What is with the Feds and a complete inability to appropriately manage data? Part of my job includes submitting FFATA -- Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act -- reports. This would be fine if it weren't for the fact that half the data elements we have to submit the Feds already have. So, of course, we submit our data, the Feds tell us we're wrong -- we aren't -- and it becomes our problem to sort it all out.
Dear Uncle Sam: If you already think you know the answer, and aren't interested in making any adjustments if given conflicting information, why are you bloody well asking the question?
More problematically, yesterday I tried to e-file my taxes. Turns out, you need five data points -- name, SSN, filing status on prior year's taxes, AGI on prior year's taxes, and address on prior year's taxes -- to establish that you are who you say you are and so can file your taxes electronically.
Excuse me, but isn't the point of a Social Security Number that it's supposed to serve as a unique identifier? And if it is a unique identifier -- i.e., I, and only I, am identified by that number -- why do I have to provide four other identifiers? And don't even get me started on the computerized voice routine you're supposed to go through to provide those multiple identifiers.
Dear Uncle Sam: Your data management skills are atrocious, though they do make for a good distraction from cancer. Just sayin'...
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one doing taxes at the last minute... although your reasons are probably better than mine.
ReplyDeleteDoubtful. When I was single I did my taxes in February. I got married and it shifted to March. Then i got divorced and it slid to April. One more life changing transition and I'll be asking for an extension. (Although I was sort of disturbed to see the question in Turbo Tax about "are you filing for someone who passed away during the tax year?" Sad to think that at some point one of my poor siblings is going to have to do my taxes as well as their own.)
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