My experience with the IRS lady...........

[clarice]

So I get this notice that my company is delinquent on some corporate taxes.
I knew that this was incorrect so off to the CPA I go. After confirming that the notice was
incorrect, we set an appointment at the IRS office. I really wasn't sure what to expect
but I was determined to go in with an open mind. After having been kept waiting for over an hour,
we finally were allowed to go into an office. There behind the desk, sat an efficient looking woman
who did not stand to greet us. After several minutes of "official" small talk, alarm bells started going off in my head.
She conducted herself in the smarmy, condescending manner so common to some life time bureaucrats .
At one point, she informed me that "I didn't seem too concerned about the issue", and I agreed that I was not.
She then informed me that this was a "government issue" and that she was a representative of the US Government.
I said " I realize that, and that means that YOU work for ME."

Here is a snapshot of her facial expressions, in this order.
1. Disbelief.
2. Confusion, as she felt the underpinnings of her world view starting to crumble around her
3. Disdain. That anyone DARED to think this way.

And then it happened, all pretense was dropped as she sat back and fixed me with a baleful, arrogant gaze which
if it were translated to words would have said " OH you're one of THOSE!!"

She then took her note pad and scribbled something on it.
I asked her "What was that you wrote?"
She informed me that it was part of her "personal notes"
I asked her, "Is it relative to my case?"
She said "Yes"
I said" May I see it?
She said "no"

At this point, my CPA gave me a nudge with his foot, but I could see the corners of his mouth turning up.
All said and done, we were clean, and as we were leaving she asked tersely "Is there anything else I can
do for you?"
It was all I could do to stop myself from saying "How about an apology?"

[Kali]

1. I have always had good luck with the IRS.

the AZ state Dept of Revenue is another story.

[clarice]

4. * shudder* nt

[CreekDog]

157. *shudder*, why did you plagiarize a previous post slamming the government?

you didn't write the material in the OP below, yet you act as if you wrote it yourself.

where did it come from? who did you take it from?

clarice (3,048 posts)

Your tax dollars at work.

Here is a list of my personal worst of the worst in federal waste:

Swedish massages for rabbits: $387,000

The National Institutes of Health paid this six figure sum to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine in order to discern whether Swedish massages would be helpful in recovering from an illness...


http://betterment.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=761972

[SharonAnn]

118. I've always had good luck with them. Very professional and very courteous.

Of course, after being audited two years in a row and they determined that I was owed a bigger refund each of those two years, I never heard from them again about an audit.

To be fair, we had two extremely unusual tax years because of international work and moves and I'm sure that the huge discrepancy from previous years "flagged" our tax returns.

[struggle4progress]

147. Yes, I've always found them pleasant and helpful

[Turbineguy]

155. Same here.

I have a had number of questions over the years. I was audited once. The Lady helped me increase my deductions. Although in the beginning she tried to intimidate me. That did not work. File an honest return. Sleep at night. Audits are no problem.

[MissB]

2. Not sure what your point is.

[clarice]

3. No point....just a story. nt

[CreekDog]

109. A cool story

Bro.

[clarice]

135. You mean Bro-ette?

[Drahthaardogs]

28. The point is to slam some poor underfunded agency who is just implementing the laws Congress passed

as best they can. In addition, let's slam some lady who works there who has not had a raise in five years, who saw her staff reduced by our wonderful Congress, and who is routinely asked to do less with more. Then let's act superior cause we brought our own CPA to the table and anyone who works for the feds must be a dumb ass ... to dumb to start their OWN business.

[clarice]

32. ummmmm.....what world do YOU live in??? LOL. You couldn't be further off the mark....jeeeez.nt

[Drahthaardogs]

43. I am a fed, and I have heard that bullshit line before

in fact, I heard from a Senator's rep. That he worked for the people, thus I worked for him. I replied "No sir, I am an executive branch employee, I serve at the pleasure of the President, not the Legislative Branch. In addition, if I am incompetent or NOT doing my job, that decision will be -- no MUST be made a District Judge. Not YOU!"

For the record, not all of us are general funded. I am project funded.

