Someone you can call to do your taxes who’s not me

Down on the left of my computer desk top is a copy of my W-2 form from my part-time job. For various reasons, this past tax year didn’t see a lot of income from my other job as a freelancer. That needs to change. That is another story. I will use a computer application I have used for the past four years to file. It’s pretty simple. I am all for simple.

I could rant here about the need for simplifying the tax code. It needs simplifying. Or I could rail on how the top 1 percent need to pay more taxes. A New York Times interactive feature the other day showed what percentage in which I happen to reside. I am in the bottom 30 percent.

All I know is the quicker I get my return done, the quicker my fate will be revealed. Will I pay or will I be refunded? Probably I will receive a small refund. To some fat cats, that means I am one of those who doesn’t pay taxes so I should just shut up. The hell you say.

Well, I just know I will file pretty soon. It won’t be a big deal. If it is, don’t call me to do your taxes ’cause you’d just end up playing tennis in one of those places where the Feds keep you for 20 months or so while you work on your backhand. But here is a good person to call for those complicated returns, Jake Barnett. He’s the 13-year-old math prodigy featured Sunday on “60 Minutes.”

Jake’s is an amazing story, first brought to light in this article by the Indianapolis Star’s Dan McFeely. The child faced a rocky road because of autism. It wasn’t long before he was taking college classes and will graduate in a couple of years. If he doesn’t end up doing something which wins a Nobel Prize or two, he can at least earn a great living preparing taxes. Hey Jake’s parents: I doubt he needs any motivation, but if he does …