A year and about 6mo’s ago I got a notice from the IRS. They wanted to see my paperwork(w-4?) from my bank showing the mortgage interest paid. If they didn’t get it by January then I owed them approx. $2,000. Never mind that they already had it(bank sends copies to IRS) and that it was included in the tax return. So, I sent it.
And they denied my mortgage interest. Never mind it had been accepted for the past 10 years. So, 10 yrs x $2,000 sounds about like $20,000 bucks to me. Whatever.
For those who have never been involved with the IRS, it is a nightmare. They keep giving you these deadlines and then there is literally no way to know if they got what you were supposed to send them. And then if it’s lost in the mail or sitting on some bureaucrats desk, you lose by default.
Several mo’s and 40 or so mostly futile calls later they approved the deduction. Finally talked to one person who actually acted like they gave a crap. Also, coincidentally, it was ended about the time the SHTF about the IRS targeting Conservatives.
In dealing with IRS on an inquiry first make sure you are right. Assemble explanatory documentation keeping copies Provide the information in simple declarative sentences without flourishes or irrelevancies. Be prepared to repeat as necessary. Arthur Murray taught ballroom dancing by actually painting the steps on the floor for his students to follow. That is how you do it