Paperwork – Taxes – Name Change – Procrastination – The Art of Misty

I normally do things that have to be done pretty quick (paying bills, keeping appointments, being on time, yes, I am a responsible person). I would like to Emphasize on the word have to be done in a time of matter or else. Other than that I am wonderful to push it away and ignore it until it weighs down so bad on me that I dream about it. Tax season…. need I say more ….. well not only do I have to file my Swiss taxes.. no, of course not, I have to file US Federal Taxes. Why? Beats me…. Why do I have to file taxes in a country that I do not live in, do not earn money, do not benefit for anything….. but yes, I have to do that.

What is the problem you wonder? Well, almost one year ago I got married, to a Canadian, yes you know him, it’s Kevin, (that was beside the point and no, he is not a problem) anyways, my name changed. So now, I have to change my social security card, my passport, my IRA account all kinds of stuff, and I better do that before my US Tax is filed or else the IRS get’s confused and does not know what to do with my Tax return. So I took the day off (yes, I put this all off until now when I NEED to actually do it) to sort things, try to find documents that prove my name change, and all that wonderful stuff. I got up early, sitting in my sweats, over heaps of paperwork waiting for the US Embassy to open (they have really weird hours….) to make sure I have the right documents to present for all these changes. I tried over and over, listening to the same silly message again and again, that at the end, directed me to the darn website that does NOT answer my questions, just to hear at the end of the call: THE US Citizens Services Department is not currently available…..GOODBYE! *CLICK*

Finally this afternoon at 2:00 pm I got a person that I could actually speak to. I asked her about the documents and what I needed to bring exactly, and if so and so form was sufficient. Here is the answer and imagine the most annoying bored nasal voice in your mind: “Well just bring anything you have and we will see if it is sufficient, it depends on whomever handles it to say if we need more proof, our office hours are from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, thank you for calling.” Hmmmmm???? I have to drive 2 hours to go to Bern, and if they decide the documents I have are not what they currently want, I have to make another trip!

So yes, I strayed from the procrastination theme a bit, but anyways, was not very encouraging at all. Mind you, I have dealt with that Embassy on other occasions and the people I spoke with were very helpful. The change of name for my IRA account will be done in one fax and wont be an issue.

Now I just need to make Misty’s packages with her stuff, label it, put it in the car and drive it around until I actually stop at the post office, get out and mail it! Now, it’s about WINE’O'Clock

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