DUers: Are you having IRS problems? Or is it just me?

[LiberalEsto]

Am I being paranoid or is this happening to others besides me?

This year the IRS lost the tax payment check I mailed them. I sent it on April 14. They received our tax return forms, but said they didn't get the check that I included with the forms.

The IRS did not notify me that they were missing the check until the end of May. When I called them, they said they could start a search for the check, and told me to call them back at the end of June if the check had not cleared. Well, the check hasn't cleared, so I was going to call the IRS this week and offer to write a new one and send it in.

Instead, I got a letter from the IRS yesterday saying they had not located the check, and advising me I owed not only the original amount, but $1675 in penalties and interest (with the amount increasing daily.)

I called the number included with the letter. They told me I could stop payment on the original check and send the IRS a confirmation letter from the bank along with a letter requesting a refund of the penalty, but NOT the interest.

Today, in order to avoid accumulating even more daily interest at 6%, I sent them a check for the entire amount -- my original tax bill plus penalties and interest - by overnight mail. I included a letter saying I had stopped payment on the first check and would send them the bank's confirmation letter as soon as I received it, and that I expected a full refund of the $1675 in penalties and interest since it wasn't my fault but the IRS's. So now I'm out $32 for the stop payment fee, $13.65 for overnight mail, plus $1675 in penalties and interest that I doubt I will ever see a penny of again. And all because the IRS supposedly lost my check.

And then the IRS allowed me to pile up 2 1/2 months of penalties and interest before asking me for a new check. Why couldn't they have handled this more expeditiously?

I wonder if any of you are experiencing stuff like this , because I wonder if it's a subtle government harassment because of my political leanings. I'd put nothing past this Misadministration.

LibE

[jedicord]

1. I'm being charged back taxes from a debt incurred by my husband

in 1989. The debt was "forgiven" by the financial institution in 2002, and we're being charged taxes on that amount plus penalties and interest. I'm fighting it.

Yeah, I must admit I wonder myself if we're being picked on.

[lectrobyte]

2. I got audited last year. Not sure why.

[MadisonProgressive]

3. Try electronic transfers

[LiberalEsto]

6. Good idea. I wish I'd thought of that

before I mailed the check today. Thanks, though.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. That's what I used and I did it on April 13th

I didn't have a problem.

[SouthernDem2004]

12. Yep, always works great for me. /nt

[SouthernDem2004]

13. dupe

[Dinocrat]

4. No audits yet....

but I'm sure they're keeping track of us. We're the only ones who know, or will at least listen to, the truth. That makes us a threat, and a damn good reason to begin compiling info, financial and otherwise, on left leaners.

[TorchTheWitch]

5. that's exactly why they do it

And then the IRS allowed me to pile up 2 1/2 months of penalties and interest before asking me for a new check. Why couldn't they have handled this more expeditiously?

They purposely let something go for months or even years just so they can tack on penalties and interest... they've been doing that for decades (it's pretty much standard operating procedure).

[LiberalEsto]

7. Kicked for the evening crowd

Any of you have IRS trouble too?

[tallahasseedem]

8. Its you.

Liberal commie pinko. :sarcasm:

[madrchsod]

10. on going for a year now

back tax payments due to filling out the forms wrong. phone calls-mail documents..actually they have been pretty decent about the whole thing. we`re paying off monthly. ya never send a check,prob. got tossed in the garabage can.

[sweetheart]

11. The IRS can suck my ass

When they hold free and fair elections in the US, i'll file, and not
before then. I'm not paying for criminals and criminal war... (period).

[Cleita]

14. You're not being paranoid. It happened to me too.

I mailed my tax return at the Post Office on April 15, and got fined for my return being eight days late. I talked to the Post Office and since they were open until midnight to postmark mail, it appeared it wasn't them to begin with.

I don't think it's the IRS. I think the feds are opening our mail enroute under the Patriot Act and they can legally do that. I had a check lost too for a credit card payment that never arrived costing me another fine. I wondered if they were tampering with my mail because of all the petitions against ShrubCo I have signed?

I fought it with the IRS. They said I should have had a trace when I mail it. I told them how ridiculous would it be for the whole working population of the US to be lined up at the Post Office getting that type of documentation on April 15th, but you can be sure I will from now on.

I asked them nicely to look at the envelope it came in, to see if it was the one I sent it in? I had handwritten the envelope with a specific return address label. Of course they couldn't produce it so it became a matter of my word against theirs. Since I have always paid my taxes in a timely manner, they gave me the benefit of the doubt and removed the fine.

I would fight it if I were you, like I did. Just be very nice but firmly insistent. I think they know something was up because they took a really long time looking stuff up while keeping me on the line.

I am rather hesitant now to send timely documents like tax returns and credit card payments through the mail. You'd think if they were going to spy on us, they wouldn't be so stupid as to delay and lose timely documents, which only raises suspicions.

[IChing]

15. I have also, but they owe me money and am having a battle.

which I should win, and yes I thought I was signaled out.

I thought it was paranoid to think the government would ever use
a government agency for political purposes against it's detractors.:sarcasm:

No republican president ever did that before.

[distantearlywarning]

16. We had a lot of problems getting money out of them this year.

They took almost 3 months to send us our refund, and we filed electronically. They finally coughed up the dough after we called them 6-7 times.

[Cleita]

17. Kicked and nominated.

Let's get this on the front page and see how many DUers have had something odd happen with their tax returns.

[trof]

18. CALL. YOUR. CONGRESSMAN.!!!

That's what they're there for.
I had a similar problem years ago and my congressman got it straightened out.
The IRS pays ATTENTION to inquiries from congressmen.

[Cleita]

19. My Republican Congressman hates me because

I rattle his cage all the time, but my Senator Barbara Boxer will hear from me.

[I Have A Dream]

21. I had a similar situation many years ago.

My congressman was the only way that I could get it straightened out also. I loved him forever after that. :)

[I Have A Dream]

20. No, I've not had any problems for many years. n/t

(Previous problem was because of a name change and a move. I'm sure that it wasn't politically motivated.)

[Cleita]

22. ....

:kick: