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[SurprisedPikachu]

We ended up having to pay this year and they're being incredibly difficult to get someone on the phone, but when you do get someone they're very friendly and helpful. I had forgotten a W2 on our 2017 taxes so I owe them a bit, which I'm trying to make sure we're following all the proper procedures to ensure that they are paid promptly and in full. I'm just worried that with the difficulty of getting a hold of them that something will slip through the cracks. I have receipts for both of the payments I've made to them so far.. just worried, y'know? I don't want them thinking I am trying to avoid it, I'm clearly showing an effort to pay the debt in full and very quickly!

 

[iconmaster]

Yes. Like you, I've found them very friendly and helpful. However, my dad last year was mistakenly reported by some company as having received pay from them (he's retired and has no employer; it was probably a mistyped social security #) and found the IRS was no help at all.

If you have records of your payments then you're in good shape. It doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about; but I fully understand anxiety around dotting those government "i"s.

 

[lil puff]

It's difficult to get in contact with them over the phone. Give yourself 2-3 hours.

However, they generally will work with you on a monthly installment.

Have paper/pen ready when you call, you will need to write down details.

I do agree that making the attempt to reach out and show the effort to keep up payments, they will give you time. I wouldn't go 4 months without making a payment though - even though they can be quite slow to catch up with you, the risk is not worth it.

 

[Elektro Demon]

Not in real life but I've dealt with the taxman in Witcher 3.

 

[Tesseract]

the irs hates me and i hate them

 

[Mihos]

It sucks giving them money, but they have always been really friendly.

 

[Potato Chip PRO]

I pay everything I end up owing quick as possible. Don't want to deal with the ever. They're too scary

 

[Gargus]

Get a CPA and use them to do everything for you. That's all I can say really. I won't deal with them myself.

I sold most of my retro games to fix up a house I bought and get a new car and 2 years later PayPal reported me and the IRS said I owed like 13,000 dollars. I went to a CPA and for about 150 dollars to him he had it knocked down to 300 dollars I owed and I never had to do a thing or talk to anyone.

 

[n0razi]

I pay $$$ for a CPA... worth it if you have more than a simple single W2 IMHO

 

[Taxexemption]

In previous jobs I have. Yes, they are helpful, and hard to get ahold of. The rules are confusing, as well as how they are explained. I really wouldn't worry about it. Before they really do anything they will send a letter, and most of the time you can get better terms than what's on the letter just by calling them over the phone. However, when I did stuff like that, it was not unusual with the IRS or the state to wait on hold for hours, and sometimes I never got ahold of anyone.


In most cases the worst the IRS will do is charge you some interest. Unless they have reason to think that you are trying to hide massive amounts of money, you aren't worth their time. The IRS and even state agencies have not hired appropriately, they have years of backlog of individuals and corporations they know didn't pay taxes that they go after with only the most rudimentary procedures years after the fact. There are task forces looking for rich guys, but for the most part if you aren't massively wealthy and are trying to comply you don't have anything to worry about.

 

[oatmeal]

I had to call yesterday. Had a 60m hold but they did a callback and it worked great. Talked to two people and both were absurdly friendly.