Can I just take a moment to say how the Tax Bill has screwed us? I knew it was going to, but I didn’t know how many thousands of dollars we would owe. For actors, this bill has been a nightmare. You can no longer deduct agent commissions. You can no longer deduct union dues. You can no longer deduct expenses on the road. The list goes on and on. Don paid 10% agent fees on his salary from Escape to Margaritaville. That’s a lot of money – thousands of dollars. We’ve lost that deduction. We’ve also lost the deduction for expenses while he was living in New York.
So – we owe a lot of money. And our tax preparer – who specializes in the entertainment industry – told us that everyone is getting the shaft this year. She has had to break the bad news to virtually all of her clients. Because none of us are millionaires. I know that this change has impacted everyone, regardless of profession. It’s not just us, so I’m not trying to imply that we’re ‘special.’
We file an extension, but our accountant advised us to pay a chunk of it via voucher now, so we don’t get saddled with penalties and interest. We’re going to do that. It’s had a major impact on our finances – we’re still reeling from the news. Oh my goodness, I feel for everyone who is dealing with this.
I’ll refrain from saying what I think about this atrocity and its impact on the vast majority of Americans because I don’t want to swear on the blog. So I’ll leave you to imagine what my colorful language might be.
New York State, thank goodness, didn’t go along with the tax changes. Neither did California. So, filing in those states – and we have to file in both of them – won’t have a negative impact.
Okay. Enough of that nonsense. The rest of the day will be positive, even if positive means raking as many leaves out of the garden beds as I can before it rains later today. I have to get moving on my gardens!
I worked on the dollhouse yesterday – I finished patching and de-gluing and I’m painting a base coat of white in the rooms until I figure out exactly what I want to do with them.
Yesterday’s theme: Big and small. The duck egg cup on the left is one of the largest that I own – it was given to me by a reader of this blog. It’s from a Holland Mold. Holland Molds were made by a company based in Trenton, NJ. They created molds for pottery that would eventually be painted and glazed by individual crafters. This one was painted and signed by someone with the initials LH in 1958. LH did a pretty good job!
The little one on the right is the smallest figural egg cup in my collection. Love that little bunny and egg.
Okay. I have to don some old clothes and start raking. Tedious. But necessary!
Happy Sunday.
Sounds so unfair, especially when at times, as we know in the theatre community and beyond, income is not always consistent. I hope this changes in the future!
Every time I’m at our charity shop or at the Antique Mall, I spy egg cups and think of your collection!!
Started out rainy here today but now the sun has appeared. Supposed to rain (and maybe snow) later today so I’m off to do a bit of early garden work while I can. Then in for a long soak in a hot tub, a movie to watch, a venture in to town and home for dinner, then “Game of Thrones.”
Enjoy your Sunday!
X Chy
Our income is never consistent! Have a good soak in the tub, Chy!
The tax situation is horrible. Sara said they owe so much this year because of the tax changes. I’ll pick up Mom’s taxes tomorrow to see how much she owes. Still waiting to see if they let John go home from the hospital today. We have this huge storm headed this way so I hope its sooner then later. I am going to try to find some quiet time today to read! Rake those leaves and enjoy your day my friend.
I hope John got to come home today, Linda. You are dealing with so much, my friend! I hope you got that quiet time.
Hi Claudia,
Sorry about the tax bills we have to pay! I really thought we were going to get a refund, not! Wrong again, my theme these days. I’ve really been enjoying your daily egg cup themes and am eagerly anticipating seeing Snow White and all her 7 Dwarfs together!
The gardens around our house are beautiful with all the Spring bulbs blooming, some have been faithful bloomers for over 28 years and each year I add just a few more because ya never know which ones the chipmunks and squirrels have moved around, We have 2 beautiful cherry trees that we planted about 20 years ago and they are spectacular this year. One is in the wrong spot which was the perfect spot, or so I thought when we planted it. I will be sad when my husband fires up the chainsaw to cut it down, maybe he will do it when I am not here.
Anyway, enjoy your garden today!
I’m so sorry that cherry tree has to come down! When we had to take our weeping willow down, I left for the day. I couldn’t bear to watch.
I’m sorry you’re not getting a refund, Kelly.
Totally agree and living in a new state hurts!!! I am in shock
I think there are millions in shock at this moment. What do you do if you don’t have the money? We’ve had to make payments in the past – many years ago – but our income is so limited that I don’t know where we would get the money for payments!
That’s AWFUL about the taxes ! I knew it was not good for most of us but didn’t read the details. For some reason, I am getting back more this time ??? so will get a new washer soon. Usually, my friend makes it as close to zero as possible.
Do you also collect the English china egg coddlers ? I have just three of the next to the smallest size. The biggest collection I have is pink and green depression glass – some of which is stored and some, used all the time. I think what one collects finds her not the other ‘way ’round.
