Posted on 01/03/2009 6:30:52 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Lawyer gets 5-cent IRS bill, 4-cent refund
Detroit defense attorney remains confused over two notices
DETROIT - James Howarth is a little confused by two letters he has received from the Internal Revenue Service.
The Detroit defense lawyer received one letter in November that said he owed the IRS money — five cents.
He was warned that he should pay "to avoid additional penalty and/or interest," the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday.
Howarth said he then received a second letter telling him the government owes him money — four cents.
He was told he would have to request the refund since it's less than $1.
"When I owe them a nickel, I must pay them. It's not optional," he said. "But when they owe me, I have to ask for it."
Howarth said he's not sure if there is a connection between the two notices, or if the refund represents a recalculation of the original bill.
The perplexed lawyer said he called an IRS 800 telephone number but gave up after spending a long time on hold.
IRS spokesman Luis D. Garcia said the agency doesn't comment on individual accounts.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
The IRS pays government workers to do this kind of stuff.
“We’re from the government and we’re here to help!”
This kind of stuff happens all the time and yet people still want the government to run healthcare.
Morons.
IRS spokesman Luis D. Garcia said the agency doesn't comment on individual accounts.
Apparently they don't even comment on individual accounts to anyone, including the account holder.
A few years ago I received a $1 bill from the IRS. Apparently I had truncated a number on the tax return and my math was off by $1. So, I mailed a check for $1 to the US Treasury. The postage was about 30% of my fine.
He’ll be getting threatening letters for the next 2 years.
reminds me of when my credit card company sent me a bill for $0.00 and warned me failure to pay on time could result in severe penalties.
Then next year he'll get a 1099 for the interest.
I would send both, a check for 5 cents and a request for the 4 cent refund. Imagine the paperwork it would cause the IRS.
It’s computerised. No human creates or reads these notices.
It’s nice to think that something this stupid and trivial could meltdown the IRS computers and paralyze the agency.
I know it’s fantasy...but it would make a great story or movie.
I’m self employed so I have to do quarterly estimates. One year I overpaid by over 10 grand, but one quarter, the first I think, my estimate turned out to $100 low. It cost me an additional $160 in penalties and interest.
You’re right that no human creates or (other than on the receiving end) reads these notices.
Needs to put them on ebay, someone will pay a lot of money for this stupidity!!
I’ve long wondered why companies bother to send out bills for less than the cost of the stamp. I presume that if the didn’t many people would begin underpaying by 41 cents.
“government”
there’s the problem.
If it was an HOA, they would have had house foreclosed for that penny.
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