[clarice]

50. What exactly does "project funded" mean ? nt

[Drahthaardogs]

52. Have your CPA look it up.

Then get back to me.

[clarice]

58. No, I would rather hear it from you. Please explain. nt

[clarice]

64. Welllll ? we're all waiting. nt

[Drahthaardogs]

68. Project funded = funded by project

E.g. Constituents need a new bridge, Congress appropriates funds, agencies pay me and my engineers a percentage to execute the project. My position only exists when there are sufficient projects to pay for my services. It is the same way Contractors get paid by the government. No project = no work.


This is very different than general funded employees.

[clarice]

71. Duly noted. thanks. nt

[CreekDog]

110. The bounciest part of the story was that this gov't employee was shocked when...

The OP said she worked for him.

If th story were true, she's heard that statement dozens of times.

Shocked my ass.

[Gormy Cuss]

112. Seriously.

I've dealt with some really shitty tax employees but they were smart enough to avoid partisan mine fields.

[hfojvt]

119. I've only heard in once in 13 years

and was not really prepared for it.

Dude could tell the story about how he put some uppity bureaucrat in his place (although who really describes a school janitor as a bureaucrat) From my perspective though, he was being a jerk.

[treestar]

176. Very true

Any time in that sort of job and you've heard it all.

Family law is the worst. People think they have this original new argument that family court hasn't heard eight million times before.

[A HERETIC I AM]

36. .....

There. That should make the point.

[clarice]

51. I know right? what a silly response. nt

[steve2470]

38. any time I see people bashing on the IRS....

it's almost always from the right side of the aisle. Ok, none of us are really thrilled to be paying taxes but it's the price of being somewhat civilized in this country.

You make very good points. My overall impression of the IRS is, as long as you stay calm and work with them pro-actively and are honest in your dealings, you have nothing to worry about. The people who refuse to pay taxes, who refuse to file, who hide income and/or try out some really convoluted reading of the tax code are the ones who have something to worry about. The IRS doesn't routinely go out and kick down doors.

[A HERETIC I AM]

44. I think you make valid points here.

On the other hand, it seems the point of the OP is that she came across an asshole bureaucrat and they are not, in fact, all that rare.

I have respect for most IRS employees, with out a doubt. They do a difficult job in an underfunded agency.

But an asshole is an asshole

[steve2470]

47. yea, I get that that was the OP's perception nt

[CreekDog]

111. It's not clear from the story who was the asshole

[Codeine]

138. Oh, I think it was crystal clear. nt

[6chars]

154. there are a lot of idiots there

i had an experience that ended up taking about 2 weeks of my life full time over a few hundred dollars that they ultimately said i had paid and they were just mistaken. i spent hours and hours on hold and on the phone. finally got to one person who had a brain and got what i was saying who said of course this was not a problem, just go to phone number x, say y, and it will be done. more hours on hold, more hours talking to people who can't understand "I wrote this on line 26 and this on line 27" and reply "we're not talking about line 26 and line 27, we're talking about line 28" (which is the greater of line 26 and line 27). little snide comments "oh, you were really wheeling and dealing, huh?" it was kakfaesque. it was a real eye opener. very stressful, and right when i was in a horrible place physically so all the more difficult. all the while, i was thinking about how this was taking a huge amount of their resources and they were choosing to go after me rather than some billionaire hiding profits in the cayman islands. this incompetence and lack of concern with the public was so prevalent, i am convinced there is a cultural problem with the agency that needs to be fixed. you have to experience it to understand.

[TampaAnimusVortex]

182. Maybe the appropriate response should have been to grovel a bit?

Always have to bow and scrape to those with power over you eh?

[Drahthaardogs]

183. I am not sure what agenda Clarice really has here on DU...

Lots of talk of "personal responsibility", posts on anti-government, tax dollars at work. Makes sure to mention she was a "hippie". It makes me wonder what this is really all about.

[Vinca]

5. I congratulate you on your restraint.

And I love that "you work for me" line. LOL.

[clarice]

6. Thanks Vinca....but 220 views and 3 responses? I think I laid an egg....or

nobody else saw the humor in it.

