(no subject)
The IRS is not helpful.
I know, not exactly news.
I just had a conversation along these lines with an IRS operator....
ME: I’m calling on behalf of a church-our treasurer died suddenly, and we’re trying to figure out whether he got all our tax forms filed. Can you help me figure out if we filed a 1096 for 2007?
HER: No ma’am, we don’t have that information. You’ll have to ask him.
ME: He’s dead.
HER: Oh. We have no way of knowing; our systems aren’t updated that quickly.
ME: So there’s no way anyone at the IRS can tell me whether you received that form?
HER: No, ma’am.
ME: What happens if we file a new 1096, and it turns out there was already one on file?
HER: That would start duplicate processing, and your information would be wrong.
ME: What happens if we don’t file a new 1096, and it turns out one was never filed?
HER: Then you could be hit with civil penalties.
ME: Oh. What should we do, then?
HER: I can’t advise you. You’ll have to make that determination.
ME: Could I please speak to your supervisor?
HER: There’s no one available. You can call back on the 800 number, but they’ll give you the same answer.
----
And the thing is, I can understand why they don't know--today is the deadline for filing the 1096, so they've probably got papers all over that haven't been processed, and it's really our own fault that we don't know what's been done, but it would be really nice if they could at least help us figure out the best possible course of action. Telling me that we're screwed no matter what we do isn't really accomplishing anything. And now I've been hold for 20 minutes while the operator takes my information to supposedly have a manager call me back; shouldn't that be quicker than actually answering the question?
*sigh*
And now I get to call the Social Security Administration about the W-3s. Oh, joy.
I know, not exactly news.
I just had a conversation along these lines with an IRS operator....
ME: I’m calling on behalf of a church-our treasurer died suddenly, and we’re trying to figure out whether he got all our tax forms filed. Can you help me figure out if we filed a 1096 for 2007?
HER: No ma’am, we don’t have that information. You’ll have to ask him.
ME: He’s dead.
HER: Oh. We have no way of knowing; our systems aren’t updated that quickly.
ME: So there’s no way anyone at the IRS can tell me whether you received that form?
HER: No, ma’am.
ME: What happens if we file a new 1096, and it turns out there was already one on file?
HER: That would start duplicate processing, and your information would be wrong.
ME: What happens if we don’t file a new 1096, and it turns out one was never filed?
HER: Then you could be hit with civil penalties.
ME: Oh. What should we do, then?
HER: I can’t advise you. You’ll have to make that determination.
ME: Could I please speak to your supervisor?
HER: There’s no one available. You can call back on the 800 number, but they’ll give you the same answer.
----
And the thing is, I can understand why they don't know--today is the deadline for filing the 1096, so they've probably got papers all over that haven't been processed, and it's really our own fault that we don't know what's been done, but it would be really nice if they could at least help us figure out the best possible course of action. Telling me that we're screwed no matter what we do isn't really accomplishing anything. And now I've been hold for 20 minutes while the operator takes my information to supposedly have a manager call me back; shouldn't that be quicker than actually answering the question?
*sigh*
And now I get to call the Social Security Administration about the W-3s. Oh, joy.