Seguro Popular

I've been tired lately and get dizzy spells .... so Lorena suggested I sign up for Seguro Popular. She got a list of requirements and I had them all.  You need a copy of your Passport, CURP, Visa Perrmanente and most recent electric bill. Find the SP office in the nearest Centro de Salud. They fill out everything and you just sign. They have a Pharmacy, do blood tests and it's all free. Someday we'll find out how the service is.

Pool and Free Mango time

It's that time of year that the neighbor kids want to cool off in the pool and people drop off mangoes because they have too many of them. Just had the one below with some unsweetened yogurt.  Yummm ... very good

Jania and Nahima -- got crowded later

Small but very sweet

It's Tax time again

And you might as well do it early if you are going to get a refund.This is my 4th year using TaxACT and find it very easy and absolutely free.I'm not sure if you reach a certain income level and then it costs something but mine isn't the simplest return with even a minuscule self employment income and it's still free.They do offer a Deluxe package a number of times while you are working but I don't see the purpose.

I tried TurboTax through my bank and it was gonna cost more than my Tax man was charging. I gave that up real quick

With TaxACT you download the program and work on it at your leisure.If you used it before your previous year can be opened and refereed to as needed .... or just print out the various forms.

E-File Taxes

I'm more and more amazed at what you can do over the Internet and I just did my taxes online today.  The IRS website has tons of good info if you know what you are looking for; like: how to get an E-File PIN from them and a list of free or inexpensive websites/software to use.   I checked a few of their recommendations, read reviews and decided to try TaxACT.   Very happy with them so far and the website said my form was accepted by the IRS but don't have the final results.   They did have a bunch of bad reviews but it seemed to work well for me.

TaxAct had all the forms you could possibly need right from the start.   When I tried Turbo Tax last year everything was extra .... like multiple income sources and small business income.  I would have paid Turbo Tax what I pay my tax man in person.   TaxACT has down loadable software and an online version but I downloaded so I wouldn't have to be online for the 3+ hours it took me.

I suggest you have your previous years tax form in front of you to check consistency, know last years adjusted gross income and last years PIN number.   Of course you need your 1099's but most all should be available online.  Not much of a rebate this year due to IRA withdrawals to build the house .... but did get a small one and it was free !!

TaxACT Website

IRS E-File page