Ugh, billytea, WTF? That's a pretty serious mistake on the government's part.

No, it's not really their fault. It was the financial year where I'd just gone back to work after getting laid off during the GFC. We estimated at year start how much we were likely to earn over the year, based on the days per week my work was saying they'd need me for; and our entitlements were assessed on that basis. In the event, my work hours got ramped up quickly and drastically, so our income was higher than anticipated. (I'm guessing we crossed some cut-off threshold.)

That's all fine, I don't mind having to pay it back. (I very much support government assistance being better targetted to those most in need.) But it's still a pretty hefty and unexpected bill to have to deal with.

Zen, If you decide to modify the business plan to le nubian's specifications, I'd like a job as the trainer for local counselors.

Kozmo was an on-line convenience store/delivery service founded by two Wall Street whiz kids in the early Zeros.

You could get pretty much anything delivered in an hour. I vividly remember being super-hormonal and unhappy (major breakup had just occurred) and ordering a delicious salmon dinner, a new heating pad and two Farscape dvds. It was bliss.

Sadly, the kids lacked a viable business plan, despite garnering 250 million in capital.

There is an absolutely fascinating documentary of their cautionary tale entitled e-Dreams. I highly recommend it.

Zen, If you decide to modify the business plan to le nubian's specifications, I'd like a job as the trainer for local counselors.

I could totally do this job. Additional services I could offer include cleaning up pet messes clients do not have the physical/emotional wherewithal to deal with (no judgment, only empathy) and I could bring Harvey along to snuggle with and purr for clients.

billytea, you are an excellent citizen. Having to pay back nine grand couldn't have happened to a better guy.

Okay, that's not precisely what I mean. But it's great that you're totally philosophically okay with it. It fucking bites that you have to do it. Paying back money that already got integrated (and therefore spent) is no mean task.

Finding out you owe a bunch of money to the government is kind of scary and discouraging. I do hope you are able to work something out, billy tea.

But it's great that you're totally philosophically okay with it. It fucking bites that you have to do it. Paying back money that already got integrated (and therefore spent) is no mean task.

Couldn't have said it better, so I won't try.

I kind of feel like they'll be amenable to a payment plan. That's a huge chunk to expect immediate payment for.

In weather news, it's blissfully cooler today than yesterday and the past two weeks.

Doing laundry, making phone calls, checking on the mom from time to time... staying up at my sisters for the next couple of weeks while they/she travel/s. Months of angst and drama WRT our mom's care, where she should live, etc. (Mind you, in my family, our angst and drama is all very... reasonable? It's so weird. Doesn't make it less stressful, though.)

Hugs and more hugs, bt. ND and I have a similar we-believe-in-taxes-but-ouch-they-hurt going on with regular ol’ taxes due from last year and estimated taxes due for this year. I just finished paying last year’s taxes and made the first payment due for this year (a few months late), but I still owe estimated payment #2 (due mid-June...oops), #3 (due mid-September), and #4 (due mid-January). We will be paying #2 and #3 in November when we can afford them and sucking up the penalty.

I have to say that the IRS is actually very amenable to payment plans in the States. I’ve had to set them up many times due to the whole ND owns a business and is self-employed situation, and they’ve always been very accommodating. I guess they’re just glad we really do want to pay our taxes. I imagine Australia would be similar.

I've got back taxes due to Utah, and the letter I got telling me that also had "And you can set up a payment plan by filling out the form at the bottom of page two and sending it with your first payment."

No muss, no fuss, no quibbles, and they send me a monthly reminder. And in 16 months they'll be gone.

You could get pretty much anything delivered in an hour. I vividly remember being super-hormonal and unhappy (major breakup had just occurred) and ordering a delicious salmon dinner, a new heating pad and two Farscape dvds. It was bliss.

Urban Fetch was a similar service, with a similar demise, in NYC. For a while, they also delivered logo t-shirts with each order, and I've still got a few of those that I wear sometimes. They're super comfortable, though that could be because they're several sizes too big for me. (They're men's x-large. The sleeves go down past my elbows, and the hem is nearly at my knees.)

you might want to tweak your business idea. someone comes to me with comfort food and the right kind of demeanor, they might have to sit in my home for 4 hours and listen to ALL the problems.

Starlight Premium membership! Includes house-call therapy/shoulder-to-weep-on.

Zen, If you decide to modify the business plan to le nubian's specifications, I'd like a job as the trainer for local counselors.

Additional services I could offer include cleaning up pet messes clients do not have the physical/emotional wherewithal to deal with (no judgment, only empathy) and I could bring Harvey along to snuggle with and purr for clients.

Excellent! My plan comes together.

Urban Fetch was a similar service, with a similar demise, in NYC.

Kozmo was an on-line convenience store/delivery service founded by two Wall Street whiz kids in the early Zeros.

Sadly, the kids lacked a viable business plan, despite garnering 250 million in capital.

Bwuh-wha? gzsajdf I'm going to read about all this, seriously. There has to be a way to make this work.