Wow!  For the first time in a very long time, I’m actually getting a REFUND from Uncle Sam to the tune of over $4,000.   And all it took was for me to lose my job for six months and the government to lose about 75k in income tax revenue from me.   I feel like Uncle Sam is saying, “Sorry we gouged you for so long for so much, here’s $4,000!”

Actually this is the first year I didn’t exercise options, cash out stock, or rake in huge bonuses during the past year.   The only “earned income” I had was unemployment insurance from the state.    What really helped were all the freaking tax deductions:  my entire MBA tuition saved me a cool $2200,  student loan interest saved me some money, etc.   The only regret is that I didn’t wait a little longer to buy a car.  I purchased a new car in 2008 and if I had waited another year, I could have saved another a few k in taxes.  Wow, what a great tax return that would have been!   If I had bought a new house that might have been another 8k.  Sometimes, timing is everything!

Oh well, I’m expecting to be back in the higher tax bracket this year so I’m sure I’ll owe Uncle Sam a few thousand this time next year but at least I can buy a new LCD TV finally ;)