The prelude to this blog is the one I wrote last week about my consternation with the IRS. I had mentioned that we get a letter about every six months stemming from the fact that the IRS wrongly believes that companion care for my mother was given in North Dakota and not in Montana three years ago.
Well, last night Dad handed me another letter. This one is demanding that he pay over $700 to the IRS by June 1. They have tacked on another $88 in interest since the letter we received six months ago. Now I'm wondering at which bank can I earn $88 in interest in six months on $600 of principle? I guess the answer is the bank of the IRS.
Anyway, it seems like it's time to cave and just pay. If we send them another letter explaining the errors of their ways, they'll again choose to ignore it and send us another threatening bill. And by that time the payment and interest would probably be over $800.
It's ironic that the same government that seems willing to fight against exorbitant interest rates for credit card companies is more than willing to charge them to an 88-year-old World War II veteran, who has lived an exemplary life of being a devoted husband, raising five children and working everyday of his life from his 18th birthday through his 65th. (If you want to read a fascinating account of dad's life, pick up the book "The Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw...it even starts out talking about a man born in 1920, raised in the Depression, forged by war..."
There seems to be no way to reason with a group that chooses to be unreasonable. So we'll pay.
Dad actually was noticeably bothered by the letter. And I thought, "nice play IRS, getting the elderly upset over something so stupid must be a strategy in the old extortion playbook."
In many way, I'm reminded of the scenes from the "Grumpy Old Men" movie where actor Buck Henry keeps taunting the character played by Jack Lemmon.
Well, I may give up but I want to go down swinging so by writing this post to warn my readers about the nastiness of the IRS is my last swing at the government's curve ball.
"Strike Three. You're Out!"
Recipe - Aunt May's Famous Wheatcakes
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Now Playing - Forever Young by Alphaville RECIPE: MAY PARKER'S FAMOUS
WHEATCAKES Originally made by my pal Pete's Aunt May, these wheatcakes are
a great...
10 years ago
2 comments:
How horribly frustrating. I'm so sorry to read this. Writing that check was very painful I'm sure. It's like IRS knows if they send you enough nasty letters you'll eventually surrender. I'm getting madder with each character I type. There's so many things wrong with this story.
Steve your blogs always bring up reminders of my experiences and the volumes I could write and the different directions I could go on each related topic.Many times I have "bit the bullet" and paid even though in my heart I knew it was not right.One thought, people hiding money in overseas accounts to avoid taxes while I just get by and pay more because I couldn't juggle money from one part of my corporation to another.I never had enough money to be incorporated to start with.A man worth millions once told me he could move his money from one place to another and qualify for food stamps.I asked a rancher how much he paid quarterly estimated tax to compare what I paid.This man had a big cattle ranch,new house,new pickups,the latest in horse trailers for him and his high school age son, the new tractor I was welding on and much more.He laughed when asked,and told me he didn't pay taxes.He said I don't make any money.YEA,RIGHT.Uncle Vern,who was incorporated,made 3 times the money I made and paid 1/4 the tax I paid.I never intended to go this direction, though.This is my original thought.I wanted to hire a girl---no,check that! A girl came in and asked me if she could work at my store to make a little money.I knew her and said, sure.The state unemployment people had a minimum I would have to pay them, before I could hire her, of $600.She would never work for me long enough to ever draw unemployment but I still had to pay that amount.I estimated she would only make $500.That didn't matter,I still had to pay the $600 for being kind enough to hire the girl making $500 who would never collect a dime of unemployment money.I forget about those things until something like what you are going through comes up.It's not right but,"it happens".I guess that's why we like the idea of someone in congress who will look out for the little guy.That's also where the term "out of touch" comes from.All this time and nothing has changed.I think Jesus was saying give yourself to God and give your money to Caesar,if that makes you feel any better.It does me.
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