This is all boring tax crap. Move along.


It must be that time of year. I'm cursing myself for being unable to go a whole year and just leaving my investments alone. I sold stock and now I can't get hold of the exact numbers to plug into TurboTax. One of these years...one of these years (what is this like the third or fourth year in a row that I whine about doing taxes?)

I don't mind paying them, I really don't. I just hate keeping track of all the paper work. Stuff from my employers, stuff from the bank stuff from two different investment companies - the one my old work was with and the one we've been assimilated under by the new bosses.

Yes, yes none of this would be a problem if I were just the tiniest bit organized the rest of the year. Like say if I paid attention to when work said they were bringing us over to their investment firm. Or maybe even if I told my employers when I moved so they could tell the investment people. Not that that always works. Occasionally it really doesn't.

Bleh. But I don't really care for eTrade. *sigh* I don't know if SmithBarney intended to send me a 1099. since I sold stock that was in my portfolio with them they should have a record of it. Unless they passed it along to eTrade. I'm not really sure. Tried their Web site but I need account info I don't have on hand. The number on the Web site got me to a polite lady who couldn't tell me jack where the info was or if I was supposed to get a 1099 from them. I was surprised I got a living human being at this time of night. I was not, however, surprised that she didn't know anything other than a number I should try after 8am EST.

eTrade is just flat out bewildering. Reading over the papers I have from them and trying to navigate their Web site... it's like trying to figure out what someone means when he's saying "yes" but his head is shaking side to side. In any case while I managed to sign in to eTrade TurboTax couldn't import anything. etrade doesn't have my correct address. I realized that tonight so while they probably sent a couple of 1099s for last year, they went to my old address.

But if I hadn't done the stock sale I would be likely getting stuck on tax-excempt donations. Not that I mind that at all.

When I quit it was determined the Federal government owes me something like $230 dollars. I will more than likely have to give something once the stock sale is factored in.