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Just when you think you have your budget under control, BAM! Something completely random smacks you upside your head.
It all started when Mr. PaC and I found our ideal honeymoon destination: Little Dix Bay. We had our hearts set on LDB, but it was a bit more than we’d planned on spending. And so we hemmed and hawed for weeks…reworking the budget, making compromises or cutbacks where we could. Finally, we reached a comfort level with the cost and gave ourselves permission to put the remaining third on a no-interest rewards card. Brilliant!
Above images via Little Dix Bay
Shortly after we booked the airfare (which had risen $150 a person because of fuel) and paid our deposit, a fat envelope arrived from the IRS. For me. The girl who follows all rules, pays bills before they’re due, and is embarrassed when she has an overdue library book. I wanted to hurl. It seems I owe a significant chunk of money because I had unreported 1099 income (pre-tax dollars). Like Miss Magic, I don’t do math. This is why I have an accountant to make my complicated tax returns go away. And yet, here I am experiencing the same stomach-churning stress that I pay good money to avoid. (Despite being the one who missed an entire tax form, my accountant has no culpability. “Too bad, so sad” sums up his response.)
It gets worse. The IRS wants their money by May 31st or additional penalties will be applied. Our wedding is June 4th. Dude, we don’t HAVE five grand laying around three months before our wedding! Not after just booking our honeymoon and putting what we couldn’t afford right away on credit. Stupid stupid stupid. We should never have spent money we didn’t have, even if it was just a short-term cash-flow problem. Compounding the money woes is my yet-to-be-filed 2010 return, for which I will inevitably owe another significant chunk of money…even if I could max out my retirement contribution.
Money only grows on trees in Animal Crossing.
(Image credit: Nintendo via Animal Crossing City Folk Items)
Hive, it sucks. I thought we were being so good with our money. Mr. Pac and I were proud that we weren’t going into debt for this wedding, paying for most of it out of our own meager pockets. The whole IRS thing has shaken my self-confidence and robbed us of the peace of mind we worked so hard for in these last months before our wedding.
I guess the moral of the story is: Life outside of the wedding can’t be be planned or controlled. It refuses to fit neatly into your spreadsheets. It will happen at the most inopportune time. It has the capacity to throw you a curve ball that you’ll never see coming. Sometimes life is a real bitch.
Hive, what random and humbling things have you experienced while planning your wedding?
Oh man, that SUCKS!!! I’m so sorry. That accountant should at the very least refund any fees you paid. That makes me so mad.
Ouch! I’m so sorry. But don’t doubt yourselves for being good with finances and planning. It sounds like you both did a great job in planning and being responsible in what you could and could not afford, these things just happen. Your accountant certainly should be held accountable for this, and take some type of responsibility, but failing that I do think that there might be some type of extension that the IRS could give you for unexpected situations like this.
That happened to me before, and while the paperwork itself seemed very threatening and scary, when I contacted them, they allowed me to work out a payment plan and they were actually very nice and accomodating. I think most people try to run from the IRS so they have to communicate with you in a way that says, “Don’t f’ with us!” But when you cooperate with them, it suddenly becomes a much less dramatic and daunting situation. You should contact them, like a real person, and see what they can do for you. It will be okay.
Wow, that’s a serious chunk of change to owe! Must be some serious investment income to owe $5000 on it! This was my first year dealing with 1099s, so I can totally understand…good luck!
UGH, I’m sorry PAC 
That totally stinks, and must have really put a damper on the wedding planning stuff. I hope you’ve bounced back, though, and that you can scrape the money together. Thinking about you!
you can file an extension if you owe!!!!! it will give you some time to save….talk to your accountant about it!
@mightywombat: When we picked up our taxes last week, Mr. PaC politely asked if there was anything he could do to help us/the situation. He just flat out refused (to waive his fees or cover the penalty interest), citing the omissions clause. I get where he’s coming from, but it’s a hard line approach… one that guarantees loss of future business.
@kate02121 & @jholler25: I filed the paperwork for a payment plan. Fortunately, I can pay small amounts until all these wedding expenses clear.
@crayfish: It was a good chunk of untaxed bonus income (that I don’t normally receive), which is why the amount was so high. Thanks!
