Recent content by harshness

Ain't that a Shame - Fats Domino

Perhaps only if they break something. I think of them as warning shots across the bow.

If the Intuit transition to the Software as a Service (SaaS, cloud-based) pattern continues, it won't be long until you can no longer install the software on your computer. For those fleeing Windows and not wanting to move sideways (or backwards, in terms of commercial software availability) to...

Salem Costco is up a bit to $2.999 and $3.399.

Do You Know the Way to San Jose - Dionne Warwick

Observing something isn't the same as practicing it. The upcoming Winter Olympic Games will drive that point home in a big way.

Be that as it may...

The motivation to e-file in my state is that if you want expedited refunds, e-filing is the only way to get them. Paper returns seem to require considerably more time to process. This is critically important for those who use their tax refunds as a budgeting tool to pay off holiday bills.

So you have to retype or cut and paste the numbers from your state return to the State website?

Not really. "Resort fees" usually separate amenities (pool, gym, Internet, office facilities, "free" breakfasts) from the price of the room itself. It isn't so much a hidey-hole for raising the advertised price, though I imagine that it does insulate the facility somewhat from the ravages of...

It should be noted that these e-files are for Federal returns only. State returns, where required, demand an additional investment. HR Block offers the same structure but charges 50% more ($37.50 vs $25) for state e-filing. Those who use online services may pay anywhere from $0 to $69 for...

This is a well-traveled trail of adding fees to cover the cost of not upping the plan (or package) price. That the various "cost recovery" fees were allowed in the first place seems an obvious concession to allow the establishment of these slop fees on top of "forever price" service plans...

Sing, Sing, Sing - Benny Goodman [oddly, an instrumental]

An even longer wait is ahead for a flat income tax system in which filing extensive documentation is unnecessary: income x tax rate (12%?) = taxes owed. Quite a few states (Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina...

After the Biden administration declared the "Direct File" program permanent in 2025, the IRS has discontinued it for 2026. This is not to be confused with the "IRS Free File" program used by tax preparation software and websites.