Why Must Some Americans Wait Till The Last Minute To Do Their Taxes?
@danishcanadian (28955)
Canada
April 13, 2013 6:11pm CST
I could ring my husband's neck right about now. He's retired and on disability so doing his own taxes is not a problem. However, we both know that one should never under-estimate the power of technology to screw things up. Case in point. We don't have a printer. I suggested putting his filled out form on my flash drive. We could get it printed downtown. His computer didn't recognize the drive. Why not e-mail a copy to both of us, Abd we could retrieve it there and print it. Well, he could not get into his problematic e-mail from their computer, and for some freaky reason the one he sent ME was BLANK! it wasn't till we left that it occurred tone that I should have just printed the blank one, and he could copy the info at home. I'm not going to take the blame for that, since I'm not perfect either, it's not my taxes, and I'm not the only one who didn't think of that!!! Back to the printer tomorrow, being home whatever copy will attach to an e-mail, and if it's a blank one, he can just fill it out at home. Damn thing's got to be in the mail by Monday 15th!!! Why do some Americans procrastinated? My stuff is going to be faxed to my accountant this week, and I can pick it up on the 25th when I'm in Kitchener for a workshop. He then tells me "it's an American thing" and that he could have had it ready to go on the 1st of Feb. WHAT!? I was in NYC Feb 11-13. I could have sent it in from there!!! Who else procrastinated like this when it comes to taxes? Why pit it off so long? The one saving grace in all this is that I get paid to write about it!!!
8 people like this
19 responses
@succeednow (1633)
• Singapore
14 Apr 13
Hi danishcanadian,
Procrastination does not care about what race or citizenship he/she belongs to. It happens all over the world. I think humans are born to dilly-dally until the last minute. Anyone get a cure for procrastination? Guess not. Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Apr 13
hi danish canadian on my SSI checks and Social security I do not owe anything to the government nor do I get a refund as nothing is taken out as I have too many things like being old and having sight problems and oh being on SSi too, I cannot think of the term I want but they add up and make it so i do not even have to file income tax at all.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Apr 13
exemptions was the term , my age, mycatract and being o n SSi made it so I do not owe ay tax b ut dring the 80 years I worked I was refunded each time as i was not making top wages so of co uyrse I alway s filed them..
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
19 Apr 13
Don't you know? It's to drive their spouses nuts!
Just kidding! LOL Chances are it's because they owe, so they put it off until the last minute. 
Happy mylotting!
Happy mylotting!
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
29 Apr 13
LOL yea,it is kind of an american thing.
i would say it's usually because:
A.the forms are headache inducing..don't feel like deciphering it after work
B.don't like the idea of giving the government more of our money,and they can wait
and C:don't have the money to pay it right now.
if i know i'm on the paying end,i fully admit i make them wait.
i would say it's usually because:
A.the forms are headache inducing..don't feel like deciphering it after work
B.don't like the idea of giving the government more of our money,and they can wait
and C:don't have the money to pay it right now.
if i know i'm on the paying end,i fully admit i make them wait.
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
24 Apr 13
I know tax time is not the most favorite of times for people. But I never really waited until it was too late. I tried to get it done between February and March. That way I was ahead of the game. And the longer you wait to do your taxes, the longer it will take to get a refund. Unless you owe, in which case I don't blame people for waiting to the last minute.
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
20 Nov 15
I don't know if it is an American thing I think its just some people are like that my wife hates procrastination. She likes things done fast and now why keep putting it off and waiting til the very last minute than running around like a nut. Me im a procrastinator i am getting better about it but I won't be like her in this life time i dont think.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
14 Apr 13
I don't see a good reason to pay money early and will mail out on Monday. Honestly, how many people want to pay the government early, as I can earn interest by waiting and yes its not much, but every penny saved is one I don't have to waste. If your getting money, then I think you should file right away.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
18 Apr 13
I think most of it is those that OWE will put it off long as possible so they can put of paying as long as possible. However, all they have to do is get them done in January and wait to mail it till April 15. If they know they are getting a refund, they do it asap! You can also file by the 15th for an extension...and not have to submit till October.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
18 Apr 13
Why don't you and your husband just buy a printer. They don't cost that much. As far as procrastinating, if they have to pay, most people don't want the government to get the money until the last moment.
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
14 Apr 13
Where are you filing taxes? Canada or the States? Why don't you file it online?
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
14 Apr 13
Hubby does ours, not absolutely the first thing, but not to the last minute either. My son procrastinated, though and did his this weekend. The Fed Gov is not helping out though, they are taking forever on ours this year, which I find strange.
@Mirita (2668)
• United States
14 Apr 13
Well, not me ,but usually people take forever if they owe uncle Sam some money. If I'm getting a refund is important for me to have my taxes done as soon as possible.
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
14 Apr 13
I am pretty sure that it is not only Americans who procrastinate on the filing of taxes. Our deadline for income tax filing is Monday and I can assume that most of my countrymen will be filing their taxes on this date even if the schedule has started a few months back. I used to the same thing and I am just too glad that I no longer have to pay taxes for online job. I don't get it either why we have have to wait for so long before we do our taxes.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
14 Apr 13
We used to do that in usa. Because he always had to pay each year. So we waited till last minute there.
@TLilly12 (1229)
• United States
14 Apr 13
I talked to this one lady, and I asked her has she and her husbande filed their taxes, she said no because her husband has to pay,I heard that a lot when people owe the government money, they wait until the last minute, to file their taxes, I guess their feel it's no big rush, to files taxes when they, owe the government anyway.
