Taxes Done, Movers Next

On Friday night we had our taxes done.

The first year we were together we took our taxes to H&R Block. We weren’t thrilled with our decision to have a ‘tax professional’ from H&R do our taxes, but they were complex enough that we couldn’t do them ourselves. The reason being that I spent half the year in Canada and half in the United States. Years two and three saw us doing our own with home tax software, namely because our situation was quite straightforward. Last year we hired a tax professional referred by a family member. Owning a home brought forth various tax factors that we weren’t quite sure of.

‘Tom’ our tax guy usually rolls up with three bags: one is a briefcase that contains his office supplies; another holds his printer; and the last one is his laptop. He sets up shop at the breakfast bar and then it’s on! He asks for documents and we hand them over. Pretty straighforward. Occasionally he will ask if we have something we can deduct and 100% of the time it is something we haven’t thought of. For example, there were a lot of things I could deduct because of the nature of my profession and in the past we hadn’t done so. This year was no exception, writing of tuition, car expenses, iPass, clothing. The best part is the guy charges $110. He does such a great job that I feel we should be paying him more. Mind you, that is just a thought because we still paid him just $110. But it’s the thought that counts.

Anyhow, the short of the story is that our 2007 (2006 tax year) taxes are done and for the first time in three years we are getting a refund. It isn’t much, around $700 or so but it will certainly come in handy. Combine that with the tax stimulus that should arrive in May or June and I think the government owes us around $1,900. Pay up uncle George!

Today we need to sift through our paperwork and select a mover. H’s business is paying for this out of our relocation package so we need to find out how to actually make the payment because usually you would put down a small deposit and pay the rest of the bill upon delivery. We have three quotes and one of them is out already.

Lease will be signed and faxed tomorrow.

We are a little less than two weeks away from hitting the road.