by Ashley
The IRS is currently working its way to the top of my list of most hated organizations to deal with.
My current Top 3 List of Organizations I Hate Dealing With include:
#3. Social Security (I am the representative payee for my father so I have to deal with them in reference to his disability payments, and it suuuuuucks the life out of me!)
#2. IRS! Read more below.
#1. Navient. Oh Navient, you know how much I hate you.
(Side note: Hmmmm, interesting how 2 of the 3 are government organizations and the third is also backed by the federal government. Inefficiency, much???)
Nothing like calling the IRS, sitting on hold for half an hour, and then having the line disconnected. Only to call again, sit on hold again, and have it disconnected again. I think there might be a 30-minute time hold limit and then the IRS system automatically disconnects??? I’ve been sitting on hold while working at my desk so I’m not out and about with poor cell service or anything like that. Grrrr!!!!! If you can believe it, I’m still trying to set up a payment plan from my 2016 back-taxes!!!! AGH! In April we sent a huge payment and tried to initiate a payment plan at that time. Thought it was all set up, but it turns out it was never accepted. I’ve tried calling multiple times but have been thwarted every time (to clarify, I’ve been able to speak to people, but they can never help me – they have to mail me something to sign, or transfer me to another department. It’s a whole cluster-f over there)! I’ve been making payments online through their online system just so they’re receiving something, but it hasn’t been officially set up yet. I was just able to (fingers crossed) finalize everything today, but they still deal with 1983 technology so the official agreement has to be mailed out, signed, and returned. Sooooo, still not completely set up but at least it’s progress compared to the past 7 months of nonsense. The issue, if you’re curious, is that when we did our 2016 taxes we also had a small amount they claimed we owed from 2015. We had an accountant help us with everything and agree the 2015 charges shouldn’t exist. So everything was on “hold” with 2016 stuff because we’d refused to sign an IRS agreement of taxes owed for 2015. I guess they couldn’t move forward with any payment plans unless and until the discrepancy was resolved, which took a long time and a lot of snail-mail back-and-forth. (Who doesn’t use internet these days??? I mean, I know it’s secure info but there are lots of ways to encrypt email, right???)
Anyway, it’s been a pretty shitty past couple of days. A lot of stress with work drama and some nonsense going on at our kids’ school in addition to the ever-present financial stress we have in our lives currently. I’m glad to have this minor “win” on the IRS front. Not that it’s even been officially completed yet. But I think we’re finally on our last step. Supposedly, the papers will come in the mail, we sign and return, and everything should be set for our first OFFICIAL payment starting in December. We’ll be paying $283/month, which is significantly LESS than what I’d been paying previously through their online system. The reduced payment means we’ll be paying for a much longer period of time (ummmm, approximately forever???) But with our serious budget shortfall going on right now, we really can’t afford to continue making larger payments. So it is what it is. And we keep moving forward.
My motto the past few days has been: Make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today. My husband thought it sounded a little pessimistic, but I think it’s optimistic. Looking forward to a better tomorrow! 🙂
Hi, I’m Ashley! Arizonan on paper, Texan at heart. Lover of running, blogging, and all things cheeeeese. Freshly 40, married mother of two, working in academia. Trying to finally (finally!) pay off that ridiculous 6-digit student loan debt!
OMG I totally feel you on communicating with the IRS! I am constantly receiving notifications that I owe back taxes for 2012 [when I was married and filing jointly] and 2013 [when I was separated and filing single]. I have repeatedly sent in proof of payment for each instance and I don’t hear from them for a while and then I hear back AGAIN. There is never a phone number to call to talk to a real human. I have a friend who works for the IRS in CA but for business. I have reached out to her to see what can be done. If I get a good human contact I will let you know!
I understand that this is frustrating. But, I’ll just point out that we can’t have it both ways – people want to cut the government funding and lower their taxes, so you do that and the result is government agencies have limited resources – for people and technology. This movement of showing us how bad the government is by starving it to death doesn’t serve any of us well. You just got to see it firsthand today.
as a former person associated with this agency – i want to ask if you have tried going into your local IRS office to try and finalize this? For personal income tax, there is usually not one person responsible for each account so that might be why your MMV depending on who you get on the phone. I’ve seen people have better luck with going to their local office.
omg, i am such a dummy!!!! NO, I have not gone in person!!! Why have I not gone in person!??
That’s what I had to resort to for Social Security (I’ve gone twice and it’s been a full day ordeal each time). It’s tough since I work full-time, but its MUCH more effective than the phone call nonsense I’ve been dealing with! Literally cannot believe I never even thought to go in-person! I’m hoping (fingers crossed) everything should be good when this final paperwork comes in the mail but, if not, I’ll definitely go to our local office!
Oh Ashley!! I want to extend my sympathy (which may not make you feel batter; people’s sympathy sometimes annoys me personally). However, I have had such a similar situation I wanted to say “Scream into a pillow like a mad woman because that frustration is REAL!” I wasted a whole summer on the phone last year with the IRS, a telephone company, and medical bills. No one ever got anything correct and it took forEVER!!! But it got together, and my life slowly looked like something I could tolerate. I know you are in the depths of it, but it is temporary and it will pass. It will get better I promise. Your philosophy of just focus on today is the best best best thing. Sending good vibes your way!
Thank you, Tina! I appreciate the kind words!
Like debtor suggested: would going to the local office help.
Also: for me it’s just easier to have this dealt with by an accountant. For me the fewer stress is worth the extra expense
Hope, have you considered going to a congressperson regarding the medical debt that was the result of the state screwing up your twins insurance coverage? Sometimes lawmakers are able to succeed in getting things accomplished when Jane Average can not.
You can also contact an IRS advocate to help you with the process. They are independent of the IRS and were really helpful when my husband had someone file a fraudulent tax return under his social. They can help with a myriad of issues.
https://www.irs.gov/advocate/local-taxpayer-advocate