Do you remember when I told you the IRS had potent weapons added to it arsenal? Well, they’ve already begun the expanded battles.
Just the other day, I received a warning notice for one of my clients. (Most of our clients enable us to receive notices either on their behalf, or along with the ones they receive. That means we can easily explain the issues to them. It also means we hound them to act upon them. At least two of our clients believe that not opening the letters from the IRS is a valid option. Trust me, that is one really DUMB idea!)
Back to our client. He paid his 941 (quarterly employer tax filing) late. OK. This client has made it a habit of paying his quarterly’s late. For the past three years, even though he is provided all the documentation by the 18th of the month that the filings are due, he has dilly-dallied his way to be on the IRS hit list.
Keep in mind that this client PAYS the taxes. He just pays them late.
Now, this letter is trying to collect the late fees and penalties. Up until recently, these “intent to seize (levy)” letters are three pages long. So, when I opened this one and saw five pages, I wondered what was up.
The change? The IRS now includes the warning Congress afforded them on 4 December 2015, As I mentioned in my review of the tax changes that affected 2016 tax filings (also discussed in my book), the IRS can now make it impossible for someone who owes the IRS significant amounts of money to travel outside the USA. (It can also mean you could be detained as you are coming back, if the action occurs when you are traveling. That situation could be much, much worse.)
Of course, this change was included as part of the 2015 transportation funding effected by Congress. (I can see the “logic”- revoking your passport means you lose your ability to “transport” yourself ☺ .)
Just a reminder for y’all. Make sure you pay your taxes. And, pay them on time!
Gosh, I guess this would be a good reason to pay your taxes on time. I have always got ours done on time, including the monthly sale tax which is such a pain. LOL
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I agree, Martha.
And, the authorities feel they are granting you a concession by letting you deduct $ 1 or so off the bill to “cover your time”. Like that’s enough!
yup! totally agree… the ‘penalties’ are definitely not worth it
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Especially when penalties are not deductible!
Thanks for the visit, Vidya!