You’ve heard me say it before when it comes to filing these annual tax returns.
Don’t mess with the Internal Revenue Service.
It’s my rule of thumb.
“Trust me, I will not bring you anything in a Harris Teeter grocery bag on April 14,” I was telling my accountant Monday, assuring her my 2025 income, expenditures, and documentation will be on her desk no later than Wednesday.
It’s been a busy time trying to keep up with my finances in 2025, but I’m a stickler for doing it right, and I don’t cut corners—not when it comes to the IRS. In other words, when it comes to getting my 2025 tax information together for my certified public accountant, I dot the i’s and cross the t’s. I don’t leave much to chance, and I double-check everything.
My late Mama’s cherry-wood secretary is inundated with one 2025 document after another. Looks like a cyclone made a pit stop at this old desk.
Getting It All Together
There’s the Social Security Administration’s 1099 benefit statement I finally found filed away. It took some searching. There’s my 1099 Nonemployee Compensation document for my independent contracting work with CityView. There’s my 1099-R Individual Retirement Account from my stock brokerage folks.
There’s my Cumberland County property tax bill, and it was rather salty in 2025. And my Moore County property tax document for my eight acres near Woodlake Country Club in Lobelia. There’s my tax documents and vehicle registration for the 2021 Honda Civic and the 2019 Honda Accord.
I’ve been told that unless I have $30,000 in annual medical expenses, not to bother. I’ll include them anyway. Blue Cross Blue Shield is proud of its health supplement, and I’m giving it a shot. Same for that crown at Dr. David Hedgecoe’s office back in September. Crowns don’t cost $400 like they did in the early 1970s.
The good Lord likely won’t be pleased with me. I surely didn’t give my fair share to Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines, Highland Presbyterian Church, or Cypress Springs Presbyterian, which is the little white church in Cameron where Mama is buried and where I’ll one day be buried beside her. My poor Christian financial stewardship, if I don’t up my chintzy ways, could mean I’m destined for hell.
Should I, by the good Lord’s grace, make it to heaven’s pearly gates, Saint Peter likely will be looking my way with a disdainful eye.
“Remember, my son, the Lord loves a cheerful giver,” I can hear him saying, “and you, according to our records, may want to pick up the pace.”
No point pleading my frugal financial ways.
“We’re busy up here,” Saint Peter likely will remind. “It’s tax season. We’re busy. We don’t mess with the IRS.”
‘I’m So Stressed Out’
Monday evening was for putting all my 2025 income and expenditure documents in order, which included some mileage and lodging for travel the past year. I was checking it again on Tuesday, too.
So, there you have it.
Now, it’s off to my CPA, and my fate is in her capable hands. There will be no time for idle chit-chat. These folks who decipher and file our tax returns for us are busy this time of year, with no time to spare.
While I like the spring season, tax season can be a dread. Or another way of putting it is tax season can be taxing with the April 15 deadline near.
“I’m so stressed out,” a friend was saying this week. “I’m trying to get my tax information together, and it’s driving me nuts.”
Suffice it to say, she’s not alone.
Epilogue
Actually, I know some folks who file their annual tax returns, sans an accountant.
I’m not of that ilk.
I wouldn’t dare.
I leave my taxes and filings to people who know what they’re doing. It’s been my rule of thumb for more than 56 years. I don’t mess with the IRS.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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