[Vinca]

122. I've been audited . . . and I loved your story.

I remember the miserable bat who did us and it was 20+ years ago. In the end we won and got back about $5,000.

[clarice]

125. +1000.nt

[Travis_0004]

7. As an IRS enrolled agent I can tell you the IRS has a lot of incompetent employees

FYI, and enrolled agent means I can represent people in front of the IRS, I am not an IRS employee.

A lot just want to settle and move on, they really don't care if the taxpayer is correct, they just have a quota to hit.

[clarice]

11. Very interesting Travis. I didn't realize that.nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

48. I read somewhere, that when confronted with an audit and a figure.....

the higher the net worth, the more likely the accused is to simply make a counteroffer.

In other words, if you have the means, you can negotiate till the cows come home, and then the cows come home through the right door.

[clarice]

59. That is certainly correct...it would....

be very hard for a person of modest means to make a counteroffer. nt

[Travis_0004]

102. In my experience it depends

I've had clients who made a mistake on their taxes (and I honestly believe it was a mistake) and they will make a quick settlement. If the IRS is correct, and the client was wrong, then pay what you are owed and move on.

I've also had a client who the IRS offed a settlement, and the client fought it out of principal. It was on corporate deductions for a somewhat small business. I informed them settling could be cheaper than fighting but they wanted to fight.

I had a meeting with the IRS, and they wanted the paperwork, looking at a folder in my hand said I'll look this over and get back with you. My response: this is my notes. Your paperwork is in my trunk. Do you guys have a dolly I can use.

5 bankers boxes on her desk later she wasn't too happy, but they did call a few months later and dropped the case.

[1939]

78. Most accountants doing business taxes

Recommend a few overclaims and errors. The IRS guy latches on to the "low hanging fruit", the business pays the taxes due and a penalty, and the IRS guy meets his quota with little work and doesn't drill any deeper..

[Codeine]

8. .

[Brickbat]

17. .

[clarice]

21. Right behind you fellow traveler.lol. nt

[clarice]

29. BTW....that's a very pretty lady on your profile. May I ask who that is?nt

[Codeine]

34. My avatar pic thingie?

A singer-artist-author named Amanda Palmer. She started with a two-person band called Dresden Dolls then transitioned into a solo career.

She's also married to writer Neil Gaiman; they're about to have their first child.

[clarice]

39. wow...thanks...loves me some Neil. I will look her up. nt

[PeaceNikki]

41. I recently met Brian Viglione.

He's the new drummer for my favorite band now which excites me beyond belief. I met him and Brian Ritchie after the Milwaukee show in June. I was so stoked about that. He's amazing with the Femmes and he was remarkable with the Dresden Dolls.

[Codeine]

46. How does he restrain himself

considering the fairly simple drumwork in the Violent Femmes catalog? You just know he wants to start smashing cymbals like a madman halfway through the show.

[PeaceNikki]

57. He fucking kills it. Thankfully they played "Black Girls" which is a gorgeous piece to showcase his

talent.

They're a much different band live and he's really fitting in well with them. He's adorable, kind, breathed news life into the band and even accepted my friend request on Facebook. Ritchie and I have been friends for several years. It always makes me giddy when a childhood idol of 30 years interacts with me on Facebook.

Anyway, your post about the Dresden Dolls reminded me that I've really gained exposure to and appreciation for them since Vig joined the Femmes. I was cautious at first, but I'm a huge fan of his now.

This wasn't the show I was at, but.... Come on.

[Brickbat]

62. This subthread gives me life.

[PeaceNikki]

67. Lol, the video I just added puts me in my happy place.

[Brickbat]

76. Now see, something good did come out of this thread!

Thanks for posting that.

[clarice]

79. many good things came from this thread....

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”


― Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan

[REP]

89. OYG I love the Femmes

So so much. Thank you.

[PeaceNikki]

90. Me, too.

They have been the soundtrack to my entire life since and I feel an intense connection with them.

