As we come to the close of another year, we first want to wish everyone a very successful 2016. We also want to wish that everyone’s finances are in order, that money is plentiful, and that all goes well for now and forever.
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Unfortunately, we also know it won’t be this way for everyone. As accountants, one of the things we deal with are those clients who come in at the last minute with their papers and receipts for us to do their taxes, or those who want to request an extension without knowing whether they actually need it or not.
Anxiety is a hard thing to overcome in life. It’s very strong when it comes to looking at one’s finances. There’s an inherent response to fear and anxiety; we try to run away from it, avoid it, and hope it goes away. It might for a short period of time… but eventually if it’s bad or perceived to be bad it catches up with all of us.
We always stand on the side that it’s better to know what one’s financial position is than not know. If it’s good, it alleviates a lot of stress. If it’s bad, knowing as far in advance as possible gives you the opportunity to do something about it.
For instance, something we talked about earlier this year involved a friend’s corporate taxes and how, if they’d been addressed way earlier than they were, he would have actually come out way ahead of the game instead of owing money to the government. Sometimes running away from trouble causes more trouble.
We talk about budgeting a lot here because if you budget, you know how much money you have, where it’s going, and whether you have enough or need to find ways to generate more. Budgets help a lot of people get out of trouble and also alleviates a lot of stress when people realize just how much money they have.
A couple of years ago we had a post that talked about the IRS’ willingness to work with people who owe money on their federal taxes and how accommodating they can be. In actuality, the same applies to most large creditors. All you need to do is pick up the phone and talk to someone and almost always, the person on the other end is willing to help you out somehow. There’s a great fear of calling customer service over things like this but the reality is that not only are they regular people like us, but they know that things happen and they’re going to do what they can to keep a customer who’s possibly going through a rough patch.
Of course, nothing is ever guaranteed. You could call someone who’s not as accommodating. In that case, you do what you can, learn who you shouldn’t be a consumer with, and move on with life. Things are always better when you feel you have a bit of control over your life and finances rather than being afraid to pick up the phone because it might be a bill collector.
For 2016, we urge everyone to decide to be a more confident person as it relates to their financial status. We’d love to work with anyone who needs or wants our help in figuring things out, and of course when it comes to your taxes. Be strong, be courageous, and be knowledgeable; those are great things to aim for. Happy New Year!