Pro se filers - income calculations ?

[FLGirl]

Did you calculate your income based on the past 6 mths? Or the past year? The lawyer I talked to said either is ok. Past year I meant the past 12 months prior to filing date.

And the same question for calculating or adding in your tax refund for 2004. Can I average out for the past 12 months prior to filing instead, with 2003 refund percentage for the remainder of last year figured in? Or does it have to be 2004 refund divided by 12 mths? thx!

[StaciMM]

If you have an irregular income, averaging over 6-12 months seems reasonable. I know under the new laws, they will automatically look at the prior 6 months. (So under the new law someone who was working and is then laid off would be based on their old income if they were to file the day after being laid off.)

Personally, our incomes are not irregular, DH & I both work jobs where we're paid hourly. So, I used that. I did factor in that DH makes a slight (1-2 hours per month) bit of overtime, and I make none. (Haven't had even 1/4 hour in 3 months.)

[skincomplicity]

I work on commission and tips. The way if figured my income was I took the total year to date from my paystub , added my tips, divided by the # number of months at time of filing. I noted on schedules "(est.yearly income to date)"and "est. average monthly income". Although I have months that I make very little and months that I make decent money, it all evens out 'cause it alllllllllllll goes to bills.