31 Jan 2011
2 CommentsEvery year, somebody asks me about how I do my taxes. The short answer is, online. I have been doing my taxes online since my 2nd W-2. My first time was at an H&R block walk-in, and since I made so little money, the guy did it for me for free 🙂 But once I found out they could be done online, and usually free, that’s what I started doing. I’ve only ever filed my federal taxes with two different online tax preparers: TurboTax and H&R Block. They both offer the same kind of services and I’ve never had a problem using either of them. In fact, they both offer lots of help as you do them if you don’t understand what’s what.
For straight taxes, meaning just W-2′s you can use them both for free. Once you start throwing in things like 1099′s and other forms of income, you must upgrade to at least their basic services, which is about 20 bucks (although you can easily find discounts by searching online for coupon codes and links). For instance, I did my federal taxes with H&R Block at Home this year, and since I had income from the sale of stock, I had to use Basic, but I only paid $14.95. Keep in mind that these are not the only two services…there’s lots of them, but they all do the same things and these are the only two I’ve ever found a need to use.
For you ballers out there with all types of income or those of you that want to do itemized deductions and the like when filing taxes, both of these places offer tiers to accommodate you. If for nothing else, you can quickly use these services with no commitment just to see how much you may owe or be owed by the IRS and then take that information to the tax preparer of your choice. You know, some CPA that knows all those semi-legal loopholes 😉
The IRS also offers various suggestions of where you can e-file free: IRS FreeFile
Surprisingly, a lot of people don’t know that you can also check the IRS site to see the status of your refund (if you’re getting one) – you go to: Where’s My Refund and put in your social, filing status and your refund amount and it will tell you how long before you get it.
When it comes to state taxes…you’re on your own. Most free e-file places charge for doing the state taxes and the prices are pretty hefty across the board. I know that here in Pennsylvania you can file your state taxes for free here: https://padirectfile.state.pa.us/authentication.asp
Check the Dept. of Revenue site for your particular state to see if they offer a similar program. I looked around and saw that there are many states that will let you file for free but with specific restrictions. Then there are a few of you lucky folks whose states don’t even require a state tax filing.
Well, good luck. Hope you get back all that you can. If you can find a kid or two to claim as well, I support you a 100% and if you know of any loopholes, please share 🙂 I’m of the opinion that if we can bail out multi-billion dollar corporations then we can definitely give a little extra back to the average working man. So get that money from Uncle Sam the best way you know how!
![967a8ddcf06cddfbb7d0d1ad3277d2fb.500x356x1[1]](https://silenciobarnes.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/967a8ddcf06cddfbb7d0d1ad3277d2fb.500x356x11-858x400.jpg "967a8ddcf06cddfbb7d0d1ad3277d2fb.500x356x1[1]")
22 Oct 2010
0 CommentsThis is the fourth track of my “A Track Every Other Day Challenge” -It was due last night and I actually finished it in time somewhat, just didn’t get a chance to post it here till today –
It’s a little bit of rap music called “Car Windows.” And I admit that it came out a bit sloppy and slurred, I was rushing…and drinking, but as I keep telling you, don’t take these tracks too seriously. These are just practice words.
Next track is due by midnight this saturday
![I-AM-ME1[1]](https://silenciobarnes.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/I-AM-ME11-858x400.jpg "I-AM-ME1[1]")
21 Oct 2010
0 Comments
So Me by SilencioBarnes
SilencioBarnes – Poet, Lyricist, Rapper etc – find me everywhere else under the same name 🙂 http://silenciobarnes.net for the full scoop I have rap tracks and poetry tracks up here which may be jarr
So Me Remix (Produced By Big B) by SilencioBarnes
SilencioBarnes – Poet, Lyricist, Rapper etc – find me everywhere else under the same name 🙂 http://silenciobarnes.net for the full scoop I have rap tracks and poetry tracks up here which may be jarr
Ask my little cousins and my grandmama…I was saying “I’m Me” waaaaaay before you heard it from Lil Weezy:))
I recorded this a while ago, but I didn’t want to post it because there were so many artifacts in the recording…a LOT of em (pops, clicks, stutters, static, etc) – I wanted to re-record it but never got around to it. Big B already did the remix using the bad audio and everything.
