stephbg | A fight and a victory (Reply)

A fight
I went to H&R Block today to get my tax done. I thought it would be relatively simple, although I had a few extra items this year - a bit of hardware, lots of medical expenses and a big chunk of super. No shares, capital gains, rental income, separation payments, overseas income. Simple, I thought.

No.

For reasons that are beyond me, as a sole trader it seems I cannot claim any deductions for the $12,700 I voluntarily put into super this year. I've been neglecting it for a couple of years so chucked in a lump sum and made regular payments, as advised by an actual financial advisor. Because I invoice and submit quarterly BAS's I've already paid income tax on this money, say 30%. I was expecting a deduction equivalent to about 15%.

No.

Nothing. Because I use my clients' equipment (their computers and furniture) and am thus classified as a "personal services provider" rathen than a "business", I am entitled to nothing. Nada.

I would have none of it and forced the increasingly nervous--albeit very pleasant--junior person to the phone, the reference books and her colleagues. She kept saying that she couldn't do it because she personally would have to pay back the money if she made an error. Way to go on incentive plans, evil giant corporation.

Eventually she found someone who said it was OK, but it comes down to a definition of "equipment" and perhaps they could reclassify me as a business. I can claim. Probably. If I brought the letter from the super company declaring the contributions were voluntary.

Um.

I had a statement, but I'd forgotten to wait for the letter which said the same thing as a tiny part of the statement. I'd arranged for the letter, but in some bizarre state of self-delusion had convinced myself I didn't really need it, or could submit it later. Well, I can submit it later, but after all the fuss and the victorious and relieved smiles from behind the desk it was a little embarrassing to reveal I didn't have it with me.

It can all still go boom, but even without the big chuck o' super deduction I've getting a big chunk o' refund this year anyway. One good thing to come out of one's broken state.

I shall have to pay my financial advisor a Little Visit.

A victory
After the appointment I put the laptop and two years' worth of tax paperwork into the car (with some trepidation). Covered the bag with the special Jedi "There Is Nothing Interesting Under This Towel" towel for security purposes, and hit the shopping centre.

I have been on a quest, off and on, for a couple of years (I kid you not) to replace our Stable Tables (lap trays with a moulded plastic edge to catch the drips and a beanbag base to mould to one's contours). We use them for dinner every night, they've seen a lot of craft action in front of the box, and they make a great laptop base. The ones we have were given to us as an engagement present about 15 years ago by my late Auntie Maureen, she of the cardigan-over-the-shoulders and refusal to abandon the hats of the 1950s.

Long story short (even I am getting bored at this point so I imagine no-one else is reading this la la la la la) I found some in K-Mart and they were not covered in jelly beans or Thomas the Tank Engine, although I would have accepted Thomas the Tanked Engine for the amusement value. They are dark green.

Tonight I plan to win lotto. If you fail to plan you plan to fail.

I also plan to stop hurting.