[Matariki]

33. LOL

[madamesilverspurs]

9. My experience with IRS

was about 25 years ago. Went through two years of hellishness that turned out to be due to an error on the part of the nationally famous tax preparation service that USED TO advertise that they'd pay any penalties that resulted from their mistakes. The IRS was far kinder than the company rep who all but bodily threw me out of the office when I sought the promised compensation. My only satisfaction derived from my comments and his surliness being witnessed by a waiting room full of customers, many of whom chose to follow me out the door.

[clarice]

18. I would have followed you too !!!!!!! nt

[Matariki]

10. That sounds like a pretty obnoxious encounter

and I don't necessarily mean just her.

Why do you require her to stand up and greet you? Why do you imagine that your little 'jibe' caused her to feel anything - much less "the underpinnings of her world view starting to crumble around her"?

It sucks that the IRS made a mistake and caused you to lose hours out of your day, but you also sound kind of arrogant. People are often more helpful if you don't treat them badly.

Also, why did you post this on DU?

[clarice]

13. It was a just a story. Are you saying that DU is enamored with the IRS? nt

[Matariki]

25. It's difficult to tell who's the protagonist is in your story.

[clarice]

27. I respect your opinion....but if you really can't tell who the protaganist is, maybe it's time....

for you to reevaluate who is in charge of this Country. And it ain't THEM.

[Matariki]

31. You might not realize this, but you paint yourself as rude & entitled

and yet seem to think because the woman works for the IRS everyone on DU will cheer you being a jerk to her.

Or maybe you weren't a jerk to her and she was actually rude to you. In which case your 'story telling' abilities might need some polishing.

[clarice]

37. Thank you for your insightful literary critique. As a published author....

I've it's always found it inspiring to read the wrathful assessments of the Proletariat.

[REP]

91. On the Internet, everyone's a published author.

[clarice]

92. Point?

[REP]

96. .

[CreekDog]

181. Yes, though the antagonist is pretty easy to spot

[Codeine]

14. +infinity

I wonder how this person treats service workers.

[clarice]

16. I wonder the same thing Codeine. nt

[tammywammy]

74. +1 n/t

[magical thyme]

174. +1B. nt

[Brickbat]

12. You're a regular damn hero.

[clarice]

15. I had my say...that's for sure. Thanks for your support. nt

[Brickbat]

19. My apologies for being unclear.

My post was sarcastic.

[clarice]

22. two steps ahead of you comrade. nt

[Brickbat]

40. .

[clarice]

42. He is SOOOOOO hot !!!! and what a bow !!!!!! *fans her face in the old Southern style*nt

[COLGATE4]

81. ^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^

Talk about being self-absorbed.

[Nye Bevan]

20. Sometimes it's good to resist the temptation to be a smartass.

I have a tendency to be one myself, but in certain circumstances such as interacting with immigration officials, cops, the TSA, and flight attendants, I resist the temptation. To this list of situations I would add "encounters with IRS agents".

[clarice]

24. I sort of agree...but....

Ever since the 60', I refuse to subjugate myself to ANY unelected Government entity.

[Nye Bevan]

66. OK, but pissing her off is not going to lower your taxes,

and might just inspire her to look over your returns even more carefully out of spite.

Acting subjugated, stroking her ego, and pretending that you think she is important, on the other hand, will probably get you out of there with the minimum of pain and expense.

[clarice]

69. I steadfastly refuse. nt

[CreekDog]

113. You'd prefer an elected IRS agent?

You haven't thought this out.

And probably many other things also.

[steve2470]

23. I've had only one non-routine encounter with the IRS...

and it was by mail. The fearful Gestapo-comparison IRS

They drily informed me in a letter that I had make a mistake on an old tax return, and to send them a check by X date which included the civil penalties for such mistake. After reading and contemplating the letter, it appeared they were correct. At that time I was doing my own taxes, so I'm sure I did make a mistake. I sent them a check for the amount they requested, and the case was closed.

I think this person you mention was only doing her job, which is many times an unpleasant one. It's not her fault the tax code is set up a certain way or that her superiors mandate that she do her job a certain way. Sorry, I'm lacking sympathy for you here.

[clarice]

26. Not expecting sympathy at all, just common courtesy. Doing one's job is one thing.....

intimating a power level that is not of your ranking is another.

