Fuck. I got a notice in the mail from the IRS saying I owe $884 on my 2004 tax return. What the fuck?? I have no idea what that is about, but I do know that I don’t have $884 to throw at the goddamn IRS. Oh and what was really cherry about the notice was that it said, in bold, all-caps letters, YOU MUST RESPOND BY APRIL 19TH or I will face additional fees. Well I just got it today, jackasses… thanks a lot.
I called the number on the form and it took me about 20 minutes to get through all the menu options, listening to bullshit… I couldn’t even push 0 to get out of it. And then I was on hold. And I would probably still be on hold now if I hadn’t hung up because I couldn’t deal with it right now. I know what they’re doing with that shit. They’re trying to make it as difficult as possible for people, so that people will just send them a check and be done with it. So much for a government working for the people.
And that’s another thing… I’m feeling all Big Brother Is Watching Me now. Why me, and why now? As far as taxpayers go, I’m nobody. I’ve managed to work myself into the lower echelon of “the middle class,” with a mountain of debt behind me - just like thousands of other people, whom the government doesn’t give a shit about. When you think audits, you think of them going after the people who, you know, actually make enough money to have it make a difference. So why me?
I’m pissed, but really at this point I just feel beat and overwhelmed. I’m having a little pity party, but I’m going to have it for as long as I want, so fucking deal with it, because it’s my blog goddammit. Why has so much bad shit been happening lately? (Jenny and Niki will relate to that.) Just as an example, first there was all the shit w/ my dad and my family - which, btw, I’ll be in Augusta again this weekend - and now this.
I don’t know what to do. I have so much debt, I really think at this point that I’ll never get out of it. I work so hard - have been for years, ever since I was 18 really - and yet I still have piles of bills, I owe so much money to so many entities, my credit rating is fucked by now I’m sure, and now the fucking IRS is trying to tear me a new one too. What do I have to do? I’ve always played by the rules, I’ve never been a frivolous spender, I’ve always been so sensible and practical - some would say to a fault, but I say they’re irresponsible. Frustrated is an understatement for how I feel right now. I’m trying to remind myself that at least there’s some good - thank god I have Rusty; oh, and I do have internets in my apartment, so that’s good - but jesus, I just feel so beat. I want to punch something.
Really, I don’t know what I want to do. Maybe sleep for a long time. Or practice denial. I’d hire a lawyer but I don’t know what they could do, plus I can’t afford one anyway.
I’ll stop my verbal diarrhea now because it’s almost time for trivia. And I should probably clean myself up, it wouldn’t do to show up and have everyone see I’ve been fucking crying.
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25 Responses to "And now the IRS is trying to fuck me"
I’m sorry these things are happening to you all at once.
What support can we provide?
I have an idea on how to save a few hundred bucks a month.. but you probably wouldn’t like it.
With regards to the IRS, the only consolation may be that there is sure to be an outpost in Atlanta you can drive to and physically talk to someone.
Not that you would want to do such a thing … under most rationally apprehendable circumstances.
Audacity,
What do you mean? Don’t be cryptic. Out with it! (Actually I have an idea of what you might mean. But out with it anyway. I don’t like cryticness! [Not sure if that's a word])
Thanks Charles… I don’t know what anyone can do other than, if any of y’all have any practical advice about dealing with the damn government?
valeko,
I don’t know what “rationally apprehendible” is supposed to mean.
Amber, email me. Mel can help. Do it ASAP.
Why is this text fill box taking so much time to fill? It’s really slow.
She’ll need your 04 return. Scan it, and contact me. She’s offered to review it and be your middle(wo)man.
Get a roommate.
In my 625 sq.ft. studio apartment? That would be interesting… :P
The good news about IRS debt is that it’s not reported to Credit Agencies. Since it’s a small enough amount, you can probably get on some sort of nominal payment plan that won’t break your back.
I carried a couple of thousand dollars of IRS debt, and by carried, I mean, I just ignored it, for nine years(!!) and then finally paid it off last year, bought a house two months later.
You Gen-Ys and your “responsibilities.”
I say declare bankruptcy, quit your job, go freelance and bum around for three years. Get a ten year old Toyota, pay your bills late, go on long pointless road trips, see Niagra Falls, fuck off and sleep until noon. Y’know, until you’re bored with it.
You don’t want to be 35 and have spent your entire adult life at work.
I mean, I am sure it’s not for everyone…. but I spent my twenties touring the country in a band. I had shit for credit, no money in the bank and no personal property to speak of. Do I regret it?
SHIT NO.
Just a thought.
Patrick has the right idea.
He has the right idea about the payment plan. The bankruptcy, paying bills late, and bumming around? Not for me. Not because I’m some kind of workaholic in denial or anything, but because I genuinely would not enjoy that kind of life.
And don’t get any ideas because I won’t put up w/ it from my goddamn boyfriend either… :) [kiss kiss!]
well…
you’re clearly enjoying things so much NOW….
