Can’t pay taxes?
Now that it’s April, the subject is coming up a lot in the press. And not always in relationship to President Obama’s appointees.
The clock is ticking down to April 15 and it’s time to pay the tax man.
But if your 1040 form says you owe more than you have in your bank account, what should you do?
Call Geithner, Daschle, Sebelius, or other members of government for advice.
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A friend of mine called me. This friend is a former co-worker and touches base once in a while. We are both outside sales reps for competitor companies. This day she called me almost 5 times. Unusual to say the least. She was concerned because the IRS was challenging her 2004 deductions in regards to her travel and mileage reimbursements. It brought up the fact that IRS tax returns can be confusing. The tax laws can be confusing. Here is a scary thought which is all too true. We all may be mailing in our taxes not knowing that we have made a mistake. Tax laws and Tax return instructions are in need of reform. It is your right to prepare your own return but you do so at your peril. And H&R Block will go with you to the IRS, but only to say how the return was prepared and not whether the information given was right or enough!
In the meantime I will write what I told her. Just because the IRS sounds like you’re going to jail tomorrow, does not mean you are. Relax. Also, there is such a thing as the Taxpayer Advocates Office. You get the number by calling your congressman. Conressional representatives spend half their life in Congress solving problems like this. That’s how they get re-elected. Also the people at the IRS service line are fairly competent and are nice people, altho’ you have to wait 45 minutes to speak to one. You may ask how I know so much. Well, I misunderstood the self-employment tax and misreported my tax payments for two years. I paid the taxes but in the wrong years, or so I reported, and when the IRS found out they went ballistic! Long story short, I claimed lunacy and first offense. The IRS bought it and reversed the penalty. Taxes were already paid. Oh, I almost forgot….If they charge you a penalty, and you feel you have a reason for them to reverse it, they sometimes will. Upshot of this rant. The tax code must be made more understandable. But on the bright side, IRS jail is nicer than the other kind, and you get 3 hots and a cot and the church comes to you!!