Best If Used By April 15
Posted: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
by Michael Ramzy
delusionthread.com
Funny how we seem to wait until the last minute on so many things. And yet, there are many thi
ngs we refuse to consider when a certain date approaches.
For example:
We all know it's tax time, and when this day rolls around you would think most of us would be prepared. I mean, it's not something arbitrary or dynamic that changes yearly and we have to check and double-check: April 15 is tax time this year. It was last year. And it's a pretty good bet it's the same next year.
And yet, we see the impossible lines at the post office and see them on the news and, if we aren't part of those lines, we shake our heads in wonder. Why do people wait until the last minute for this, and not for other things.
Milk and bread are two examples that come to mind. When we buy these staples, we automatically check the expiration date. For example, today is April 15 and I wonder how many of us would buy milk that will expire on the 17th. Same with bread, and eggs, and many other things. Just about everything these days has an expiration date, including vitamins and supplements, baby formula, aspirin, and even condoms.
We check these dates because we plan ahead. We wait until the last minute on taxes . . . because . . . well, I don't know why, really. Sure, some owe the government and so I can understand those people waiting until the last minute to give their hard-earned dollars to Uncle Sam (or Uncle Scam, depending on who you ask), who will probably do something with it the taxpayer doesn't like. I can understand that, as we all can. Yet all of the others, who wait and postpone and wait and delay, and then become annoyed and surprised when they find they are not alone. That is what I do not understand.
And yet, every year it is the same.
All I can say is this: Plan ahead. Get everything you need before the last minute. If you haven't your tax forms by the end of February at the latest, make some calls and get things moving. If you have to file an extension for one reason or another, don't try to do it on the 15th. Think ahead, and plan ahead.
The one thing we don't need in our lives is more stress, and waiting until the last minute on taxes (and many other things) is self-induced stress and heartache we alone can cure.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Mike,How true. I was in that boat for some time. This year I did my taxes weeks ago. Already putting the healthy refund to good use. So nice to be out of the loop on this one. Thanks for the article.We sure can live healthier without all of this self-induced stress and drama in our lives, can't we? I did mine in February and last night at work I received a call from a friend who wanted to know how to get her W-2. I could not believe it. And she was getting a refund! Go figure.Thanks for reading and commenting.
Michael, the title is very clever, I love it! I also enjoyed reading it and couldn't agree with you more. Have you heard the saying: "Two things in life you can be sure of and that's death and taxes." I guess those you refer to in this well-written article will also be caught off guard that they died.I was actually looking at the expiration dates at the supermarket when I came up with the title. And you know, we do plan for death (when we're older, that is), so we should also plan for taxes. Thanks for reading and commenting.
So right, Michael. Even an immigrant like me learned to file my returns on time once a friend told me that I had to file even if I didn't owe any taxes! I've been filing early ever since, as early as January or once I receive my W-2. Thanks for writing. ~mogama~And thanks for reading and the comments.
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