Why Waiting Until The Last Minute To Do Your Taxes Is A Bad Idea

I avoided preparing my taxes until yesterday. First, I thought I would owe the government this year. Second, I hate paying for tax software. There is something about paying for the right to find out that I have to pay the government more tax money that rubs me the wrong way. Plus, since I lived in both Montana and California I had to buy the program for both states so I was $100 in the hole before I even got started.

So I'm trudging through, entering me and my wife's W-2's, 1099's, home mortgage deductions etc. and lo and behold... I'm getting a refund! I was shocked to say the least. Had I done my taxes back in January I might have been able to afford... an ice cream cone at Softie's! Okay, not big money BUT imagine the mental anguish I might have been able to avoid had I just done my taxes then.