Post by Susan Peabody on Apr 8, 2016 17:49:17 GMT
So much in life is what I call a process. But what does that mean? To me it means that you break something huge into manageable pieces. So something that seems insurmountable or impossible can be broken down into manageable pieces. Sort of like this blog. It is a work in process. Grief is always a work in progress, etc. etc. I also like to use the expression, "processing emotions."
Today, I got a letter from the IRS that said I owed them $5,000 which I do not have. My first reaction was to pay them in installments as I was frighte,ned. I really project a lot on to the IRS. Mostly bad stuff. Then I thought perhaps I should go to a lawyer and get some help, but I did not have the money for that either. But God pushed me forward and I tried to call the IRS on the phone. I got what they like to call a "phone tree." What metaphor shall I use to describe this. Perhaps being caught in a spider's web. Anyway, I could not get someone to talk to and I needed that. So I googled "How to talk to someone on the phone at the IRS." Someone had taken the time to tell you what numbers to choose to get a person.
I then called and punched the right numbers and got a person. Victory. Not yet. This person transferred me to another department, but at least a person answered. Progress I thought. The IRS agent was pleasant and I asked her to explain the letter to me as I did not understand it. She said, "You owe us $5,000 because you did not report some income in your 1099 form."
I was instantly relieved as I suddenly realized that a mistake had taken place. I was not being audited. I did not have to bring in receipts and prove my deductions. I did report my income using Turbo Tax."
I asked the IRS agent if Turbo Tax admitted to their mistake would this go away?" She no. I was confused. So I said, "If I re-file my taxes will this go away." [Note, that I am talking from a place of fear. Instead of saying "will this fix the problem" I was using the term "go away."] Anyway she said no again. I was getting disheartened. She explained that the IRS took the position that the data they had was correct and therefore it would not go away because of any mistake. My heart sank.
After bursting out into tears, I said, "What can I do? She said you will have to file a Schedule C or E. I did not know what that meant, but it was an opening. My heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, she said, "Let me take a look at your Schedule C." She put me on old and returned in twenty minutes. She told me she had to call me back.
As I write this I am waiting for her to call me. I will let you know what happens. I also have a call in to Turbo Tax to see if I qualify for help since I did input the proper data into the computer. I was seduced by electronic filing. It is so easy. But I got lazy and did not check what I was filing. I trusted this machine too much. Big mistake. Print your forms and see what is on them before you file.
Of course I am hoping when she sees the Schedule C she will see it is their mistake, but that may be wishful thinking. I intend to continue the "process" until all is well. I will try to keep you posted.
This is lesson in patience and trust in the concept of processing.
This is what I mean when I talk in my writings about a process or processing.
Susan Peabody
April 8, 2016
How I feel . . .
How I act . . .
P.S. Maybe I should have confessed that the old me was like the first image. I was a holy terror on the phone. But I few weeks ago I was touched a second time by the Holy Spirit and something has shifted in me. I describe this somewhere else in this blog. Good luck finding it. Sorry.
Today, I got a letter from the IRS that said I owed them $5,000 which I do not have. My first reaction was to pay them in installments as I was frighte,ned. I really project a lot on to the IRS. Mostly bad stuff. Then I thought perhaps I should go to a lawyer and get some help, but I did not have the money for that either. But God pushed me forward and I tried to call the IRS on the phone. I got what they like to call a "phone tree." What metaphor shall I use to describe this. Perhaps being caught in a spider's web. Anyway, I could not get someone to talk to and I needed that. So I googled "How to talk to someone on the phone at the IRS." Someone had taken the time to tell you what numbers to choose to get a person.
I then called and punched the right numbers and got a person. Victory. Not yet. This person transferred me to another department, but at least a person answered. Progress I thought. The IRS agent was pleasant and I asked her to explain the letter to me as I did not understand it. She said, "You owe us $5,000 because you did not report some income in your 1099 form."
I was instantly relieved as I suddenly realized that a mistake had taken place. I was not being audited. I did not have to bring in receipts and prove my deductions. I did report my income using Turbo Tax."
I asked the IRS agent if Turbo Tax admitted to their mistake would this go away?" She no. I was confused. So I said, "If I re-file my taxes will this go away." [Note, that I am talking from a place of fear. Instead of saying "will this fix the problem" I was using the term "go away."] Anyway she said no again. I was getting disheartened. She explained that the IRS took the position that the data they had was correct and therefore it would not go away because of any mistake. My heart sank.
After bursting out into tears, I said, "What can I do? She said you will have to file a Schedule C or E. I did not know what that meant, but it was an opening. My heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, she said, "Let me take a look at your Schedule C." She put me on old and returned in twenty minutes. She told me she had to call me back.
As I write this I am waiting for her to call me. I will let you know what happens. I also have a call in to Turbo Tax to see if I qualify for help since I did input the proper data into the computer. I was seduced by electronic filing. It is so easy. But I got lazy and did not check what I was filing. I trusted this machine too much. Big mistake. Print your forms and see what is on them before you file.
Of course I am hoping when she sees the Schedule C she will see it is their mistake, but that may be wishful thinking. I intend to continue the "process" until all is well. I will try to keep you posted.
This is lesson in patience and trust in the concept of processing.
This is what I mean when I talk in my writings about a process or processing.
Susan Peabody
April 8, 2016
How I feel . . .
How I act . . .
P.S. Maybe I should have confessed that the old me was like the first image. I was a holy terror on the phone. But I few weeks ago I was touched a second time by the Holy Spirit and something has shifted in me. I describe this somewhere else in this blog. Good luck finding it. Sorry.