I'm sure these are tame compared to what some of you have experienced...still a pain in the ass to me.
Example 1 from a couple years ago: I made a mistake on my son's social security number...I missed one number where it should have been a 6, I put down a 5 by accident.
So of course I get a letter stating how one of my dependents social security numbers is incorrect, and they are removing the dependent. I eventually get this fixed, by sending them a letter with the correct info. Of course they then had to send multiple letters back to me, saying the new info was being processed, then another letter when it was approved, etc...
Wouldn't it have been much easier, less time consuming and less expensive to just look at my past 8-years of returns, see that I've always had my son as a dependent, and by checking the social security number of those returns, see that I simply made a mistake with 1 digit?
Example 2: A few weeks ago I got a notice in the mail from the IRS, saying I owe an additional $3,100.
So I call them up to see what it's about, and they tell me that I really don't owe $3,100, because there are some adjustments that haven't processed yet, but that the actual amount will be lower than $3,100. I'm told to just wait for the new total to arrive in the mail.
Fast forward two weeks later and I get another notice from the IRS. This time the balance owed is $1,600...so I call them up again. I'm told, "the balance isn't $1,600 it's actually $1,300. However, there are still some adjustments we need to make, and after those adjustments, your balance due will be zero".
So I ask them to send me another letter for my records, showing that the balance is zero, because all I have is a letter showing $1,600. No, they can't do that yet, because the adjustments that will make my account balance zero are still pending. I ask "How long do these adjustments take". Answer from the IRS "Oh, it could take awhile". I ask them "Well what should I do then, what do you recommend, I need a statement showing zero balance, because I don't want any penalties or interest added to my account".
I'm told to call back in a couple weeks (there's another 15-30 minutes on hold again) to check for an update.
If the IRS is this wasteful of taxpayer dollars and time on very simple issues on my return, I can only imagine what it must be like agency wide.
okay, end of my rant.
/at least I'm not being audited.
/knock on wood
Example 1 from a couple years ago: I made a mistake on my son's social security number...I missed one number where it should have been a 6, I put down a 5 by accident.
So of course I get a letter stating how one of my dependents social security numbers is incorrect, and they are removing the dependent. I eventually get this fixed, by sending them a letter with the correct info. Of course they then had to send multiple letters back to me, saying the new info was being processed, then another letter when it was approved, etc...
Wouldn't it have been much easier, less time consuming and less expensive to just look at my past 8-years of returns, see that I've always had my son as a dependent, and by checking the social security number of those returns, see that I simply made a mistake with 1 digit?
Example 2: A few weeks ago I got a notice in the mail from the IRS, saying I owe an additional $3,100.
So I call them up to see what it's about, and they tell me that I really don't owe $3,100, because there are some adjustments that haven't processed yet, but that the actual amount will be lower than $3,100. I'm told to just wait for the new total to arrive in the mail.
Fast forward two weeks later and I get another notice from the IRS. This time the balance owed is $1,600...so I call them up again. I'm told, "the balance isn't $1,600 it's actually $1,300. However, there are still some adjustments we need to make, and after those adjustments, your balance due will be zero".
So I ask them to send me another letter for my records, showing that the balance is zero, because all I have is a letter showing $1,600. No, they can't do that yet, because the adjustments that will make my account balance zero are still pending. I ask "How long do these adjustments take". Answer from the IRS "Oh, it could take awhile". I ask them "Well what should I do then, what do you recommend, I need a statement showing zero balance, because I don't want any penalties or interest added to my account".
I'm told to call back in a couple weeks (there's another 15-30 minutes on hold again) to check for an update.
If the IRS is this wasteful of taxpayer dollars and time on very simple issues on my return, I can only imagine what it must be like agency wide.
okay, end of my rant.
/at least I'm not being audited.
/knock on wood
