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My experience with the IRS this afternoon.
Called in to set up installment agreement. Lines busy as usual so signed up for call back.
Call back came withing 30 minutes.
Gentleman gave his badge number and proceeded with the usual 'how can we help you today?'
Explained my situation totally. His next reply was, "I'm able to help you set up an agreement. You have a range of payment options."
He first asked for my phone number in case we were cut off.
He explained all the options and asked which one I wanted to sign up for.
I picked a 4-month option but could have extended the time to 72 months.
The agent was very patient, professional, and helpful.
Explained that I would be getting a letter from the IRS with documents to sign and explained that as long as I paid according to the installment agreement, IRS would take no further action.
After we ended the call I really became very angry. Almost raging, because I thought about all the MAGA hate directed at civil servants and especially the IRS and Homeland Security employees. I thought about all the billionaires who had a thousand loopholes at their disposal to avoid paying their fair share of takes, some of whom pay no income taxes at all even while receiving Federal subsidies.
They can make all kinds of arrangements to pay what they actually owe but would prefer to pay millions to attorneys to keep from having to pay any taxes.
I am not saying that every civil servant or Federal employee is perfect. There are a few poor performers in all walks of life and employment. But I can say this, I have never encountered a rude, or disrespectful customer service agent in any Federal or State agency dealing with the public. In fact, just the opposite...including our state's DVM (motor vehicles).
Just taking a hat tip to all the unsung men and women who carry out their public service responsibilities honestly and without favor to particular customers. 
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niyad
(129,064 posts)
Demobrat
(10,250 posts)I was newly self-employed and needed to set a up a business, pay quarterly, etc. I was completely clueless. I called the IRS. I got a woman on the phone who explained what I needed to do and went over every form and procedure with me. It took about 2 hours.
When we were done I thanked her for her patience and for taking so much time with me.
Her comment: “Honey, I would rather help you now than prosecute you later.”
No complaints from me.
I had the same experience years later with unemployment in California. The person I spoke to was knowledgeable, patient, and helpful. A hardworking civil servant attempting to do a good job.
vanlassie
(6,208 posts)newly opened Fresno IRS office, a national processing location.
My first supervisor was a woman who was fond of telling us “Don’t forget who is paying our salaries- the taxpayers.”
marybourg
(13,585 posts)much more than they received.
spooky3
(38,186 posts)
CurtEastPoint
(19,799 posts)and likewise, when there is a problem, I let them know that, too,
Remember that GD asshole Raygun: the government is the problem. Fucker
soldierant
(9,223 posts)
CurtEastPoint
(19,799 posts)
BlueWaveNeverEnd
(12,419 posts)
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)She needed some help with Social Security and all that stuff that I'll be doing a couple of years from now. The person she spoke with was knowledgeable, helpful, and informative. Mrs. gratuitous was flabbergasted by the end of the call. Everything was so easy!
We've been conditioned by Republicans to think that government can't do anything right (and business can do no wrong). Social Security won't be there when you retire, sink all your savings into stonks. Surely you can buy and sell commodities better than financial professionals! It's all just a guessing game and a crap shoot anyway. And it would be really low of the hustlers and the cheats to take advantage of people on the brink of retirement and con them into giving away what they've saved, so you know that won't happen.
President Biden's doing a good job of opposing that narrative, but Republicans have been running this con for more than 40 years. It will take some time, but we should push back on their narrative.
ProfessorGAC
(75,561 posts)The website for SocSec is VERY user friendly.
I did all our stuff online & I never had a single doubt I was doing all the right things because it was so easy to follow & was so well described & explained.
The only thing I went to the office for was changing withholding to the maximum on my payments. They have to see you signing the form to change it. If I would have selected the higher withholding number in the first place, I wouldn't have even needed to do that.
All that said, when I did go in the woman that worked with me was great & efficient.
Once my number got called, I was out of there in about 3 minutes.
Marcus IM
(3,001 posts)Although I did have a Social Security agent tell me in person that people are living longer, so the fund will run out sooner.
I was going to engage in that fallacy - with facts like the US age of mortality has actually dropped - but, I decided to do my business and not engage. Maybe I should have, but, it was getting late.
Great post. 
yonder
(10,211 posts)unlike most customer service encounters with the business world, most recently being CenturyLink.
BigmanPigman
(54,459 posts)from the State of CA I tried calling them and was on hold for hours before being cut off. This happened several times. The Fed IRS was helpful and sent me my lost Covid Relief as a tax refund (yes, BOTH Covid Relief cards NEVER got to me, CA and Fed). Since I COULD NOT even speak with someone from CA IRS I called H & R Block out of frustration. They checked into it and couldn't believe what they found...NOTHING could be done on a state level to get the lost money. They asked their whole staff and managers too. I am still fuming!!!!!!!
moonscape
(5,621 posts)quite a while ago. I was remiss in replying and got a second letter with interest/fine/something. It was for underpayment of estimated taxes and resulting penalty. This is back when you could easily get an agent on the phone.
