Tax Day 2007

This might be how some of my accounting friends are feeling as this year's tax season comes to a close...

With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, you might be a CPA if your kids think there are 5 seasons in the year (spring, summer, fall, winter and tax). And you might be a CPA if you like holidays because the traffic will be light as you go to the office. (Hat tip to my buddy Don Farmer in North Carolina, the only lecturer I've ever found that exposes tax law for the hilarious subject that it is.)

I have had the usual experience of last minute scrambling for forms and information, even though I am no longer in public accounting. One of my CPA friends says he has filed more extensions this year than in any year past, due to the trend of Congress to pass tax legislation so late in the calendar year, as well as the increased reporting requirements for businesses, making it difficult to get their K-1s to the investors in a timely fashion. I was responding to an email request for information from another poor soul at the office at about 7 pm last night; I'm sure she had just finished her pizza and was digging in for the night. Such is the life in this profession.

Now it's time to get the things mailed, if you haven't already filed. I'm a big fan of electronic filing, but if you use the paper method, note that after 6 pm tonight your options are limited, according to the AZ Republic:

If you are rushing to get your taxes filed after 6 p.m. today, take note: Only three U.S. Postal Service offices in the Valley will remain open, compared with the seven on last year's tax deadline.

The following will stay open until midnight:


• 4949 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix.

• 4568 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix.

• 10161 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria.

The Van Buren office will offer full services, including mail certification and weighing. The other two will only allow for mail drop-off and stamp purchases.

Want some advice from an old hand at dealing with governmental offices? Send your returns certified, return receipt requested, especially if you owe; the IRS has a bad habit of sending out notices that you owe penalties and interest for late filing even if you get things done on time. Not to mention the post office's occasional propensity for storing items for a time.

The guys at the UPS store over at Lakeview Village are expecting me; I'll be right on time.