want my money back, please. Enough with the questions!
TurboTax website: ...So, have you had jury duty this year?
Ace: *whimpers a little and keeps on answering stupid questions*
...a little while later
Ace: Aha! Finished! Okay, now just to file it for free-- wait, a $55 fee? What the fuck? That isn't free!
TurboTax website: *cheerfully* Actually, if you look at the small print, only your federal tax return is free. The state tax return has a $30 fee AND since you wanted it to go directly into your bank account, there was a second $25 fee. So you need to give us $55 before we file your returns.
Ace: But-- but-- "no hidden fees" and, and FREE--
TurboTax: But the fees aren't hidden! They're very clearly on the front page in the tiny print in the corner.
Ace: But, free--
TurboTax: Give us all your money, now.
Ace: Oh, fuck all that in the ear. *cancels and goes to the IRS website* What? All the websites have a, "free! (except for the $10/$20/$30 state tax refund fee, but pay no attention to that)" disclaimer. You LIED to me, government! You LIED. What's next, there really WEREN'T Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq?
Mom: *glares a little, enough to point out she is, in fact, Republican* ...Just file the damn taxes, dear.
Ace: *hangs head and goes to the $10 site, muttering darkly under breath and answering the same endless questions as on the TurboTax site*
...a little while later
Ace: Aha! Finished! And it only took me-- two hours? Fucking hell.
Mom: Oh, you're done? Wonderful! Now you can help your brother file his!
Ace: ...Woe.
TJ: *files his taxes in thirty minutes* This was easy! Why were you so pissed off and complaining earlier?
Ace: ...I hate you all.
Maggie: *chews on TJ's W2 form, tail twitching*
Ace: *pats fondly and pretends not to notice that the cat bites at her hand instead* That's right, Maggie, stick it to the Man.
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-16 02:24 pm (UTC)I never do my taxes on one of those sites at all. *laughs* I actually do it for free... ok... *hangs head* My mom actually does it for free for me... but one of these days I'll learn how to do it. There's an easy form that you can do because you're not married and stuff like that. So you could be able to use the same form that I do. And its like a paper one and you can mail it in...doesn't cost anything to do it that way. *giggles* Nice and free... cause yeah definitely all about the free here. ^^;;
no subject
Date: 2008-03-16 03:34 pm (UTC)Ignore me, I am giddy after making fudge. Yum, fudge. Even if it's hard to make.
But yeah, next year I will have to ask you about that free form you use, because just paying for stamps instead of a $10 fee sounds very, very good. *grins*
no subject
Date: 2008-03-17 01:19 am (UTC)