I am completely out of patience. Since I have no deductions and nothing that is financially important, I have been using the "easy" form for filing taxes for several years. Takes maybe an hour (less, probably) to fill out both federal and state forms. Here's how much I made, here's how much you stole, here's how much you still want. One paper to attach-- a W-2.

Lordy---don't retire, start receiving a pension and a lump sum non-taxed distribution and think you can breeze by with the easy form. I didn't even look at the paperwork that was sent to me this year-- until tonight. I have a W-2, two different 1099-Rs and a 1099 INT. With great anxiety I realized I needed to use another form--and there are a lot of things I am expected to know and figure out. I am done, I'm pretty sure I didn't do it correctly because I'm getting quite a bit back from state, and have to pay a little bit to federal. That seems backwards, but I'm filing the damn thing anyway and then will make an amended return later after I get some help.

On the state form there's a line for PERA contributions from 1984 t0 1986 that were taxed and shouldn't have been. I'm asked to write how much I contributed during those years. It was 24 freaking years ago-- how am I supposed to know that? Another line has a special worksheet to use to see if I can use some simplified method for something. Can you say "oxymoron"? Simplified? Um, I don't think so.

And it annoys me to no end to know that millions and millions of people (me included) have to PAY someone to help fill out this paperwork. I don't want a stimulus package, I want a straight income tax for everyone.

I am SO picking out all the red jelly beans and eating all of them right now.

Started and finished a new book yesterday----> Liked it, but am too annoyed with the government right now to do the book any justice.