[dumbcat]

53. Well, that tears it ...

... intimating a power level that is not of your ranking is another.

Spoken like a true elitist.

[clarice]

54. Why did you ruin a civil conversation with name calling?

Go clean your room and let the grownups talk.

[dumbcat]

70. I guess that answers the question about

how you treat your servants.

And the grownups mostly call me "Gramps."

[clarice]

72. I have no servants....unless you want to count my cute pool boy. nt

[treestar]

177. This ^^^^^^^^^

The weird thing is too sometimes they will do the opposite.

I once got a check from there with a letter saying I could take the earned income credit, so they redid my return and gave back the difference.

[RandiFan1290]

30.

[Codeine]

35. Holy shit, that may be the finest piece

of photography in human history. I haven't laughed that hard in days.

[clarice]

63. Please, oh please tell me that that is not a REAL picture of Randi !!!

I had him pictured so much differently. Oh well," once you go goat...that's all she wrote"

[Brickbat]

49. Dying here. Excellent.

[Starry Messenger]

55. Yup.

[Matariki]

61. ha!

[vanlassie]

45. My first full time job was with the IRS service center in Fresno.

I worked in Collections. My boss always always used to say "Don't forget who is paying our salary!" She was a great boss and a great person.

[steve2470]

56. you had a great boss

That being said, being a front-line public-serving IRS employee has to be one of the nastiest and most thankless jobs there are. It's not their fault the tax code is messed up or that Congress voted a certain way. So many don't want to pay any taxes, period. It's good you survived your time there.

[clarice]

60. +1000. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

65. I get that some bureaucrats can be real cards ...

but, in my experience, that "You work for me" never makes things better. Actually, government workers are, as much self-employed, as they work for you ... sense they pay taxes, too! (Well, some of them!)

[clarice]

73. Thanks....all I wanted.....no DEMANDED was a little respect. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

75. I understand. n/t

[clarice]

77. I know you do, probably better than most folks. nt

[CreekDog]

114. And she doesn't work for you

Arguably the closest thing you can say is that she works for us.

Which means you don't get special treatment.

Nor do you get to suggest that be because she is paid by taxpayer dollars that she should read the tax laws any differently in your case.

[clarice]

124. Please re-read op. Never was seeking special treatment. nt

[CreekDog]

146. The only version of the story any of us have is your version

And despite that, most people here think you sound like the jerk.

Imagine that?

[pinboy3niner]

153. Slamming the IRS publicly is usually something conservatives do

This OP reminded me of another one that--stunningly--used a conservative piece without citing the conservative source or even acknowledging that when called on it:

http://betterment.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=761972

[CreekDog]

156. obvious poster is obvious

pretty sneaky that they posted something from a conservative news source/Senator Inhofe, but tried to hide that fact by posting a long quote without any link or attribution.

[clarice]

162. Well, I have to admit it........I get a kick out of most of the vitriol thrown my way.....

but I never expected it from you......that one cut me deeply.

[Oilwellian]

80. One can only imagine what her personal note said

[clarice]

83. Oh.....I think I can imagine. lol.nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

87. lol. Yeah. She wrote it in front of him on purpose.

[clarice]

127. Him? nt

[1939]

82. One of my many war stories of dealing with the IRS

Back when I was getting started in life and had made a few savings, I had invested in a few mutual funds (learning how bad that can be). At any rate, one of the funds sent me a 1099 one year for like $18.56 and the next year one for like $21.80. Being a good little citizen, I reported each on my income tax for the appropriate year. A year or so after the second year, the IRS wanted to knw why i hadn't reported the $18.56 for the second year (maybe the 1099 got there late). They wanted the $5.00 or so tax on the tax unpaid $18.56 plus penalty and interest with dire threats if i didn't pay up like RIGHT NOW. At the time, I was on active duty with the Army with access to a government xerox machine. I xeroxed both years tax returns and circled the entrees. I also xeroxed both 1099 and wrote a long letter (on govt time) typed by my secretary on govt time. I was very pollite in the letter and showed them how they were in error. I then got back another letter which regurgitate everything that i had written and said that they were graciously excusing me from paying the $5 plus penalty and interest. I wonder how much all of that cost the govt?

