Last year, this process did not go well. No matter how many times I did the numbers and the number of moths that floated their way upward from my turned-out pockets, it was the government's decision that I had somehow held onto more than my fair share. It was determined, thanks to my long association with The Daily Bugle, that I was a small business.
Given the fact that the Bugle's outstanding invoice to me now equals more than I ever made from them over the six-odd years I wrote for them, this was a bitter pill to swallow.
This year, however, I've tried to do a much better job of things. I've scanned receipts and tracked business expenses. I've kept a list of write-offs and an e-mail file of electronic statements. I've tried, though I still don't believe it to be an accurate designation, to think like a business.
I have no idea what the outcome will be and have considered hiring someone to handle this all for me...though I don't believe that it would truly change whatever awaits on the other side of that long form.
It's just that it would be much easier if I could simply sit nearby with my hands clamped tightly over my eyes.
