Shifting definitions
I’m working on our taxes right now. We’re expecting a nice refund, thanks in large part to school expenses. But in order to file electronically, I need to know Ashley’s “adjusted gross income” (AGI) for last year. Since she was claimed as a dependent last year, she doesn’t have an AGI. Wanting to make sure, I decided to call the IRS.
I’m sitting on hold as I write this, and every minute or so they take a break from the Tchaikovsky loop they’re playing (unfortunately, it’s only The Nutcracker) and announce, “Sorry for the wait. We are helping other customers.”
The first time I heard this announcement I gave a small chuckle. Customers? The IRS has customers? I wanted to make sure I had the correct definition of customer in my mind, so I looked it up. Google tells me:
customer, noun. a person who buys goods or services
That’s what I thought.
The following question is both rhetorical (for those who agree with me) and serious (for those who may favor taxes/the IRS/legalized theft): What goods or services am I getting from the IRS?
February 19th, 2009 at 8:21pm
You had the privilege of listening to their recording of Tchaikovsky while on hold. This is a valuable service that the IRS provides. What else would your tax dollars be going to?
February 19th, 2009 at 11:14pm
So she didn’t file her own return last year? If so, have you tried entering 0?
February 20th, 2009 at 6:14am
What I reported in the first paragraph about Ashley not having an AGI was incorrect. She did have one, which I figured out after posting this blog.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:44am
Ha to Brian’s comment.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:50pm
Very Very, GOOD QUESTION!!!!!
March 4th, 2009 at 12:54pm
I don’t know, but I learned in tax class that any answer the people on the phone at the IRS give you is not legally binding–i.e., if it’s wrong, and they audit you, saying that they told you to do it that way is not a winning argument. Freaking IRS.