Oh good, the IRS is going after my blind 95 year-old mother!

[sinkingfeeling]

My sister just called me hysterical because the IRS is demanding another $1000 from our blind, bed-ridden mother who lives in an assisted living home. Apparently, when she cashed in an annuity last year and the bankrupt financial institution sent an amended 1099, the IRS misplaced it or the financial institution didn't send it to them.

I think it's great that they can't audit multi-millionaires or approve of Mrs. Romney's deductions for her dancing horse, but can come after someone like my mom.

[missingthebigdog]

1. Google "taxpayer advocate" and your location

They are part of the customer service arm of the IRS, and are really good at cutting through the layers to get to a resolution.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

9. That is really good advice. I work for the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

We do great work, are free and represent the taxpayer until all issues are resolved. That notice was more than likely computer generated and can be easily fixed. Dealing directly with the IRS will get the issue taken care of but TAS can do it much faster. Good luck.

[DonViejo]

2. Deal with the IRS, I've had to do it and was terrified but,

they aren't that difficult to deal with; been there, done that. Your Mom should have a copy of the 1099, make it available to the IRS too, if she does. Hope everything works out okay for you and her!

[hollysmom]

3. I dealt with them a long time ago when they had a computer bug

they billed me $100 interest on owing them 0 dollars and 0 cents. Well, the first time there was like 300 dollars they said I owned them, but they corrected it right away, then the bills fore interest started coming. They are very nice face to face. only took 6 months and 2 trips to the office.

[taught_me_patience]

4. These are automated mail audits

Obtain the 1099 and give them a call. It should be fixed pretty easily and she may or may not owe some money. If she owes money, there will be some interest penalty, but probably not much.

[NCTraveler]

5. Some of their 1099 audit for previous years was done in late November.

I had until Dec 10 to pay or dispute. One call and I got it extended out until Jan 10. At least make a quick call and get an extension. If for nothing else but to give you and your sister some breathing time. Best wishes. I have the IRS sending me the supposed missing information because I don't remember the numbers they are using. I am normally spot on with these things. Best of luck.

[Cleita]

6. Happened to me three years ago when my so-called pension plan

accidentally moved too much money from my IRA. They claimed they couldn't reverse it and it caused me to have to pay $2,000 in income taxes, wiping out my savings. Raising prices on gas and food have not helped me to recover and the pathetic COLAs on my Social Security which are pretty much spent on rising health insurance costs have put me in a financial downward spiral. I'm sure I'm not the only elderly person being nickeled and dimed by changes to SS and Medicare that have been made since the Reagan Administration.

Oh, yeah that same year General Electric Company paid no taxes.

[Frustratedlady]

7. My parents (who were both terminal) received a notice stating that they did not

file a return a couple years before and wanted to know why. I told the dr. about it and she was furious. She promptly dictated a reply to the IRS in which she stated they were both terminal and did not need to file. She also demanded they leave them both alone...they would get the final tax report in due time. We never heard another word. That was several years ago, but they did back off. I was so grateful that the dr. took control of the situation.

Their letters can be scary, but they will work with you.

[SomethingFishy]

8. My neighbor who is on fixed income disability was audited...

the IRS spent more than a year and who knows how many man hours to figure out that this guy who is living on $1200 a month disability owed them $98.

[Glimmer of Hope]

10. That ain't right.