Enjoy the sun, Connie
For people who have itemize deductions, who freelance, etc., – the impact of this supposed reform is lethal.
No, I don’t collect coddlers. I’m not taken by them, though I do have one my mom gave me.
I bet this is hitting my writer friends, too. It’s not right, Claudia. We all know it’s not.
It’s wrong. All to benefit those who are in the top income brackets. It makes me sick.
Claudia, im empathetic to your tax situation. I have not heard of anyone among my friends who did NOT owe more because of tax “reform”. I was shocked when I got to the amount I owe, and then realized my quarterly estimates will have to be greatly increased. I should get out there and take, too, but I have to go to the veterinary hospital first. We’re donating a huge bag of specialized cat food as a small token of thanks for taking such excellent care of our cat.
And it’s not as if either Don or I are working – my theater work has almost disappeared due to Anastasia closing and Darko resigning as Artistic Director. It’s all very worrisome.
I am also in shock. I am divorced and have the same income and expenses for my small farm as I have the last two years, in which I owed no taxes. This yea,r I owe $7000 and I do not have it. This year, I am head of household as I still have a daughter at home. Next year I will not and will owe double. This is amazing to me as the middle class has to bear the burden for the rich. I have two daughters in theatre. Neither get sick, vacation time or heath benefits. But they can no longer take off expenses. This is terrible.
I am so very sorry to hear this, April. It’s so wrong – you shouldn’t have to shoulder this tax burden. It’s appalling.
I looked at my taxes for 2017. I paid the state nothing and the IRS $10! This year IRS $5500 and the State $1500. I am hearing tons of stories of shocked people The only ones happy are the rich or the poor. I hope this makes everyone vote and not for the party that is sinking the middle class. I am beyond IRATE! Beside the general, deductions the fact they took away the personal deductions has hurt families. A family of two parents and 4 kids are sunk. I think most of us had no idea how bad it would be. I will be calling everyone in Washington I can this week. Please join me and call. We need to rattle their cages.
Same here. Same income for 2017 and we got a refund. This time? We’re paying a LOT of money. I knew it would be bad because I’ve read so much about what it does to actors, but I didn’t know it would be so horrendous for so many Americans. I’ll be calling.
someone in my family is a freelancer and also had to write a big check this year … way too big. i am a social worker in a non-profit setting and haven’t had a raise in seven years (and my paycheck is smaller still for having extra taxes withheld out of each check to avoid owing in april. it’s working, but not easy). when i hear about how senators (including from my state) became multi-millionaires while in office and those baseball players who signed contracts for $330- and $400-MILLION … well, my thoughts and words about that and the so-called tax “reform” bill are all angry and cussy, too. so i’ll change the subject.
glad you found something that will work on the dollhouse and have that and work in the gardens to enjoy! i am going to do the bare minimum of chores today and otherwise take it easy. maybe putter, read something or just sit by a window and watch part of the world go by. :)
hope you are having a nice day.
kathy in iowa
I understand. My fees – when I get work – are still the same as they were 18 years ago, when we moved out East. Freelancer fees don’t rise with an increase in cost of living. Thanks, Kathy.
18 years? wow. and ugh. sorry.
and that increase in the personal deductions doesn’t come close to what many freelancers have to pay when working out of town, the cost of dues needed to get work …. i know you know all that. sorry.
xo
Guess I’m the only one whose tax liability is less. The standard deduction was increased which compensated deductions not allowed. Have to look at the bottom line.
You’re lucky. Maybe you have a set income? Those who have to take deductions because of the nature of their work are in deep trouble this tax season.
Rick is getting killed with the tax thing this year too. I think I was lucky as a retiree and also not enough deductions now to let me itemize but I know too many that are in your boat as well and I’m so sorry. It’s a travesty.
Love today’s cups, though. They are cheerful!
My “Crystal” arrived yesterday providing a sorely needed boost. I’ll be posting it soon.
We’re pretty upset by the news. Normally, we wouldn’t have the money, but we do have a little in the bank, thank goodness.
This tax stuff is nuts…so many people suffering…caught by surprise. And I do believe, there are a lot of us in the same boat. It…is…not…fair!
We are having a family Easter dinner tonight…nothing fancy. But…it feels good to race around the house getting ready, and having to prepare all the food. Hope the raking goes well! ;)
I hope those Republicans who are also feeling this tax pain realize that voting for the GOP is what brought this on.
Hope so….but, wouldn’t put money on that! ;)
Read Janet’s comment.
