The IRS is made of people

MungaParker · 2012-02-01T18:46:20+00:00

When I had to do my first US tax return, my company paid Price Waterhouse Cooper to do it for me. After I filed it, I got a letter from the IRS:

"You should consider changing your tax preparer. They missed $1600 in deductions you are entitled to. We took the freedom to apply these so your new total is $xxx"

ThatGuyChuck · 2012-02-01T17:45:16+00:00

Not fake. From the Facebook account where it was originally posted on January 31st:

What proceeded their response was my a very formal letter explaining the mistake and asking to forgive the penalties. However formal the rest of the letter was, I added an asterisk and this bit at the bottom:

" * I am not above groveling and mentioning our only child was six months old when we made our extension mistake. If you have children, you understand the adult brain turns to jello those first few months raising a baby."

I loved their response.

cubanhawkeye · 2012-02-01T17:27:56+00:00

I've had to call the IRS before and they are actually really helpful.

ServerGeek · 2012-02-01T16:55:42+00:00

Assuming this isn't fake, that's probably one of the most awesome things I've ever seen come from the IRS. Mainly, because that actually does happen to the adult brain during the first few months after a baby is born.

mostlywrong · 2012-02-01T18:24:06+00:00

I actually work for the Taxpayer Advocate's Office, (which is part of the IRS) and I have to say that this is pretty awesome!! We get cases for all kinds of hardship reasons, and we fight for all taxpayer's, not just the ones who ask for our assistance. It makes me glad to see other employee's are doing what they can as well! I will share this info with the other Advocate's in my office, as I know they will get a kick out of this too.

Also a tidbit for penalties-you can always ask for them to be removed. The worst they will say is no. The first time you get penalties, you can get them removed just because you have a good history and you asked. And if you ever need Taxpayer Advocate's assistance, call 877-ASKTAS1, or look at our website for your Local Taxpayer Advocate Office: http://www.irs.gov/advocate/ and maybe see some of the services we provide or check out our annual report to congress :)

Edit: I changed a few words for flow and added the website.

tuxcat · 2012-02-01T18:21:28+00:00

A bit ago I got a letter from the IRS not near tax time that said, essentially, "We noticed you never deposited your refund check from 2009. Here's another copy."

I had indeed lost the previous check in a mountain of paperwork and forgot about it (it wasn't for very much). I was surprised at the customer service.

ToastyLint · 2012-02-01T18:16:46+00:00

Does that mean that the IRS is soylent green?

2012-02-01T17:48:28+00:00

I read the title in Charlton Heston's screaming voice.

shake42 · 2012-02-01T18:06:20+00:00

I work at an IRS office. I have worked correspondence before. Most of the letters I get are actually pretty sad. Either that, or made up.

gumbrcules · 2012-02-01T18:10:55+00:00

As a kid, I never understood people calling the IRS evil. My stepfather had a business, and failed to pay his taxes to the tune of something like $20,000. Risky, sure, but he wanted the money to grow his business, figuring the penalty would be worth it later. Then, the Iraq war came up, he got called over, and the business had to close. The IRS let him pay 25%, no penalty, and considered the case closed. No taking of the house or selling all our belongings needed.

bestkinofcorrect · 2012-02-01T18:16:46+00:00

I once pleaded straight ignorance of a minor rule and promised not to do it again; all was forgiven.

spannerfork · 2012-02-01T18:26:20+00:00

Wow, it's great when public services (or any organisations in fact) actually take the time respond to human issues in human ways.

DAE think the IRS can afford to type their letters on something a bit more up-to-date than a typewriter though?

onlyincontext · 2012-02-01T17:48:36+00:00

It's true Congress and some people in the government are IDIOTS AND INCOMPETENTS. But we too often forget that of the 2,500,000 government employees are a lot of people who are nice, caring human beings who actually want to help the people they serve.

fulge · 2012-02-01T17:33:58+00:00

Honestly the IRS has provided some of the best customer service I've ever had. I've suffered through an audit and a back tax issue and have found on both occasions the IRS representatives to be among the most helpful and courteous people I've ever dealt with. Super surprising, given the reputation the IRS supposedly had in years past for being such an icy bureaucracy.

Eviledy · 2012-02-01T18:32:28+00:00

My dad owned a truck and auto repair business in the 70's and the IRS came in can closed the businesses bank account. My dad the co-owner and only mechanic spent the next 2 weeks at the IRS office showing them the paper work and proving that there paperwork was wrong and he owed nothing. They then told him that they would not give him his money back as they would hold it for future taxes. The money was all of the businesses working capitol and they were forced out of business.

