I fought the law, and the law won

I've never been robbed. Actually that is debatable. Growing up my brother had robber-like tendencies that led me to believe that my wallet was missing money on several occasions because of him. Now that he is a much more trustworthy person that doesn't scare the bejeebies out of me anymore I should ask him about my childhood money that has gone missing. Anyway, regardless, no more than $30 has been taken from me without my consent, sometimes my reluctant consent, but consent nonetheless.

I worked for H&R Block earlier this year, providing technicals support for users of TaxCut (their online software for figuring out taxes). Anyway, having this position provided me extra confidence when I did my own taxes this year. I have done them every year but have usually doubted myself and figured I had done them wrong. This year was different, I was certain everything was fine.

A couple of weeks ago I got a letter in the mail from the Utah department of Revenue saying they had never received my signature on my return. So I signed the paper, mailed it in and anxiously awaited the arrival of my hundred something dollar check. Not much, but 100 bucks is 100 bucks!

I kind of forgot about that until today when I opened the mailbox and found another letter from the Utah Department of Revenue. Ah, my check had arrived and not a moment too soon because we have just spent a lot on baby stuff, etc. I open the "check" and to my dismay find that it is a bill for over $230 including $20 of late fees. Late fees? I should charge them late fees because they are the ones who owe me money, TaxCut says so! Now I am in distress because I guess they are probably right, but $230 that's like a car payment, or like 10 dinners at Olive Garden, or two months of electricity bills. Oh man. Really it was like losing $380 because I had been assuming they owed me money. Those scoundrels.

I can't complain too much because those scoundrels are paying for my milk, eggs, cheese and juice (WIC), paid for Gwenie's birth ($5,000?), and gave us money every semester we were in school (probably $10,000 between the two of us over four years). So I still like the government, and I would have gladly paid the $200 back in February when it was supposedly due if TaxCut would have told me to.

Next year I will hire a professional (or my Dad).