Sorry to hear that Chunky’s “tax cuts” are affecting you guys in such a negative way. They seem to be affecting a LOT of others the same way. A lot of the 99%, that is. My youngest brother & his wife, the only Trump voters in our family, were complaining loudly at lunch a couple of weeks ago and I answered “Well, that’s the ‘new’ GOP – they don’t care about regular people – only their billionaire friends. And the corporations that have made them millionaires themselves. We tried to warn you…” And I saw a new understanding in them that I hadn’t before. A honest flutter of awakening, understanding. Now everyone likes to say that Trump voters are just blind followers, that nothing he says or does will cause them to abandon him etc. But I’m not at all sure about that. Yes, his cult – the rock-bottom deplorables – will always be there. There’ll always be people who’ll never EVER admit they were wrong about anything. And there’ll always be truly unintelligent people who just don’t know what they don’t know. But there were a lot of people who voted Trump in 2016 who were legitimately on the fence, who voted for him holding their noses. These are the people that are “swingable” – and that are being affected by his “policies” and actions the way you are. It’s THIS group that the Dems have to go after. The perennial question – are you better off than you were 4 years ago – will truly work with these folks. I hope the party is smart enough to know this. The last thing we need is in-fighting about ourselves now. Time is of the essence! OK, I’m climbing off my soapbox now. Hope you get your raking done before the rain! Peace. ☔️
#Resist
#ReleaseTheFullMuellerReport
I hope you’re right. I have read news items about Republicans who voted for Trump and are now shocked about their tax bills. I can’t imagine that this isn’t happening to many of them.
Unfortunately, we are in the same boat, Claudia, and feel your pain! We are still paying installments on the last two years’ tax obligations, and owe a huge chunk again this year. On top of Wisconsin taxes, which are hefty. My husband is semi-retired, so he can be home part of the day to care for my mother who is now living with us. The way things are right now, I’m seriously thinking I may need to find a part-time job, ON TOP of my full-time job, in order to have enough to cover our living expenses. I’m not talking lavish lifestyle – I’m talking mortgage, car expenses, food on the table, and we won’t even talk about killer student loan payments in order to get our four children through college. Yikes. Sorry you are also feeling the pain – trying to stay positive, but good grief, it’s hard!!
It IS hard. I’m sorry you’re having to go through this as well, Martha. Same here – a large mortgage payment, cars (one 18 years old), car insurance, heating oil, food, that kind of thing. We do not live a remotely lavish lifestyle. And we’re barely getting by!
Since I do our own taxes I was aware of many of the changes, most notably the increase in standard deduction which was a positive for those of us lacking the required amounts to be able to itemize for many years. Of course our refund is less than typical past years due to the automatic reduction in withholding which I still question-how does anyone other than each of us, have a right to make any changes to our withholding?
One of the changes I find most egregious is not allowing any casualty loss deductions unless in a declared disaster area. While our bacon was far from being saved, the ability to take casualty losses was a very positive help in the year we flooded. Weather patterns are continuing to change and more and more people face tragedy while institutions like FEMA are clearly underfunded (and no, I have no solution to that problem). In my opinion, officials in our area were a tad too quick at NOT “pushing” for said designation and I feel politics had something to do with this. (Dare we address the issue of over-developing in vulnerable areas as local community leaders continue their one-trick pony answer to create revenue via increased tax base of new housing as they continue to lack the foresight and energy to bring in new jobs and industry, all the while the current infrastructure can’t begin to sustain the new housing burden. Forgive me folks, this is a real hot button for me)
Sure, FEMA can extend the flood mapping so “ignorance is no excuse” per say, as we are seeing more and more flooding in areas never before affected. Until such time, the reality is, these areas will be the last to be declared “disaster” to avoid federal funding. And those who find themselves newly placed in a flood zone will be beyond gob-smacked at the outrageous cost of flood insurance.
Older residents with free and clear homes that find themselves remapped into a flood zone oftentimes find that they can’t afford flood insurance on their fixed incomes. Same thing with younger homeowners who will be required by their mortgage service company to now have flood insurance will find they can’t afford it-something has to give. Those not in flood zones that one day flood, will in all likelihood not be declared a disaster area for obvious reasons. Taking away the ability to deduct casualty losses is just one more in a long list of issues that hurts the most vulnerable. Hoping to see major blowback on this in the future.
I am also sympathetic to those of you who freelance or in similar situations that to a very great extent have been blindsided-upended, really. Sadly I have no answers, only questions. Lots of questions.
The changes are incomprehensible. Why? Well, I know why – for the very rich to benefit – because they’re the only people that do.
So many people cannot afford flood insurance. And over-development is one of the reasons my little neighborhood group is suing our town. It’s shameful.
I agree with everything, Chris. Thank you for sharing it here.
I’m glad you commented on the country’s tax situation.
I’ll bet most if not all of our idiot-president’s supporters did not see this coming….and I hope they realize how he never really had their best interest at heart from the beginning! Shame on those congress men and women who voted for it!
I agree wholeheartedly, Nancy! Thank you.
Taxes have a way of coming back to bite a president (Geo Herbert Walker Bush wasn’t re-elected because of them), so maybe, maybe maybe…there will be a silver lining if we can survive that long?
