Taxes are done

I took advantage of this week off from work to get a bunch of to dos off my list. A big one is the taxes.

Two years ago I did them all on my own, only to learn there was a 'fatal error' in the Turbo Tax program which meant things went all horribly wrong and I ended up getting the "you owe money' statement right before Christmas.

Last year we went back to H and R block for mine and DH's and paid about $85 each to get them done. But at least I knew they were going to be done right and I wouldn't have that error stress. I did the boys' taxes on my own on Turbo tax free and was pleased at how easy that was.

This year I opted to take DS1's to H and R block with us. With his scholarship and the out of country tuition, I just didn't feel confident knowing how to handle all of it.  I had two send two forms down to his college for the admin to fill in and authorize. DS then had to go in to sign the documents and the college then sent them back to me. He is allowed to sign over $5000 Canadian worth of tuition to me to claim. That had to be converted according to the govt dollar exchange %. I would not have known that. The rest of his tuition he gets to carry over until some year when he is employed again and can claim it.

This $5000 transfer gives me about $1400 in tax refund, along with my refund of $600 nets me $2000 in refund. The $1400 will go back into the college fund.

I did DS2's yesterday on Turbo Tax free. With one T4 form and the info carried over from last year, it took me 15 min max to file it. (let's hope I did it correctly :-)

Next year I will have two kids in college. I hope DS2s will be easier since it's in Canada.


So nice to get this off my list.