Just last week...
we had our annual session with our tax person - same 'trauma' each and every year - just at the start of the new year. Costly affair, paying for missing bank statements, paying to find proof of legit expenses concerning caring for Anke & Markus. Having to listen (again) how the tax consultancy spent far too much time on our tax return - giving us a huge discount (again) for the last time (which is understandable). We are informed (again), that they work as hard on our tax return as what they do for a small business with employees (we only have the 2 nannies for goodness sake!). They put in the effort on our behalf at a price.
We don't have pension funds or subsidised medical aid membership on our hospital plan. We have to work to generate enough income every month to cover our costs in taking care of Anke and Markus (and ourselves and the 2 nannies). Now this monthly budgeted income is what we need, the amount per month we have to generate/need push us into a specific tax bracket, forcing us to buy the services of a specialist tax person to help us out of this tax bracket 'mess' as we cannot really afford to keep on paying the amounts of provisional tax twice a year (as our expenses is what it is!). We have to rely heavily on our tax person to assist us, as we do not have the know how to navigate the complicated tax rebate maze of having 2 disabled adult children.
SARS audit me every year, as they don't keep good record from year to year about our situation. Every new tax year's person at SARS receiving our tax return need to be convinced all over (again) that we claim what we claim in terms of our situation. We have to prove to them every year (at great cost), that yes Anke and Markus are what they are (still!). We attach photo evidence with an affidavit to prove our situation. Photos to show how disabled Anke and Markus are. SARS fortunately only require from us every second year (missed this time around), to submit an official SARS form where we have to pay 6 different specialists - psychiatrist, audiologist, psychologist, optometrist etc. vouching that they are disabled and are dependant on us for their every need!
What a schlepp. It is as if we have to brace us this time of year, every year to be bullied by SARS! until next year. We need to keep meticulous record through the year of our every cent for the next tax return!
When will this stop?
It is a wondrous thing that if you manage a small thing like a silent smile at me, unfocused eyes trying so hard to see me... a haphazard touch by your hand, planted somewhere on my body when we play wrestle on the floor. I feel your life, your significance, your purpose. I become happiness, I become healed. I understand my purpose... you are my gift...
