Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/tax-fun

Comment #2466

2011-07-04T20:47:49Z

Why not? I'll try to remember next time I sign in to my online banking account.

Comment #2465

2011-07-04T13:29:58Z

IBAN numbers are hard for any bank. I got a second bank account so I could have a bank that knew what to do with them, and even then, the deposit often fails. though I think this time it was on the sender's end. i tried to tell them to not put my name on the deposit, but they didn't believe me.

I should get you to show me what an IBAN sender expects to see and show you what my bank says and see if we can figure out the right information to tell them.

Comment #2464

2011-07-03T19:31:46Z

The charities in Switzerland will send out confirmations of yearly donations, so it's not so hard to get the necessary documentation. I think that is limited to wire transfer donations, though: I don't think cash donations can be claimed.

And yes, I don't think the IRS is trying to con taxes out of people. Jon's probably right that receiving too much isn't good, because if it gets noticed, the IRS will need to refund that money. If they receive too little, they can ask for the top-up plus interest owed.

My experience is that the IRS expects standard average American taxpayers and is ill-equipped to deal with people who donate above average, live simply, or have bank accounts with an IBAN number, just to name a few examples.

Comment #2463

2011-07-02T22:13:54Z

Did they expect you to put this complete documentation in a single legal-size envelope? That's what they sent me when they audited me for contributions 4 years ago.

Comment #2462

2011-07-02T13:47:38Z

I wonder if it is like at a bank, where mom said it was far worse to have more money than you were supposed to than to have less. they would spend hours figuring out why the cash drawers weren't reconciling for small numbers of cents.

Comment #2461

2011-07-02T13:45:43Z

I think the IRS checks things to be correct, not just in their favor. This year was the first time they told me I had underpaid. I think I've gotten maybe 3 or 4 letters in my life saying they thought I had paid too much.

And even this time, when I called to say I owed less, the lady calculated it all out and said, "it will take 4-6 weeks for us to send the refund (with interest)", and I said that i thought I owed them money, but would gladly take a refund, and she went back and checked and showed me where I was wrong.

Comment #2460

2011-07-02T10:58:59Z

To be fair, they didn't use the word "dishonest." But that's the assumption whenever the IRS wants to audit you. It's not their intent to find mistakes in your favor; they only audit when they suspect they might get something out of it. Even if it's not much money, it has the same effect as a lock on your door—it helps keep honest people honest.

I'd much rather furnish documentation once every 30 years than all the time. And I'd rather the IRS not waste time and money sorting through everyone's charitable receipts.

It is bad, though, that they've changed the rules so that cash giving is discouraged. That really is an assumption that people are dishonest, and would take up to the maximum cash deduction even if they gave nothing.

Comment #2459

2011-07-02T07:54:19Z

"We don't think you were honest"?!? We all start presumed guilty?

And again, a point in favor of the Swiss taxation system: if you want to make a deduction, you need to furnish documentation, or your claim gets thrown out. End of story, and no accusing upstanding citizens of dishonesty.

Comment #2458

2011-07-02T02:36:16Z

That's brilliant!