Now that the tax season is officially over (even though I was presented an additional 6 ‘opportunities’ last night after midnight), I will recount some funny things that occupy the rest of my year.

This article really brought a biweekly (or more) event into clear focus;  it was published in the trade press about a month ago.  The title:  12 things to remind you that you are spending too much time with the IRS.

To be honest, I didn’t have enough time to comment about that articly until after tax season, because I DO spend too much time with the IRS.

But, I thought I’d share with you some of the funnier items because many of you wonder what it is that we do for our clients (or, as one person asked, ‘all day’.)

To start with, just like you, every time we have to solve a tax problem, it requires us to call the IRS and reach a responsible authority.  I admit that we have special phone numbers that we can call.  And, that fact saves us about an hour of waiting each time we call.  But sometimes we still wait for 40, 60, or 70 minutes to reach a human.

And, the first item on this list is when the IRS music has become your earworm.  Yes, the IRS plays the same music over and over and over and over again.  (It reminds me of the days of Piedmont Airlines.  I am certain they bought the rights to play “We’ve Only Just Begun”- and it was the instrumental version that we were forced to hear while we awaited help changing our reservation during bad weather.)  The IRS’ choice is no better (‘One to One’.  And, you have to  love the performers- Fresh Optimism.)  And, when you are on hold for what seems forever, you learn the music cold.   (Hint:  Don’t listen to the music too long yourself- you may get hooked.)

There’s more.  Folks like me already know what the IRS is going to demand- and make sure we don’t give them a chance to hang up on us telling us to call back later, we have everything ready.  Such as the 2848  or 8821.   (The first document proves to the IRS that we have Power of Attorney (POA) from our clients; the second denotes we have authorization to receive tax data on behalf of our client.). And, when the IRS rep finally picks up the line (turning off the music from above), I immediately tell them that my POA is not on file and I need to send it to them.  This can save as much as 5 minutes from my phone call.  Moreover, I only call the IRS when I am side by side with my fax machine so that I can deliver those documents the second they ask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also know that while I am on hold,  there’s lots I can do.  Catch up on my eMail.  Write a letter or a report.  (Yes, I have a hands-free option so that I don’t have to tie up my hands waiting and waiting for that human pickup.)

Sometimes (especially during tax season), I queue up my Amazon Prime account or my Xfinity On Demand and watch at least one episode of some program that I wanted to see.  I can hit pause the second the music stops and devote my attention to the IRS rep and my client’s needs.

 

 

 

 

I also used to save time by informing the rep that my fax is secure, in a room locked by me with only me having the key.  Otherwise, the IRS wouldn’t fax the tax transcripts I need for my client.  (Nowadays, the IRS no longer faxes them- they upload them to my secure mailbox on the IRS computer network.  Which is actually quicker than waiting for the fax to arrive.)

And, when I get a really good IRS rep, I am sitting pretty.  Because I know I can handle more than one client on this phone call.  (I already know the ID numbers of which reps have been especially helpful over the years).  Especially if the clients have similar problems.  (Even though I wasn’t planning on working on that client’s needs right now, if I can get the right answer now- why not grab it.)

One day maybe the political hacks in Congress will realize that a fully funded IRS is actually critical for the government to obtain the money it needs. Until then, I have all of my busy work queued and ready to be cleared away.