Simpler taxes long promised, never delivered

I love winter. I love snow. I love making a roaring fire in my fireplace on a chilly day. But I hate one thing about this time of year: taxes.

February is rough for the self-employed. It's rough because my 1099 forms – official records of how much my clients paid me last year – arrive in the mail.

As the 1099s roll in, I hope and pray I made less than I know I did – because my tax "contributions"...