The number 1 item of importance in dealing with IRS, or any other tax agency is OPEN YOUR MAIL, and ACT!!!
Most government employees will be “on your side” to the degree possible, IF you are not SLOTHFUL. If you act like it is important to take care of the problem, you will be treated like it is important by the “other side!”
Open the mail and decide whether to contact the agency by telephone or fax as indicated in the notice; or, bring it to MBBA to help you with the problem. BUT, do not let it fester!
If a notice deals with work done for you by MBBA, please do get the notice to MBBA as soon as possible after receiving the notice.
If there has been an error by MBBA, any communication help required, in most instances, will be free of charge to you, and MBBA pays penalties (but not interest) related to errors by MBBA.
If it is not the fault of MBBA, there might be a charge, but the work will be done expeditiously and expertly.
One important item in requesting relief from penalties for late filing, or late payments, or otherwise, is the need to include a paragraph such as, “Under penalties of perjury, I (We) declare to the best of my (our) knowledge and belief . . . . . . . . . .”
Claims will, in many cases, not be honored without this “perjury clause.”
Once in awhile it is difficult to get a bureaucracy’s attention!
I had a problem once with a taxpayer’s federal income tax return that involved filing an amended return in response to a notice of error from IRS. I went back and forth with IRS on this for more than a year; IRS demanding information, and I telling them an amended return had been filed to take care of the problem.
Finally, I sent a letter, “CALL OFF THE DOGS, give this letter to an INTELLIGENT human being, rather than a computer, and get back to me.”
But I still signed it, “Respectfully. . . . .”
About three weeks later, I received a call from a very nice sounding lady with a simple message, “If you actually did file an amended return, IRS has lost it. Please refile that return with original signatures, and send it care of this address.”
That took care of the problem.
Always treat government employees with respect. They are trying to help you to the degree allowed by law, and the person you are dealing with is NOT the one that passed the law!