I started out very apologetic for not responding, and told him: frankly I’m scared of you guys!
He told me a story of once when he got communication from the IRS in a foreboding envelope. Said he put the unopened envelope on his dining room table and circled it for days before he got the steel to open it. Turned out to be a nothing burger but he said, “Don’t feel bad, even though you shouldn’t be, even I’m scared of the IRS and I’m an employee!”
flying_wahini
(8,240 posts)It took almost 2 hours and he was sooooo wonderful.
republianmushroom
(22,122 posts)
CanonRay
(15,872 posts)is what separates us from third world countries. What if you had to bribe someone to get your Social Security?.
DFW
(59,593 posts)I did the online part last August. It was approved. I was on the phone with sympathetic Social Security staff. Twice. In August they said expect payments to start in two months. They said that in January, too. So far, I have not received a cent.
ZonkerHarris
(25,577 posts)
Thunderbeast
(3,748 posts)Call answered by a human on 3rd ring.
Asked a question about a Roth conversion that had triggered a penalty. Agent explained that Congress had changed its mind in my situation, and said that the penalty was, in fact due.
He then said that if it were him, he would just ignore it as the likelihood of the "error" being caught was slim. I filed without declaring or paying the penalty.
No bad words from me about the IRS!
Social Security?...Best not go there!
ShazzieB
(22,073 posts)I can't remember that last time I called any kind of customer service line and got a human without having to go through layers of menus and sitting on hold for a while.
ThoughtCriminal
(14,693 posts)Once you understand one simple reality:
They cheat on their income tax.
Evolve Dammit
(21,373 posts)Thunderbeast
(3,748 posts)Call answered by a human on 3rd ring.
Asked a question about a Roth conversion that had triggered a penalty. Agent explained that Congress had changed its mind in my situation, and said that the penalty was, in fact due.
He then said that if it were him, he would just ignore it as the likelihood of the "error" being caught was slim. I filed without declaring or paying the penalty.
No bad words from me about the IRS!
Social Security?...Best not go there!
TeamProg
(6,630 posts)years..
ProfessorGAC
(75,561 posts)After dissolving a band because of 2 guys' heavy cocaine use, I did the last taxes. The band was operating as a DBA (doing business as) into an account in my name.
All the 1099 forms were in my name. I failed to save all the SS numbers from the year before, but I had ledgers of all band expenses & distributions.
Since I didn't want to get hung up paying on 90 grand, when my share was 10% of that, I called them for advice.
I told the guy that the SS numbers of the recipients were the same as last year, and I really wanted to avoid contact with these cokeheads.
He said to send him (personally) a letter saying what I just said, and copies of the ledgers.
I did & 2 weeks later I get a letter from them saying I owed taxes on $9,200 of earnings and that they would send auxiliary 1099 distribution forms to the other recipients. It said they considered my responsibility fulfilled.
It was WAY easier than I expected & the guy was super helpful.
I still have that letter in my fire safe, even though this was nearly 40 years ago.
COL Mustard
(7,900 posts)And the tax code is unbelievably complicated. But blame Congress for that. As far as the individual IRS employees that I've dealt with, they've all been completely professional and have helped me resolve tax issues when I've had them. Paying taxes sucks, because it always feels like a sucker's game when so many people cheat the system, but it's necessary. Don't blame the employees who are just enforcing the laws that Congress (ok, and the lobbyists) have written.
LymphocyteLover
(9,216 posts)COL Mustard
(7,900 posts)Enforced compliance with too many loopholes. A tax system that couldn't be cheated would make the whole thing fairer and would raise more revenue. I know they are necessary (and as a Federal employee my salary comes from tax dollars) but when people can use the system to pay little or nothing it's unjust.
LymphocyteLover
(9,216 posts)rich tax cheats and Repubs fought it tooth and nail
COL Mustard
(7,900 posts)They need to be funded to do their jobs. My point was that the system has too many loopholes and the wealthy can figure out how to pay almost nothing.
LymphocyteLover
(9,216 posts)Even with a tax program and not really complicated finances, the tax preparation is ridiculous. They seem to keep adding rules that seem to apply to relatively few people and never simplify anything.
