OT: Dealing with the IRS
I made a tiny error on my taxes this year. I receive a Federal Civil Service Annuity, and I entered it on lines 14a and 14b of my 1040 when it should have gone on lines 12a and12b. I enclosed everything I was supposed to atta*****luding my Wife's W-2 and my 1099. I don't itemize and expected a refund of $191.
Well, I got a major surprise on 05-05-08 when I received a refund check of $1,273. It came with a note stating that I had made an error on my taxes and was due this refund. But, it also said to send the refund back if you knew it was wrong. It further stated that the IRS would charge interest and penalties if an incorrect refund was not returned to them. When I worked for the Fed govt, there was an IRS investigation office down the hall from us and we often had break or lunch with them so I already knew this. Despite my family telling me to hold onto the check, I did the proper thing and returned the check along with a letter of explanation. Before doing that I had called the IRS and was told to print VOID in the signature section of the back of the check. I also made a copy of both sides of the check for my records.
Needless to say, in less than a month, I received a notice saying I owed the IRS over $1000. I realized that the letter and the check had probably crossed in the mail but I still called the IRS to ensure that I wouldn't be charged the penaties and interest. The problem I faced is that the office sending me the bills is in Andover MA and the office dealing with the refunds is in Kansas City Kansas.
My advice to anyone dealing with the government is to keep good notes. I was able to tell each successive person that I spoke to who I talked to in the past and their employee number. Oh, yeah, they do give out that info. Finally, today I called Andover and they've resolved the problem with Kansas City and I should get my proper refund check in 4-6 weeks.
Whew! Most of you know that I am manic-depressive. This was a minor incovenience but it was a nuisance. I told my brother that I could actually deal with this easier than dealing with an bill from a medical provider when my ins hasn't paid on time. And, with the ins, it's usually cleared up with one or two phone calls. Such is life.
Well, I got a major surprise on 05-05-08 when I received a refund check of $1,273. It came with a note stating that I had made an error on my taxes and was due this refund. But, it also said to send the refund back if you knew it was wrong. It further stated that the IRS would charge interest and penalties if an incorrect refund was not returned to them. When I worked for the Fed govt, there was an IRS investigation office down the hall from us and we often had break or lunch with them so I already knew this. Despite my family telling me to hold onto the check, I did the proper thing and returned the check along with a letter of explanation. Before doing that I had called the IRS and was told to print VOID in the signature section of the back of the check. I also made a copy of both sides of the check for my records.
Needless to say, in less than a month, I received a notice saying I owed the IRS over $1000. I realized that the letter and the check had probably crossed in the mail but I still called the IRS to ensure that I wouldn't be charged the penaties and interest. The problem I faced is that the office sending me the bills is in Andover MA and the office dealing with the refunds is in Kansas City Kansas.
My advice to anyone dealing with the government is to keep good notes. I was able to tell each successive person that I spoke to who I talked to in the past and their employee number. Oh, yeah, they do give out that info. Finally, today I called Andover and they've resolved the problem with Kansas City and I should get my proper refund check in 4-6 weeks.
Whew! Most of you know that I am manic-depressive. This was a minor incovenience but it was a nuisance. I told my brother that I could actually deal with this easier than dealing with an bill from a medical provider when my ins hasn't paid on time. And, with the ins, it's usually cleared up with one or two phone calls. Such is life.
Sounds like you handled it pretty well.
One thing though, don't depend on phone calls to ever matter, even if you record them or get the ID of the people you talk to. Always deal with these guys in writing, even if just to follow up something done in a phone call.
Steve
One thing though, don't depend on phone calls to ever matter, even if you record them or get the ID of the people you talk to. Always deal with these guys in writing, even if just to follow up something done in a phone call.
Steve
Steve in Cleveland, Ohio - BPD/DS 02/25/2008
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