[clarice]

84. Great point.....

If it were me, and I realized that you were in the Military, that whole file would have ended up in file 13. lol

[brer cat]

88. You describe yourself as a "good little citizen"

and then describe how you converted government assets for your personal use? It is a nice touch that you were polite.

[1939]

99. Just like you playing with the internet on company time

I got to work at 0700 for the "morning standup" and didn't leave till 1730 or 1800 everyday (plus half day Saturday) though of course, i was being paid for 24/7 availability.

[brer cat]

108. I didn't play with the internet on company time.

The hours you worked is irrelevant to your previous post. You chose to share with us that you used government assets for personal use. If you were expecting high-fives for doing so, maybe someone else will come along who thinks that was a very clever thing to do.

[Liberal_in_LA]

85. congrats on getting that cleared up

[clarice]

86. Back atcha.....congrats on being a cool person. nt

[KT2000]

93. why say "you work for me?"

employees of the US government are not YOUR employees nor are they your slaves.

I think you both had attitudes.

[clarice]

94. They are most definitely our employees....our tax dollars supply them with a paycheck. nt

[KT2000]

95. BS - they are employed

by the US government. They answer to their superiors - not you. You can not give them raises, fire them, approve vacations etc. You are the consumer. If you have a complaint you can discuss it with their supervisors or write your congressperson.

You think the IRS woman has never heard that comment before? I doubt her world view crumbled. That is an old saw people use to "put people in their place" and it is rude and arrogant.

Anyway - I am pretty sure your tax dollars went to the defense budget.
And BTW - If you make purchases at a store that does not mean the employees there work for you either.

Last comment - your story made me ill.

[tammywammy]

98. Rude and arrogant is the nicest way to say exactly how this comes across.

it's the same sort of assholish behavior I was on the receiving end of when I worked retail.

[KT2000]

100. working with the public

is eye-opening and difficult - some people can really be assholes to other people.

[GreatGazoo]

121. a lot of miserable people out there just waiting for each perceived opportunity

to take it out on someone else.

[clarice]

128. Perhaps you should be a little nicer. nt

[jonno99]

103. Oh please, the IRS worker set the confrontational tone - trying to put a citizen "in their place".

Seems you could lighten up a bit...

[clarice]

129. Right???!!! nt

[Codeine]

104. KT2000 for the goddamned win!

[Drahthaardogs]

107. She's just going to kick her own thread again.

I have been watching this all night after my tirade. This is some kind of ego thing.

[COLGATE4]

117. +1

[clarice]

126. I call bs. Where do you think the Us Government gets there money? The keebler elves? nt

[CreekDog]

115. Hey tough guy/gal, if they work for you why don't you tell a Federal law enforcement official

To obey one of your orders?

Or do you just try that stuff on people sitting at desks?

[clarice]

130. Wow...you're taking this far to personally. I didn't insult your family....

or do you consider all Government bureaucrats your family??? hmmmmm?

[bullwinkle428]

105. That always gets me out of traffic tickets when cops pull me over!

[Downwinder]

97. The only thing good about not having enough

income to file, is not having to file. Then I got a letter asking where my filing was.

[clarice]

131. lol.nt

[Texasgal]

101. I'm kind of surprised by the comments

in this thread.

My own issues with government workers stems from the absolute complete worst of the worst. SSDI. Good luck trying to find someone in that agency that is somewhat kind. I seriously have never come across any other agency that is as rude and downright insulting than them.

Shit, Is it shocking that a government worker is an asshole?

UGH!

[clarice]

132. Amen Sister. nt

[REP]

136. My experience has been the opposite

When my claim came up for routine review, the SSA made a pretty serious mistake - they lost my paperwork. I had date-stamped copies, thanks be, but to get this resolved, I had to go to my local SSA office quite often. While it took four years and a hearing, because they weren't sure how to else to resolve their error - absolutely everyone I dealt with could not have been nicer, more apologetic for the screw-up or the havoc it was causing, even though a number of those people didn't actually achieve anything. When I finally did get the Office Superstar, she was not only apologetic, she kicked some mighty ass that was obvious in 48 hours.

