Taxes on the Road?

It’s pushing mid-April and we all know what that means: Flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la, and IRS notices on the wing. Maybe the poetry stinks, but it is that dreaded deadline time. What are traveling RVers to do?

If you’re not where your tax man is, you may be able to file for an extension, to allow yourself more time to get the paperwork out of the way. Of course, if you owe ‘Uncle" any money, you’ll have to estimate what you owe him as best you can and send it by the April deadline. But what about other contacts with the government?

Many RVers have found it best to keep copies of their tax returns (and in some cases, supporting documents) with them wherever they travel. But what if (gulp) you’re summoned for an audit? "Uncle" will probably have the audit set for a city near your record of address. If you’re somewhere else in the country, it can be a frustrating and lengthy experience to get the audit relocated.

For those of you who "do it yourself," using the software program, TurboTax, you have the option of buying into what the company calls, "Audit Defense." For a fairly low fee, you insure yourself against ever having to appear before the IRS. If your return is audited, and you’ve bought the optional service, the Audit Defense folks will appear for you and deal with the Man from Uncle. For my peace of mind, it’s worth the extra money. For more information on TurboTax, visit their web site.