THE IRS is a bastard!

[Nikepallas]

My mother retired and between her pension and SS she figured she owed so much to the IRS. She called the IRS help line and had the helpline go over this with her. Helpline said it was correct.

6 months later the woman is sent by a letter from the IRS stating she owed this much more and she basically had to beg so she could make monthly payment.

Fast Forward to this year-today- Mom calls to talk and complain at the fact that the $300 dollar refund she was supposed to get this year is not coming to her because the IRS told her they had the right to put it toward the money she owed them.

EXCUSE ME!!! woman sent out a payment which was less than her refund.

I'm sorry but this woman is basically living from check to check. She was hoping to use that money to help her out with another bill.


I am just SOOO angry that this govt has no problem doing this to retired people!

[Godai Kyoko]

1. The IRS help desk is right about 45% of the time

and the IRS won't guarentee the answers of its help desk. That is why it is better to get professional help. The professionals will stand up for your in court. Partly of course because since they sign the return also, it is their ass in the sling too.

[Nikepallas]

2. She has learned from that mistake but it is the whole situation that gets

me upset.

[adwon]

3. Sounds odd

One of the rules I learned in criminal law is that ignorance/mistake of law is not a defense, unless you relied on an interpretation from government officials. Maybe it's all in how you define government official, but this just sounds wrong as hell.

[girl gone mad]

4. She needs to keep calling the IRS until she can find someone..

who will be able to help her.

Several years ago I was told by IRS employees that I didn't need to file a return, even though I had some stock transactions (which hadn't earned me any money). Months later I got a bill from the IRS saying I owed more money than I had even made in that tax year.

They do make mistakes. I had to call around and once again I was given a lot of misinformation (even from tax professionals - one of whom told me I was going to end up having to pay the massive bill), but I finally got someone at the IRS who was able to help me. I had to send her a signed 1040 by certified mail, but it did get resolved fairly quickly once I started working with her.

Your mother may need to file an amended return. She needs to start making some phone calls, and don't believe people when they say there is nothing that can be done.

[Nikepallas]

5. She has talked to several people all of whom say she is wrong.

It is sad but a trend I'm seeing. A friend of mine heard from another friend who worked for the IRS that they where told to squeeze as much money as possible.

Just wondering how many other poor souls will be screwed by the IRS?

[banana republican]

6. Courts have held that you cannot rely on Information

from the IRS unless it is in writing. And the only to get it in writing is to request a Private letter ruling; cost $500 - $5000.

She needs to see a TAX professional (e.g. a CPA specializing in Taxes or a Tax Attorney).

The Statute of limitations is expiring (you have 3 years from the date of filing to amend your return to claim a refund)

[kliljedahl]

7. This was her mistake

She didn't contribute $200, 000.00 to the Bushco re-election fund.
If she had she'd have received a big refund.
Silly her.


http://www.kliljedahl.net

[jdj]

8. she's too old to serve, what good is she doing them?

a few more years she'll be sweeping up radiactive waste at one of their new alternative power source plants.