blog.thomaspan.com

Every year, tax return is the kind of pains that people have to deal with. Here, I would like to share some of my experiences.

• Donations

Donate before th end of the year and keep record of your donations.

• Stock Trades

You have to report all your stock transactions. So, please keep all your trading details. Although brokerage companies normally send you your stock pruchases, it is still your responsibilities to keep each trade correct. There are some basic tools available on-line, which could help you record your trades, such as Yahoo! Finance Portfolio.

• Stock Option and ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)

If you do tax return by yourself, you would need tax softwares. Only premium version of tax softwares support stock option and ESPP trades. Keep this in mind if your company DOES have stock plans.

• Checks to the Government

If you owe government money, you would be asked to pay a fine if government officers cannot find your checks. This also applies to state tax return. I didn’t do that the first time. State government sent me a notice with a fine. I was lucky in the sense that my check was finally found after a lot of troubles.

• Tax Return Backups

It doesn’t hurt to have enough backups of your tax return. Keep at least one hard copy and keep multiple soft copies. You will be in big trouble if government sends you a fine and you cannot verify that with your own tax return.

• USPS

Most people use USPS to deliver their tax returns. I suggest that you follow the suit. I like certified priority mail with Demostic Return receipt, which costs about $8.3 for each mail in 2006. Make sure that the adress on the envelope is correct. There are different addresses for different types of tax returns based on whether you owe government money or not.

Hostel was also called youth hostel. The hostel movement was launched by German school teacher in 1909. It started as an inexpensive, supervised lodging place for young people on bicycle trips, hikes, etc. The movement spreads rapidly worldwide. Hostels provide budget accommodation for backpackers and people who want to learn local custom. Hostelling is, put simply, the act of staying in hostels while one’s on her/his travels.

Budget doesn’t mean less enjoyment. For example, there is a hostel located in Pigeon Point Lighthouse, which is near great beaches, tide pools and redwood forests. It is also a good place for whale watch. There are few interesting hostels in Northern California, such as Point Reyes, Point Montara Lighthouse, Redwood, Fisherman’s Wharf. Please check out the website for hostels in Northern California. Also, don’t forget Hostels Worldwide.

I learned this by a trip to Pigeon Point Lighthouse. My current boss has had very good experiences with hostels. Someday, I will try it out for sure.