I’d forgotten about it and then saw it on my PC, and figured fuck it, might as well post it as is. I like the beat that Big B used on the re-edit, so I’m gonna make that the main one in the top player above. I’ll post the other as well in the music player. The only difference between the two is the beat, the bad audio is in both. But it’s still some rap music you might enjoy.
I’m so me!
It’s in the way I walk, it’s in the way I talk
Y’all fishing for my vision, but y’all can’t catch my thoughts
It’s in the way I be, It’s in the way I see
I’m so d-e-f and my swag so GI played so many circles, but never could fit in
My taste is wide and varies, I never learned to swim
I read Robert Jordan as well as Iceberg Slim
I see things so different, I still remember whenI was a game fanatic and comic book collector
Nicotine addict, smoke bogies down to filters
I played Wu bangers, Gravediggaz, RZArector
Queens artists, Nas, CNN, CormegaI was reading early, around the age of 3
I used to love to climb but nowadays I blaze the trees
I got a nervous twitch and nerdy tendencies
I acted out in class, I played D&DThese things all came together, to form just who I be
It’s hard to really say all the things to make you see
The crazy formula, the line that connects a to z
But when you put it all together man, I’m so meIt’s in the way I walk, it’s in the way I talk
Y’all fishing for my vision, but y’all can’t catch my thoughts
It’s in the way I be, It’s in the way I see
I’m so d-e-f and my swag so GI could trip or stumble, but I could never fall
I’ve been through the struggle, and lived to tell it all
I give game for digits, then never make the call
I got brain from bitches in public bathroom stallsI’m not intimidated, you could be small or tall
I know so many faces, but names I can’t recall
I’ve lived in narrow spaces, with roaches on my walls
I can’t stop being me, I’d go through me-withdrawalI’ve gone half on liquor, with some real life killers
I’ve smoked trees in jungles, with young and old gorillas
I’ve seen fiends get tortured, for coming short on scrilla
I’ve shared 50-cent sodas with some real ass niggasI’ve broke bread with monsters, and shared chips with dealers
I see police coming, without a rearview mirror
I’ve walked streets alone that you’d turn and go no nearer
That’s why I’m so me, let me make it clearerIt’s in the way I walk, it’s in the way I talk
Y’all fishing for my vision, but y’all can’t catch my thoughts
It’s in the way I be, It’s in the way I see
I’m so d-e-f and my swag so G
![silk_sheet-cafe_au_lait[1]](https://silenciobarnes.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/silk_sheet-cafe_au_lait1-858x400.jpg "silk_sheet-cafe_au_lait[1]")
16 Oct 2010
2 Comments
10 Jun 2011
0 CommentsBeen Spittin
So, I was getting ready to try recording some new rap music for the first time in like…half a year. Just wanted to do a quick track to see how it sounds in this new room…but then it dawned on me that I never posted the last coupla tracks I did several months ago.
So I figured I’d post those first before testing my equipment. This first one is called “Been Spittin” and the next one, which I will put into a separate post, is called “Child of Kings” – Both of these tracks have been in my reverbnation playlist, but as they are content, they belong here as well. I believe I used them both for my short lived Track Challenge, may it rest in peace. So this represent both the Track Challenge tracks and the Practice Words Mixtape.
Been Spittin – Produced by Big B on SoundCloud
This is another track that belongs in the Big B Presents category. I believe he wanted to do something with the Saw theme and didn’t realize at the time that everybody and they mama had already sampled the hell out of it. He went on to make the beat anyway, and I, of course, rhymed over it.
I’ll come back and add lyrics or more info if I should find the time and the gumption, or if anybody should request em.
to hear more music, check here: http://silenciobarnes.net/music/
For more from the Practice Words Series
Share this:
Like this: