by Renee Holden, Head Editor, INALJ Nebraska
See You Next Year, Tax Day
April 15…Tax Day. As a public librarian, there is very little that strikes fear into the hearts of public librarians everywhere like Tax Day. On April 15 every year public libraries are filled with those last minute tax procrastinators and those filers who try to find deductions in everything they own. They rush into their local public library and look at the poor unsuspecting librarian at the service desk and unleash their myriad of tax questions:
- I own a houseboat that sits on a very small pond in my backyard. What type of form do I use for that?
- I just bought a XBOX 360. Can I deduct it on my taxes?
- I know I owe a lot of money to the IRS. Do you think the IRS would be mad if I didn’t pay them this year?
- I am so mad at the IRS this year for delaying the forms sent out. I think that I am going to pay my taxes with rolled coins. Do you think I will get in trouble for that?
- Do you know if I can claim my cat/dog as a dependent?
Unfortunately, librarians that work service desks have heard all of these and more on April 15…Tax Day. Well, April 15 is now over…guess we now have 11 more months until next year’s Tax Day.