I have to give credit when due!

[Tax Prep by Deb]

A little background first.  A new client came to my office mid February.  When preparing his return I noticed that the person who prepared his 2015 tax return did not give him credit for federal income tax that was withheld from his social security.  For 2015 he had only a small pension and his social security and none of his social security was taxable and even with his pension he had not taxable income so we amended his 2015 return and requested credit for the federal income tax withheld that was a little over 1400.00.  Expecting a refund he received a letter stating that as requested they have corrected his 2015 and return and it now has resulted in additional taxes owed of over 10,000.00. 

Client came to office last week and we attempted a call to IRS only to be on hold for a long period of time and in the course of holding I accidently hung up on them.  Client and I laughed when I said did I just do that?  Decided we would order in transcripts of his account ect.... to find out what happened.  We received those and everything looks the same as original return, so decided to attempt a second call.  Was told wait time was long due to call volume, but then the next message estimated 2-4 minutes, cool!  First person came on line couldn't help because she was not a balance specialist, but she would transfer us.  Again prepared for a long wait, was told to expect 2-4 minutes (each time 2-4 was said I expected hours, not minutes).  Nice IRS lady comes on line and we establish who we are and explain the problem to her, not having the amended available she asked me to fax it to her of which I did.  When she received it she started trying to find what they had done wrong and sure enough in under 5 minutes she figured out that in addition to the change I requested someone added a 5 in the wrong place changing is taxable income from 8,000 and changed to over 85,000 and some change thus resulting in the increase tax.  She took of it and requested an apology letter be sent (her words, not mine) that would go something like this:  Sorry we screwed up your account......

Must say it was one of my more pleasant interaction with IRS.  Wait was minimal, we were entertained by her humor, and everything is fixed, client leaves office happy, I'm happy, and you could tell this IRS Agent was happy!

Just had to share!

[Catherine]

Wish I could get hold of the same lady for a client of mine (elderly woman) for whom we have been waiting since last March for her 2015 refund of a paltry $400-ish.  They said "processing" then they said "need more info" which was sent then they said "need still MORE info" which was also sent... Same name, snn, and address as for the last FIFTY-plus years - we cannot figure out WHAT on earth is the holdup and every time I have tried to call I've gotten the 2-4 *hours* on hold and each time ended up having to hang up (or was hung up on) before anyone answered.

Thinking hard about getting the taxpayer advocate involved - except I have no time to do *that*, either.

But I am really glad to you and for your client, Deb, that it was resolved!

[schirallicpa]

I'd rather deal with the IRS than anyone from NYS tax and finance.  Just sayin....

[jasdlm]

I have only one time gotten a taxpayer advocate involved, and it did absolutely nothing to expedite the process.  It was a useless experience.  Has anyone else had better luck with a taxpayer advocate?

[Margaret CPA in OH]

I had outstanding assistance with TPA.  She cut through tons of BS, obstruction and obfuscation (dying to use that word!) for a client who was denied exemption of child despite proper submission of 8332.  Guess like the lottery when calling anyone at IRS.  Sometimes we get lucky.

[Catherine]

26 minutes ago, jasdlm said:

Has anyone else had better luck with a taxpayer advocate?

Had a case some years ago needing an ITIN for a dependent who lived in Canada.  IRS kept "losing" the documents - or so they claimed.  TA office guy said "send them to ME!" and he hand-walked them over and stood over the bozos at the IRS until they issued the ITIN, and then walked back, called me with info, and mailed it all back out himself.  I could have kissed him; we battled that for about six months (or more; memory fades) and had submitted identical doc's at least four times.

[Lion EA]

Does NY ever answer it's phones?!  I don't think I've ever spoken to a real person there.

[BulldogTom]

6 hours ago, Lion EA said:

Does NY ever answer it's phones?!  I don't think I've ever spoken to a real person there.

California answers the phone when you owe them money and are calling to pay them.  Otherwise, nada.  Most worthless bunch of government do-nothings I have ever come across.  I would rather sit on hold for 2 hours to talk to an IRS incompetent than even dial area code 916 to try to get to someone without a superiority complex and a condescending attitude at the FTB.

Tom
Newark, CA