Tax Return: I intended to file as White again this year, but here is how I managed to file as Blue

White that is as close to Blue as possible (aiming for it)

To begin with, I had intended to file my tax return as a White return this year.

In truth, I have had the desire to file as a Blue return for a long time.

That said, as someone who belongs to the 'prepare right before the deadline' crowd, I am never able to start that early every year, and for 2026, I felt like, 'I guess it's impossible again this year'.

However, it is not that I thought filing as White was perfectly fine.

With the goal of filing as Blue next year for sure, I did think I would keep my records in a format as close to double-entry bookkeeping as possible.
My feeling was that I was proceeding with a 'White return that is no different from Blue'.

When I reviewed the dates, the premise changed

Why did I think I would go with White this year? One of the reasons was the filing date of the previous year.

I had submitted it on March 17, 2025 (Reiwa 7), but I had been under the impression all along that 'last year was after the deadline'.

But when I looked at this year's calendar, something bothered me.

This year, March 15, 2026 (Reiwa 8) is a Sunday, so the deadline became the 16th, the following day, right?

Wait, does that mean March 17, 2025 (Reiwa 7) was a Monday? I thought.

So, when I checked, it was actually exactly that.

In other words, in 2025, even though it was March 17, I had actually submitted it within the deadline.

The atmosphere changed a little from there.
Thinking, 'Wait, am I in a state where I can file as Blue?', I wanted confirmation, so I looked back at the e-Tax message box and the notifications on Myna Portal.

The result: Blue. I can do it.
Mom. I did it.

So, now that I knew I could file as a Blue return, it became a choice of 'do it'—I'm going for Blue even now!

From White to Blue. Truly, a sky-blue return.

Since I had originally been proceeding with the idea that this was a rehearsal for filing as Blue next year, and because there were not that many sales crossing over the end of the fiscal year, switching from the assumption of White to Blue did not feel like a catastrophic redo.

If anything, I felt more inclined to think, "In that case, I should try doing it properly at least once this year."

Of course, I knew it wouldn't be easy.

I had to learn how to use accounting software, and as I progressed, I realized there were many aspects of double-entry bookkeeping that I thought I understood but actually didn't.

Even so, I felt like I was finally able to face a task that had been in the back of my mind for a long time.

Tax returns tend to be something you just finish once you submit them. Or rather, that's how it had been for me.

However, in reality, the process involves reviewing the flow of money in your business, so it's not just administrative work. As you review it, you find areas that are wasteful. I mean, not remembering what a certain expense was for after buying it is a bad habit, I think.

That said, at least for me, it was the beginning of a shift in perspective from "something to just get over with quickly because it's a hassle" to "something that is worth looking at properly."

Well, just because I found out I could file as a blue return didn't mean everything went smoothly, haha. It is a fact that it took more time than I expected.

Yes, what stood in my way was the accounting software that I had been paying for but rarely using.

Next time, I think I'll write about how I kept paying for that accounting software while still doing everything in Excel.

How do you all file your taxes? Please let me know if you have any tips.