Well, for 2009 we also made a LARGE 'contribution' to help pay off the national debt and help balance the State budget ...
For a variety of reasons - fortunately most of them were enjoyment - we also took considerable $$$ out of the 'portfolio' in 2009 ... the initial mistake we made was not to have taxes taken out ... now when we withdraw from the portfolio we have them calculate an estimated tax as well ...
Now to keep this thread 'arranger related', I also have one steady gig for which I get a 1099 and there is no tax taken out of there either ...
Our tax consultant has advised that we make a quarterly 'contribution' to Uncle Sam, but I'm thinking I will hold onto what I feel is mine as long as possible ... In fact, we had our taxes completed a while ago, but those checks aren't going out until tomorrow ...

And chas, I'm not going to whine because as I have often said "There are more people in this world who would want to trade places with me, than there are people I would want to trade places with" ... so I grin and bear it ...
t.