Life at a Tax Accountant's Office #23: I couldn't trust the year-end adjustment...

This is not a story about a client's year-end adjustment, but about my own.
Even though I worked at a tax accountant's office, for some reason, I filed my own tax return every year.

During my first year-end adjustment after joining the tax office.
Shiina-san, the legendary office clerk in charge of staff payroll, gave a stern notice: "Hand in your documents!"

I hurriedly filled out the declaration form, gathered my deduction certificates, and was about to go submit them when...
I was stopped by Otsuka-san, a serious tax accountant who had broken his little finger while mountain climbing during a company trip.
"Shiina-san... she'll mess up the year-end adjustment."

Huh...?
Mess up a year-end adjustment... why??
This is a tax accountant's office, isn't it???

Surprised, I asked, "So, is everyone else filing their own tax returns?"
"Yeah, probably... I think everyone except Shiina-san does."

Whaaaat...!?
It's a hassle... or rather, I'm... quietly shocked...

According to Otsuka-san,
every year there are a few people whose refund amounts make you wonder, "How did you even get that number?" and eventually, a "do-it-yourself culture" naturally took root.

I had already gone to the trouble of getting my deduction certificates... "What the heck!" I thought, but I wanted to avoid the extra hassle of them making a mistake, so I decided to submit a blank form with a clean conscience.

Then Shiina-san snapped at me, "Don't you have any insurance?"
When I replied, "Oh, um... no."
She said, "You're an adult, you should at least have some insurance!"

...No, no, I heard that I couldn't trust your year-end adjustments...!
I couldn't say that even if my life depended on it, so I just forced a smile and said, "I guess you're right..." to get through the moment.

This was back in the days before things like hometown tax donations existed.
I ended up preparing my own tax return every year, which I otherwise wouldn't have needed to do, in between preparing returns for clients.

Furthermore—
Until Shiina-san retired, she wouldn't even let me have my resident tax collected via special collection.
The reason was,"Because it's a hassle."
The fact that such an argument could pass really shows why she's the legendary clerk, Shiina-san!

So, I always had to make sure to check "Resident Tax: Ordinary Collection" when filing my tax return, but...
One year, I forgot to check that box.

At the end of May.

"Kokoroha-san, come here for a second!"
I was called over by Kasuga-san, who was sorting the mail.

Showing me an envelope sneakily, she whispered,
"Isn't this the municipality where you live, Kokoroha-san?"
"Oh, yes, that's right."
"You know... you forgot to check the ordinary collection box for this, didn't you?"

Oh no!!!
I messed up~ (sweat)

If Shiina-san had found this... I might have been publicly executed with a verbal lashing (sweat).
Kasuga-san... good job!!!

"You'll have to figure this out yourself," she said, handing me the envelope. I called the municipal office, though I knew it was a long shot.

"Can I change this to ordinary collection now?"
"Unless you've retired or are on leave... it's impossible."

The end.

And so,
from June until May of the following year, I had to go to the bank counter every month during my lunch break to pay my special collection resident tax.
"It's my lunch break, and yet... what is this... this wasted time..."
Thinking that, I quietly waited in line at the crowded bank—a memory I'll never forget.


*This article is an episode essay based on events the author actually experienced.
The names of the characters are pseudonyms, and there is absolutely no intention to criticize any specific individual or organization.