@Miss Candy Apple: It’s been almost two months since the initial shock, but it still knots my stomach if I dwell on it. There are so many other things I have to get done that I don’t have the luxury of stressing out over this.
@notintoplanning: My only option was a payment plan. With an extension, I still have to pay the estimated amount up front. All too familiar with this because Mr. PaC goes on extension ’til September *every* year.
I know it stresses you out because you’re so awesome with finances, and I’m so glad they let you do a payment plan, but I hope you can just write it off to the “small stuff” in life:) You’re getting married! You’re going on an awesome honeymoon! Don’t waste a second of any of it worrying about the small stuff:) It will all be okay!
Ugh, this totally sucks! I hate when unforseen money charges fall on my head. Good luck with everything. Math and money are a bitch (are bitches?).
This is so rough, PAC. Like, super horrible. Those 1099 can really come back around in bad ways sometimes, and weddings make money tight all over the place. I’m hoping things will get better for you guys.
But on a brighter note, all you have to do is get a golden axe so you can cut down some more trees, a shovel to scoop them away, and then plant more money bags. In a few days, you’ll have all kinds of money trees!
@Miss Magic: Twin evil bitches. I knew you could appreciate the situation.
@Miss Giraffe: hahahahaha, oh Giraffe! You get a million brownie points for that reference. 
Contact the IRS! You can work out a payment plan. We’ve just finished paying off my husband’s 2008 taxes through an IRS payment plan. The huge bill still sucks, but it becomes far more manageable.
This suuuuucks PAC! But I’m sure with all these bees’ suggestions, you’ll find a way to work it out. And I also have to make a game reference … money also grows on trees if you get the right kind of career points on Sims 2… 
Oh no! That’s horrible! I hope everything works out. I can’t help much because I don’t know much about the American tax system.
xoxo,
Shana
You’re so right about having no control but you seem like a smart cookie:) BTW… I know my story is no comparison to uncle sam on your ass but…I had to cancel my destination wedding for JAnuary 2011 i in late November 2010. After a whole year, my honey’s family did not make it a priority at all and no one would have been coming for him. I felt horrible but at the same time stressed b/c I had to fight with Beaches (serious BOOOOOO! for Beaches) about my family and friend’s refunds. Scrambling for a wedding in July has been no picnic either but it’s coming along and the best is yet to come. Good luck with the taxes:)
This exact thing happened to me! 6 weeks before the wedding I got a letter from the IRS saying that I didn’t report one scholarship correctly on my tax filing 3 years earlier! They waited 3 years to notify me of this. So the interest had accrued that whole time and I had to pay them a lot more back! And it was all due 2 weeks before the wedding. It sucked. I wasn’t too happy with the IRS! Why do they come after poor grad students?
The SAME exact thing just happened to me, however, we were fortunate to get the notice before we booked our honeymoon. Originally we set a budget of a $4000 honeymoon including everything, but after I had to send $1000 to the IRS, we downgraded to a less fancy place.
Oh no! It sounds like you two hit the road running with scouting out your options, so I hope you find a solution that allows you to tuck this away and focus on the happier things. {{hugs}}
Honey I am so sorry you are going through this so close to your wedding. *hugs*
ugh this totally sucks! the payment plan is totally a great idea, and getting a new accountant is an even better one! luckily my dad is my accountant, and he makes sure that i have all forms and makes sure that i get all the refunds i can (he also balances the city’s budget, so i feel pretty good trusting him!)
besides, (this sounds terrible, i know) you’ll be receiving wedding gifts that you can use to help off set the cost, if it really comes down to it!
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Mrs. Pain au Chocolat, Wilmington, DE Age and Occupation: 29, Realtor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Realtor Engagement Date: November 21, 2009 Wedding Date: June 2011 Venue: Greenville Country Club About Me: An ENFJ with an artistic streak who loves backgammon, sailing, graphic design, and sleeping in. Travel (near or far), good wine, and tasty food makes my heart sing. I'm a compulsive list-maker who lives to plan and organize. Mr. P and I have lived together for 4 years, all the while renovating our city townhome bit by bit. We're planning a whimsical, Anthropologie-inspired garden wedding in June 2011.
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