The Optimist

[BLACK BART]

Had a lady call and say she hadn't received her refund check - it had been a month since she filed. The problem resolved itself when the check showed up recently (she called and told me so-thank Heavens).  But I getting all prepped-up to do battle with IRS, file an affidavit of lost check, hang on the phone for hours, and wrestle with IRS proving it wasn't HER who cashed it; if indeed someone else did (wasn't just lost in the mail). The post office said THEY could not track it.  Anyway the taxpayer's naivete and lack of grasp of the enormity of the problem/time involved (six weeks minimum on a form 3911 response alone) blew me away.  She arrived at 10 A.M. the first day and I launched an explanation of how IRS (and we) were swamped at the moment, that such things are difficult to track down, that government gives it low-priority, it's a tedious and cumbersome process, and so on and so forth - blah, blah, blah.

I wound it up saying "Ma'am, this is going to take a good WHILE!"  She replied, "Oh; you mean I should come back after lunch?" 

Chuckled the rest of the day.           

[RitaB]

My very anxious man for whom I faxed proof of withholdings on SS to IRS said, "Please let me know the minute they respond."

Uh...  Ok, I'll do that.

I honestly think he thought IRS was gonna dial me right up and say, "Hey, Rita, we got your fax, all is well, how's it going?"  Hello?  If they couldn't dial up SSA, they're not calling ME back. 

I was reminded of the Esurance commercial where Beatrice has pictures on her wall and friend says, "That's not how it works.  That's not how any of this works."

 

[RitaB]

Oh, and my gal who told me her boss provided health insurance, but she really got the PTC thru the "Marketplace" (I hate calling it that), just texted me, "Will that form change the amount I owe?"

Again:   Uh...Yes, when IRS sends a letter telling you to file a form, there is generally a change of some kind.