So I definitely agree there are some major, major problems with the SSA but every time I've had to speak with an SSA employee about my SSDI, the rep has been professional, polite and friendly. That might've been the only break I caught in an epic series of fuckups!

[HeiressofBickworth]

106. I've had only two encounters with the IRS

First was an audit (later figured it was triggered by my ex-husband's new wife who resented paying child support). I made a pittance at the time, no investments, no deductions. It was pretty straight-forward and I wound up being charged an extra $50 -- I wrote a check.

The second time was a bit more interesting. I already received my tax refund but the audit was triggered by a mistake I made in filing the tax return. I listed my daughter as a dependent although she was working at the time and I was not entitled to claim her. Although I listed her by name, I make the correct calculation of taxes based on her NOT being a dependent (forgot to remove her name). The IRS, seeing that the facts/figures disagreed, sent me a check for an amount calculating her as a dependent. I returned the check with a note saying that I made a mistake in listing her name, but that the amount I paid was correct. They sent the check back. I returned it. They sent it back. This time I returned it with a note outlining how I was right in returning it, listing the dates of the letters in which I attempted to return their money which was sent to me in error. I finished by saying that if they returned the amount AGAIN, I would consider it a gift and cash the check. In received a HAND-WRITTEN note from the IRS apologizing for their error and thanking me for being honest. I figure there's a gold star next to my name and I'll never be audited again. LOL

[Violet_Crumble]

116. I know what the 'personal note' said...

It would have been along the lines of: 'I just struck the 500th unoriginal taxpayer who seems to think I'm their personal servant because they're taxes pay my salary. After demanding i fawn and grovel at their feet because they're just so awesome, I sat with my colleagues in the lunchroom and warned them that if they're to vent about what an arrogant pain in the arse this person is that they must NEVER do it by email because if said pain in the arse makes an FOI request pain in the arses servants would be doomed to a future of inquiries and appearances before commissions, and worst of all they will never be able to refuse to rise to their feet when meeting and greeting their millions of other employers

Btw. Totally riveting story. I'd like to think the cabbie I met who approached me with a similar level of arrogance wrote a post somewhere with some fictional high drama about how my whole world crumbled when he labelled me a bureaucrat and informed me he was my employer

[clarice]

133. Huh? nt

[former9thward]

120. I have been audited by the IRS twice.

Both over stock sales. Both times the employees thought that you bought stock for free so when you sold it the entire amount was subject to capital gains. Both times the IRS ended giving me more money back because I had not bothered to take deductions that I could have taken if I wanted to take the time to do it. They are not very competent in tax law.

[betsuni]

123. "lady"?

I find referring to a woman as a "lady" strange, unless one is a child, referring to English aristocracy, or suggesting someone is not in possession of all her marbles: "Hey lady!" I don't know, alarm bells start going off in my head. (Takes out note pad and scribbles something in it.)

[clarice]

134. That's because you might be one of those with COS......

Constantly Offended Syndrome.

[REP]

137. Naw. Just KHWW

Knows How Words Work. Don't worry - I'm sure you're immune!

[clarice]

139. Don't YOU worry, I'm never afraid of the word police.nt

[LanternWaste]

141. I think the suffers of that particular syndrome out themselves by saying...

I think the suffers of that particular syndrome often out themselves by saying," It was all I could do to stop myself from saying "How about an apology?"

The virus is easily caught by holding others to a higher standard than themselves, and the symptoms are rationalizing their demand of respect by others over that of earning it.




(space freely provided below to attempt justification...)

[clarice]

142. lol......you Jack-a-nape. nt

[DawgHouse]

140. It's not strange, just do what I do!

I always think of Jerry Lewis, "HEY LADY!" and then it I get the giggles.

[TheFarseer]

143. if you told me "you work for me"

I'd have been pretty God Damn unhappy. Do you tell the police you work for me? Do you tell your waitress "you're my servant. Do as I say!"? That's some republican smarmy bs and is not what anyone with an "open mind" would say. Sorry but I can't stand it when people act so superior to someone who works for the government. How about just explaining what the mistake was?

