The Blonde Diaries

As an Auditor this just kills me!

I have explained in many previous posts that I am a financial statement auditor not a tax auditor. I still pay attention to things that relate to income tax and taxes in general but I keep it at a high level. Today on Yahoo News! an article appeared that discussed how the head of the House tax-writing committee, Charles Rangel (Democrat - New York) admitted that he lied on his income tax forms and OWES the IRS over $5k. This just boils my blood. How are we suppose to expect ordinary citizens to properly report their income to the IRS when our own Senators and Representatives ignore the tax laws? The excuse is just pathetic - it was an innocent mistake. Umm how do you forget to report $75k of income on your taxes?!?! I see similar things every day on various message boards that I visit - Do I have to report this or that because it isn’t really that much. No wonder these people don’t think they have to follow the IRS rules. Their own Congressmen don’t! The IRS code really isn’t all that hard to follow even for a non-accountant. It clearly states that “any form of income from any source for any amount must be reported.” grr

As I have stated, I have no involvement in income taxes other than using Turbo Tax to fill mine out. I do know that it is fairly easy to fill out your forms and report your income using a program such as this because they ask you questions that lead you to answering the tax forms appropriately. A CPA worth anything would do the same. I think I will get out a few ink pens and write in my journal.

~ A frustrated auditor