The soonest I could do anything about it was this evening, so when I got home, I called the helpful number supplied in the letter. After 15 minutes or so on hold, I finally got a human. She was kind, and seemingly helpful, putting me on hold several times. I explained to her that I'd only ever filed 1040-EZs in the past, since my taxes are relatively straightforward. But in 2009, I started dabbling in the stock market online. Last year, I managed to net $634 (dwarfed by losses this year, but that doesn't count). Because of this, I was rather clueless as to how to file, so had an "expert"* friend help me out.
The helpful IRS lady did some re-jiggering of my figures, but she still ended up with over $4,000 owed. . .gulp. Knowing that is was flat-out impossible that $600 in profits could grow to that big of a tax, I of course objected, and she agreed to put me on hold again for an "advanced" specialist. I was on hold for an eternity (with one interminable tune being played on an endless loop). In the meantime, I had The Other Half refigure my form for me. This turned out to be fortuitous, as it turns out there were several errors on my tax form.
It also turns out that I don't owe, I'm owed. Quite a bit actually. When the advanced guy finally came on the line, I explained all of this, and. . .he couldn't help me. But he did give me the address and phone number of an IRS office here in town that should be able to help me. So, I'm going to fill out all of the forms I need again (1040, 1040-X, Schedule-D), and take all of my paperwork with me on Friday. Cross your fingers for me.
*EDITOR'S NOTE: This is not a slam of my friend who tried to help me. I appreciated the help, and frankly probably shouldn't have imposed. He gave it a go. It's my responsibility.
Excuse me? How about you write of some of the REAL tax hell out here. People who can't put their kids in college because they owe the Irs money on income they never made or because they have a shady employer who used them as a write off and Way over reported their income. Try your little tasty of the IRS for YEARS....every week trying to resolve ONE error done by an Accountant. IN 2003. You have a FRIEND and poof....good for you. People have lost homes and businesses over and over BECAUSE of the Irs. We wont even talk about OBAMA and his Sneaky Nickle and dime, Tax us to Death plan. Takes a big Man to want to Tax a bed pan. It is time this country treated our own Tax hungry royal Guard (IRS) like the colonies did the British. I don't know about you...But them demanding More Tax from me than I earned in Income....because I was Too poor to pay them money I didn't actually EARN..........It's Slavery. The only freedom we have left is we are Free to choose what work we will perform for the Master. My family of 6 is eating on less than 70bucks a month. The rest is Stolen by our fine Government. I won't take welfare, I think its Shameful and only for people who CANT work. Its turned into mostly those who don't Want to work, but who can blame them.....be a good dog and Master won't Make you work and he will feed you into obese Bliss and short life. People have NO american Dream anymore....Who can Sleep with Big BULLY waiting for you to put a dollar in the bank so IRS can steal it. I don't mean to slam your small trouble with the IRS, however wait or look around, you have a friend who is in deep trouble Right now or 5 or 6. The IRS is the New SS and I don't mean it in a joking way. The government is no longer what it was before George Bush Jr., unless you want to remember the WWII US citizen internment camps, or the Witch hunts of the black listed in the 50's. This government seems to think Everyone should be on Welfare, Government salary or in Jail. The rest of us are Tax feeder steers off to slaughter.
ReplyDeleteCalm the hell down, jack! This is MY personal blog, and I was telling MY personal story.
ReplyDeleteAs for Obama being behind any big tax woes for the general working man, BS. We're actually paying less taxes on average than we have for years. And we've had exactly one tax period that even has fallen under Obama and it wasn't even a full year. If you're experiencing tax pain, there has absolutely not yet been enough time for it to be Obama's fault.
I'm sorry if you're having a tough time, but it sounds like you are lashing out at the wrong people. And certainly *I* didn't have anything to do with it.