[clarice]

145. Simply a question of common courtesy. nt

[CreekDog]

158. Saying "you work for me" is common courtesy?

I'm pretty sure you don't know what that word means.

[TBF]

144. Wow!

What a story ...

[kcr]

148. Well, I, for one, was on the edge of my seat.

Baleful, arrogant gaze... Brilliant. She was no match for you. "YOU work for ME" Wow. I bet the look on her face was priceless. There's no way anyone had ever said that before you came along, for sure.

Really, this was gold. I'm sure there must be other stories you can tell. This can't be the only one. You're such an original thinker. Please, go on. Any more gems, like, "as she felt the underpinnings of her world view starting to crumble around her" I have to have more. Pure entertainment.

[clarice]

159. Ok, how about this one,

Once upon a time, there lived a jester in the Court of King Rasmus. The jester hated his station in life, but was unwilling or unable
to correct his situation. Instead, he hid behind a facade of unrelenting sarcasm and insolence to cover his true mien. He enjoyed
tormenting his betters with scathing, bitter remarks. At first, the King enjoyed his jester and found an almost perverse pleasure
in watching his court writhe and blush under the jester's cruel taunts.

One day the King, tiring of his jester's malevolence, took his jester and threw him in the moat to be consumed by alligator gars
and nutria rats. This gladdened the hearts of the court and their subjects, and everyone lived happily ever after.

[kcr]

160. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings

But you came across as an entitled jerk in your OP. It's clear I'm not the only one who noticed it. I'm not sure why you thought you'd expected sympathy on a liberal board with the attitude it seemed to convey. If that wasn't what you intended, maybe you should explain.

ETA never mind. Just saw post number 153. You're not as clever as you think you are.

[clarice]

161. I'm surprised that you are trying to politicize this issue....

So if I understand this correctly...in order to be considered a TRUE Liberal....then it necessitates a love for the IRS?

[kcr]

163. No

But the type of disdain you were showing in your OP is classic with conservatives.

[clarice]

165. I'm not sure that "disdain" is limited to one political doctrine. nt

[kcr]

166. We all have our blind spots

Funny though how I only ever seem to see liberals and dems who have them on message boards like DU, where they'll get kicked off if they admit their true political leanings. Isn't that strange?

[clarice]

169. Yes, very strange......your post I mean.....can you elaborate? nt

[kcr]

170. A published author... who has trouble understanding...

How very strange...

[clarice]

172. My work here is done....you are dismissed. nt

[Kingofalldems]

164. Aren't you also against a minmum wage hike?

[clarice]

167. No you misunderstood. I said that I was against a medium rare steak. nt

[kcr]

168. Not fooling anyone nt

[clarice]

171. Aha !!!! caught you...KCR = Lantern waste = creek dog. Why all of the aliases?

Are you a super secret double naught spy?

[Facility Inspector]

149. It is indicative of good breeding

to greet someone on your feet when in formal/business circumstances.

[dembotoz]

150. Went to the IRS office twice this week

Due to vaca,sick and staff reductions they had 2 that's right 2 folks doing costumer service in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
2 poor way overworked slebs trying to get thru the day.
Security starts handing out numbers at 6 am. The doors open at 9.
Needed to get transcripts for my kids school loans cause my kid managed to screw it up like only he can. So no heavy lifting. Type in the soc numbers and hit print... The agent I dealt with was gracious and nice and from the looks of her overworked to the point that I worry if she would stroke before the weekend.

Used to b able to get transcripts via online but that got hacked so now it is order by phone which takes a few days or in person.
Don't look like they added more folks to deal with walk-in traffic

[merrily]

152. One of THOSE American taxpayers!

[treestar]

175. why would her world crumble?

there are challenges to the government's actions every day.

There are procedures to use if you don't agree with a first initial determination of any kind.

there are plenty of grey areas. You don't tell us the issue of law, so we don't know how to evaluate your claims to being in the right. Did she find in your favor?

[clarice]

179. Oh yes, I knew going in that everything was in order. Thanks. nt

[Kilgore]

178. Very Good!!!!

[clarice]

180. Thanks. nt