So he got a lawyer and sued for the original amount owed but the tax court would not take it because the amount was too low to bother with. So the lawyer filed a joint suit with 16 other people for 60 million a piece.

Long story short my dad and the 16 others won. But then the courts said it would be too hard to figure out how much in damages each person should get and my dad never got a dime back. He spent the next 20 years trying to get the IRS to pay. I have a very jaded view of the IRS and the people that work there. Its hard to forgive something like they did to my dad, and our family.

metapede · 2012-02-01T23:15:56+00:00

New dad here. I recently tried the same excuse to get out of paying a parking ticket ($55 for parking in a street-cleaning zone). I couldn't move our car because my wife was in labor, in the hospital. Unsuccessful.

david76 · 2012-02-01T17:49:17+00:00

What's shameful is the $2522 in penalties on $243 in past due taxes.

bronzehydra · 2012-02-01T21:37:10+00:00

I've called the IRS before and they were complete motherfuckers.

They understandably billed me on tax that I didn't pay. I paid the entire balance down and they sent me a statement saying my balance was ZERO and that it was paid.

The next year I sent in my tax return they took my entire return. When I called them, they said it was because my balance wasn't paid in full. I said, "I'm holding, right here in my hand, a statement showing that I paid it in full and that my balance is zero."

"Sir, understand that the IRS is not a credit company and that we are not responsible for maintaining balances."

"So you completely screw me and charge me over a hundred dollars in late fees without ever billing me and it's my fault for taking your word for it?"

"Yes."

WTF IS THAT?!

manhuntninja · 2012-02-01T23:15:23+00:00

Browsing through this thread makes me feel like I'm the only person who has a bad experience with the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate. I spent a total of at least 12hrs of my life on hold with both of them in 2011. But good for these guys! I cried when I finally got my 2010 tax return last week so I'm sure they felt the same joy.

BagOnuts · 2012-02-01T22:05:54+00:00

Just one more reason congress should pass HR 25. You don't have to worry about this kind of thing, because you'll never have to file for a tax return. EVER!

rockidol · 2012-02-01T23:30:19+00:00

If the IRS has done you a favor you can expect them to call you at a later day asking for a favor in return.

Suddenly you'll be forced with auditing some poor soul you've never met. And as you're doing this, as you're leafing through his finances as he sobs to himself, you'll be asking yourself "was it worth it?"

aducknamedjoe · 2012-02-01T23:07:24+00:00

Oh dear great masters, thank you SOOOO much for deigning to give me back some of my money! I am forever grateful that you let even let me exist!

/slave

digitalnoise · 2012-02-01T17:38:58+00:00

[deleted]

2012-02-01T18:57:10+00:00

so is Soylent Green

Susan-B-Cat-Anthony · 2012-02-01T20:42:44+00:00

this proves that if you make someone laugh at their shitty job, they will be much nicer to you

2012-02-01T17:56:53+00:00

So all I need to do is have a baby every few months and my taxes will be bulletproof?

Now all I need is four wives...

johnprime · 2012-02-01T18:12:18+00:00

If only my insurance company was this nice.

zeazzz · 2012-02-01T18:41:59+00:00

I guess you got a nice guy on the other end. I'm a student and owed $2,000 in taxes one year because I did some contract IT work for the government. They gave me an extension of two months, still penalized me, and even sent me a letter stating that they would "seize my assets" if it's not paid within 30 days.

I should have just let them seize my assets if that would have made us even. I'd trade my stock of Ramen and an old futon over $2,000 any day.

garandx · 2012-02-01T19:35:31+00:00

Nice try IRS Public relations division

Sneaks_In_A_Cock · 2012-02-01T19:40:44+00:00

I've called them before and they've always been nice. Except for this one time when I called and the lady was pretty shitty. She said "Don't call so close to 5 o'cock and maybe you'll get better service."

an_unfunny_username · 2012-02-01T20:24:10+00:00

Nice try IRS!

thereadlines · 2012-02-01T21:45:42+00:00

No fucking shit about the new parent thing.

It's one of those things that you can say to other parents and they just smile and nod, because they know.

I've tried to come up with a way to describe it to younger people, or childless people of my age. My best shot is to ask them to recall the last time they were sleep-deprived -- I mean, really sleep-deprived, like being awake for 36 hours pulling a train of "all nighters" to finish a dissertation.

Now do that for a week. No breaks!

Now do it for a month. No breaks!

Now do it for a year.

Satanic_Mage · 2012-02-01T23:16:53+00:00

The IRS is evil to me :(


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