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Home > Taxes, Angry People, and Interesting News Story

Taxes, Angry People, and Interesting News Story

January 30th, 2015 at 02:57 am

Tonight I did my taxes using TaxAct. It was interesting since I had to do two states plus Federal. When I first went through NM it said I owed $2. I thought that was weird, so just before I submitted the final button to file, I decided to go through it one more time. Good thing I did! Somehow the button had been clicked that I was a full year resident instead of a partial one. That was why they wouldn't let me just input my income from the school library.

So .. I got $540 back from Federal, and $220 back from state. It cost me $36.97 to file them electronically. Once that money comes in, it will be going straight to my EF goal!

I'm glad to be done with it for another year! (and looking forward to next year's which will be so much simpler.)

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Some days my job is tolerable. Others barely tolerable.

Today was a barely.

I had a man come up with a companion (mentally handicapped I think.) He wanted to get an $8 pass for his companion.

I did what I do for *every* person that comes asking for a discount pass. "Sure, I just need a photo i.d. please."

Mt Vesuveus erupted!

The man starts ranting and raving that I shouldn't have to ask for an id. He culminates his rant by pounding his fist heavily on the counter and stomping off.

He didn't even give me a chance to let him know I could take either person's i.d. I just needed an i.d!

It is policy for the low income program. I ask for it from every person no matter how many times I've seen them.

So ... about an hour later he returns with the companion.

He practically shouts at me saying, "Here! Are you happy now?" while holding an i.d. next to his companion. He says something about trust, and then he starts ranting that he'd worked in government before and if one of his employees treated a customer like I did (simply asking for an i.d. per policy ...) that he'd fire them.

I just took the i.d., got the pass, filled out the receipt, took the money, and gave them the pass. Said, "here you go."

Around that time the bus driver supervisor came in because he'd heard the guy shouting - he asked me if I needed help and I told him I was ok. The guy asks me if that was my supervisor - told him no, that my supervisor was in a meeting. He goes "that figures."f

Finally he leaves.

The bus driver supervisor had stayed nearby out of sight, so I explained to him what had happened. He agreed with me that I hadn't done anything wrong.

Later ... I tell my boss what happened. She tells me that maybe we should just stop asking for the id. That some of the other places selling them for us aren't asking for them.

Arghh!!!!

So should I ask for the blasted id or not? How would it be fair for me to ask for it from people, but if they make a fuss, say .. nevermind?? What is the point of having a policy if we're not going to follow it?

I plan on talking to her tomorrow more about this, because it is really really really frustrating me.

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While I was bored out of my mind this afternoon having finished my book (12th of Nowhere by James Patterson) and exhausted yahoo and cnn news stories of interest, I read the local newspaper.

One of the stories was about how NE is thinking of giving a property tax credit to low and middle income people. Not just property owners though! Renters too!!
An example they gave for a renter was someone making $29k/yr and paying $362/mo rent. Um ... I make less than that and pay more than that. Thus I would easily qualify for a credit! I didn't quite get how that would work, but it's still being hashed out as to whether it'll happen or not.

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The brownies I brought for treats today were all eaten up. Smile I even had someone tell me they *really* liked them. Score one for $1 brownie mix!

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I found out that the lady who had jonsed after my job has found a different job with the city in a totally different department. Her last day is Wednesday, which is the end of my 6 month probation. Funny how that works out.

6 Responses to “Taxes, Angry People, and Interesting News Story”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1422587914

    Ugh! I'm so sorry. I've been in those situations. But really why do people thing they are above rules, is it because they get away without following them and think that changes the rules? I never get it.

  2. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1422588329

    Yeah, I don't get it either. At all. Especially since one of the things my boss said to me in the beginning was that the lady before me hadn't followed policy - that everyone seemed to do their own thing regarding policy. So I assured her that I would follow policy ... and now it seems as though I'm being told not to. UGH!

  3. ceejay74 Says:
    1422593787

    MN has a renters as well as homeowner credit. It was really nice during our many lower-income years.

  4. ceejay74 Says:
    1422593900

    Oh, and I hope you get it figured out with your supervisor. I used to get really frustrated with inconsistent bosses, but now I just go with the flow. But when they ask for something that seems out of line, I usually try to get it via email so I have dated proof of when they told me. Or at least get them to confirm verbally "Yes, I'm changing the policy and want you to do this other thing from now on."

  5. LittleMissSplendid Says:
    1422634266

    Here in CA we get a renter's credit too. I don't know how it works, but it somehow means a slightly larger refund for me so I don't complain. I think the justification for starting it was that many lower income people rent for years and years in the same place and are essentially paying the owners mortgage (or more) and become involved in neighborhood improvements, etc.

    As for the jerk screaming about the id..... continue doing the job you were hired to do. Jerks come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities. It is entirely possible he was just having a crappy day and was going to blow up at the next person regardless of reason. Policies exist for a reason and requiring a valid id is a pretty common policy (often related to potential liability or legal issues) most places so his blow up was ridiculous.

  6. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1422662144

    Thanks Ceejay - I didn't have a chance to talk to her today about it. I just kept doing what I've been doing.

    Ceejay and Little miss - That is cool about the credit! I'm guessing it would be on the state tax? I'm all for it. Smile
    Little Miss - That probably is what was going on - he'd been having a bad day, and I just happened to be someone he could go off on with no consequences to him.

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