;-)
Yes, actually I am. I really don’t want to (nor do I have the time to) get into explaining that everyone has the right to feel shitty or sorry for themselves and have a pity party every now and again, when shitty stuff happens. Can’t we all just get over the nitpicking of each other and admit that we know that already? The truth is that I’ve been happier this last year than I’ve ever been in my life, but I don’t need to justify or explain anything on my blog in every post. And yes, I am allowed to be bitchy and defensive, too.
Um, get out of my head! This is something that I stress about/worry about every single day. I freak out when I think about how much money I don’t have, and how much debt I have that seems to just keep coming in. I feel like my only out is to find a higher paying job, but I can’t figure out how to find that. I honestly think that this is what is causing a lot of my anxiety and depression, and hopefully, I can get all of this shit worked out ASAP; it is really bringing me down. I have to say though, I really wish I was one of those people that just didn’t give a damn, or didn’t think about it… at least then I would be happy.
Sorry about the bills… I feel you, and I think you should totally vent. If nothing else, it will make you feel better to get it off of your chest.
Amber, what the hell can I say? I love you.
Also, I’m compelled to add that apparently my personality type is the most likely to marry for money. The funny part is, every other INFP I’ve ever run this by laughs at the absurdity and then pauses. A real, honest pause. And it’s a tough one to get past, because we INFPs innately suck SO MUCH with money. I just need an allowance. It needs to be a healthy one, but that’s what I need. Yes, I’m 12.
Emotionally old, financially infantile. Ahhh…
Not to make this about me (though I seemingly always do)…
If you can do it, get a low or preferably no-interest-for-12-months credit card, transfer the max to it, and then pay it off within the timeframe, FREE. We’re eliminating a chunk of debt this way — of course, we’ve also put 100% of Thomas’s year-end bonus toward debt, as well at at least 80% of our tax return money, so that helps.
I don’t want to be all up in your business or whatever, but I’m really good with money. If you need help working out a strategy, I’m happy to help.
Thanks for the suggestion. That is def. something worth considering, though I’d really like to stay away from credit cards since I have so much credit card debt already. But if it comes to that, I guess I’ll just wait for another “Low APR!!!11!!1″ offer to come in the mail, as they invariably do every few days.
If there is that much of it, the trick is to get some of it into a position where you can pay it off — so the zero interest card helps you there. It’s not another card to use, not at all — the ones we got for Mr. Zero Interest Card are in our fire safe. I’ve never even carried the thing. It exists solely for the purpose of paying off this particular amount of money without paying anymore interest on it, which makes things a lot more simple. If you decide to go for it, hell, just cut the card up when you get it — the balance transfer is the thing that matters, not having the card. As long as you stick to your payment plan, it works.
I wholeheartedly agree with Nikki’s suggestion, as I recently completed the exact same exercise. There are tons of cards available that don’t offer very attractive APRs on purchases or cash advances, but will let you transfer huge balances at 0% for a year or more.
I’ll admit, when you’re trying to find some stability in your finances, applying for new credit cards is hella counter-intuitive, but so long as you’re simultaneously aggressive and disciplined, you can beat the credit card companies at their own game.
Maybe. We’ll see. I’ve tried that in the past and no luck, though. It’s def. easier when there are 2 incomes in the picture.
Of course, do keep in mind that having additional credit cards, doing balance transfers (especially large ones), etc. impacts your credit score, and if you accrue even a little more debt on the incumbent card, your debt-income ratio.
Small concerns compared to the merits of paying off large amounts of credit debt, but can still be a problem in certain situations of loan qualification.
Tony and Nikki have the right idea. BUt like Tony said, it takes an aggressive pay schedule and discipline. It’s easy to start using your other cards again while you’re paying off the big one, but resist. The trick is to get the debt off each card and then pay it off every single month. Just don’t put anything on the card that you can’t afford.
Also, you have got to be careful that you get your balance off that card before the 0% interest goes away or you’ll start paying them to keep it there. I have eliminated about $3000 of credit card debt in the last two years doing this and I’ve got another $3000 left that I hope to finish with next March.
Be sure, though, that you read the fine print as transfer fees to these accounts vary from .2% to 5%.
I know about all this stuff because believe it or not, I am very good w/ managing money. I appreciate the input and ideas. But I am probably not going to go the “extra credit card” route. I don’t think it would be best for me in my situation.
Geez, I can relate to feeling like I’m drowning in debt, and owing the IRS is definitely part of it.
We still owe them money from 2003 and 2004, having finally knocked out 2001 and 2002 just this year. When we did our taxes, we filled out the Request for Installment Agreement Form 9465, and set the monthly payments at $50 (usually paid more, but this way we had some room to work with for tighter months).
Hope this helps.
Thanks, Chris - that’s good to know. Sorry to hear of your debt issues… being “middle class” (har har) sucks doesn’t it. I am still waffling between that or the credit card route… we shall see. What I do know is, it turns out I do owe and there’s no getting out of it. I’m going to fax them a letter and start trying to get things straightened out Monday morning. [sigh]
Big thanks to everyone who has offered ideas or support.