Meanwhile, Les Miserables for us tonight and it was wonderful! I love watching something after I’ve read the book; a richer experience, for sure.
I hope they, and everything else about the GOP and this administration, comes back to sink Trump’s ship.
I did some raking and clean-up outside yesterday…today was all rain and tonight we are having thunderstorms…I want to get back outside and do more!
Today started out sunny, but now it’s cloudy and windy – and it rained all night long.
I don’t know that many people but the ones I know come from all different income levels, working and retired or semi-retired. None of them benefitted and all of them are confused as heck about the new system, especially last minute changes that were announced in Dec. or Jan. One friend’s tax preparer simply told her he didn’t do her taxes at all because she pays quarterly and won’t be penalized when he can get around to it. My husband did ours as he does every year, and ended up with “adjustments” with state and Federal. So many expenses we can no longer deduct. And then to hear that Amazon paid no taxes at all. My disabled sister attempts to live on Social Security in subsidized housing; in the last year, her food stamps were cut down to less than $10/month. Whatever you feel about disability and food stamps, why bother giving anyone $10/month? Cutting and mailing the check costs more than that and you can hardly buy a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk, let alone peanut butter to go with it, for $10 even at the damaged food bank. Perhaps you and Don would be wise to put in a small Victory garden (I know you’d have to fight the deer, rabbit, and hedgehogs) but I can’t help seeing a future where having neighbors with chickens and excess cabbage and carrots will be a big benefit. Wouldn’t you love to learn to can? :-)
The cost of erecting a deer-proof fence is just too much for us. And if you don’t do that, then it’s all a waste of money and time. Thanks, Nora.
Ugh! We were screwed also. In addition, our accountants bill was more due to the additional schedules she had to file. So much for the postcard filing. (did anyone actually believe that?)We should have planned better knowing none of the changes would benefit us as we are not wealthy. Silly silly us.
Goal for today is raking and working on positivity.
Same goal here, Deb. In spite of all the crap, I want to stay positive.
Claudia,
I resisted the storm of comments although I am also very angry. I have spoken with family members who were hit hard. Some have needed to go to installment payments but did fight so they do not need to pay a penalty. The one Trump voter in my family works hard but her income is low so she does not pay taxes. Her children can take her on fancy vacations and do many things. It is legal. I do not envy her. She gets nada from the gov. and as her adult child lives with her, she does not get anything from the gov. either. Her adult children will be hit much like the rest of us.
My other sister needs a pair of new lungs due to inherited and rare disease. She was not a smoker but grew up in a smoker’s home. It would not matter much. She is waiting for a portable lung machine that cost $3,000. The cheap one came with a fifty-foot cord and it keeps running out of oxygen. As she has had two hips repaired, we do not want her to trip over a cord and fall again. She is not that old.
As the eldest daughter and the only one who has any money, I can help her. No, I am not rich. My husband has been raising a storm cloud also. You now need to pay $24,000 in expenses before you can claim a deduction. Some people do not make that much.
Still, about half the people in this country pay no taxes at all. They are children, the working poor and the disabled, and the “I’m not going to get married. The gov. can take care of my kids.” I am not talking about Afro-Americans as the people I know are white. The new laws will state that Medicare people must look for work. Yet, too often, they are the least qualified and could not afford childcare. We had this before, and they take their kids to hit a number of places where a form is signed and bring their kids with them. Your chances of getting a job when you bring your children to apply are not that great. My daughter worked at a place that hired temps so has seen this. When asked if these mothers had childcare, they said “No.”
Claudia, you did not have children, sad in that you would most likely contribute well to the gene pool, yet wise also.
Although genius crosses all races and social economic strata, these children leave school at a very high rate. There is the assumption that these children will do fine. Meanwhile, money is spread around to the disabled at a disproportionate rate. I am not saying that disabled children do not need this money. I am just saying that other countries identify the many aspects of giftedness and support them early.
Sadly, the school in my tiny town have been poor for many years. They can now be dangerous, as 91 % of the children are African-American and too many are beating up the white children on the school buses . Once one racial group has such high numbers, there tends to be trouble for the minority group Unable to pay for a private school these children are homeschooled. We need guards on the buses.
I am so very pleased that you did get out. You will need time to get your garden muscles tuned up. You have also been ill most of the winter. I do wish you and your husband the best,
Mary Ann
We must remember that my nephew who has cerebral palsy relies on Medicaid for his therapy and his walkers and a host of other things. He is disabled and is only 7 years old. I’m very much in favor of the disabled getting the benefits they deserve.
I see the benefits in his treatment and development that no family – except the very rich – could afford on their own.
Thanks, Mary.
I am so very happy that he and other disabled children and adults get what they need. Claudia.
xoxo
:( That’s awful.
It is.