SouthernDem4ever
(6,619 posts)The incivility in the US must be leaking into everything. I called the help line of an investment firm with 401Ks. The initial recording asked in a round about way that we all be civil and respectful with their associates. I am guessing that when the market takes a small dump they get people raging at them about speed of sales, etc. SMH
The only time I am not civil is when I am talking about RWNJ's like trump, traitor greene, etc. and usually just on DU lol.
I always try to be nice to people who are there to help me.
The Jungle 1
(4,552 posts)What outrages me is that the right is outraged Biden wants more agents. Agents to get the rich to stop cheating.
The IRS is an open joke to the rich. They cheat and have been cheating for years.
Bob_in_VA
(126 posts)To the best of my recollection there is no statute of limitations on tax evasion... and with a bunch of new agents looking at those wealthy cheats, at least some of them will get caught.
The Jungle 1
(4,552 posts)He intends to reduce the deficit by getting the cheats to pay.
The repukes passed in the house HR 23. This bill would claw back the 70+ million Biden was providing to the IRS.
They do not want Biden to go after the tax cheats who pay for their campaigns.
Ligyron
(7,996 posts)I was all ready to do battle against hate filled bureaucrats but was totally disarmed with a few minutes. My only complaint is the long wait times on hold but then they probably could use a few more personal if they had the money.
Abolishinist
(2,866 posts)unapplied payment was great. But the BEST part of the experience was that the music on hold was not annoying, in fact quite the opposite. So peaceful!
The little transition at :40 is superb.
dai13sy
(569 posts)I made mistakes on 8 years of taxes that I had done myself. I was asked to bring my paperwork to the IRS office and meet with one of their agents. I was nervous but he made me feel calmer within a few minutes. He talked to me calmly, was quick to smile and chuckle which I needed right then and he showed me where his numbers (the correct ones) came from and then he had me do the corrections myself on 2 or 3 years of paperwork. It was actually a great learning day for me
BaronChocula
(3,894 posts)I had to make payment arrangements about ten years ago. The rep was knowledgeable and behaved as if he was paid to be expedient and helpful. In our Cynical States of America, it's not only the Maga Confederacy that denigrates gov't workers for no reason. This sort of dismissive thinking is widespread because A LOT of Americans are happy when they punch down at someone or something they don't know about. It's why Russian misinformation takes so easily. But I digress.
genxlib
(6,057 posts)He does exactly that for the IRS.
And you are right that he deals with a lot of assholes.
Glad you had a positive experience.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(28,388 posts)but I did deal with Social Security when I was signing up with them. I found the agents very helpful and informative.
I do have my taxes done professionally, which to me is well worth the cost.
The Jungle 1
(4,552 posts)I had an expensive problem with an accounting company. I converted a IRA to a ROTH and they screw up the change over two years in a row. All they do is plug the numbers into a program and it spits out the form. If the program is wrong they will produce a bad product.
I should have looked closer at the numbers.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(28,388 posts)I've been with him nearly fifteen years and could not be happier.
Patterson
(1,579 posts)bhikkhu
(10,787 posts)They answered a lot of questions and resolved problems for me in very helpful ways over the years.
This year I had to shut down an LLC because we sold the property it held, and I had to call three times to ask specific filing questions. Each time the call was answered promptly, and the question was listened to, and I was transferred to their "advanced tax questions" department. Which, it turns out, is no longer staffed, but is a recording suggesting that I check the IRS website for answers.
I tried, but this year my filing is likely full of mistakes, though the taxes themselves are fairly easy to calculate. It's just the forms aren't filled out right. No tax attorney in my town is taking new clients, so I'm doubly screwed. It will probably work out ok, but it's a whole idiotic situation. I feel like if I were trying to cheat I would probably get away with it, like there's no one checking anyway. But I'm not trying to cheat, I'm trying to do it right, and there's just nobody on the other end.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(24,540 posts)... that he is part of the Deep State. That's the insidious mass of government functionality that keeps on humming no matter who is in some elected office way up the organizational pyramic.
Civil Service, with the emphasis on "Civil". Or maybe the emphasis is on "Service".
Social Security Administration is rife with the same sort of courteous and competent people. As is the park service, Energy, Defense, etc.
The Jungle 1
(4,552 posts)
CousinIT
(12,111 posts)...so he could hire assholes instead who would destroy the agencies: IRS, Social Security, etc.
Evolve Dammit
(21,373 posts)
PCIntern
(27,908 posts)and I’ve dealt with many. They are happy to help because it allows them to close your case file and is not a nuisance to them.
BobTheSubgenius
(12,165 posts)I think they get so many abusive, or at least argumentative calls that a normal person behaving in a normal manner gets the luxe treatment.
On more or less the same topic, I had a job for several years that had me dealing with bureaucrats very often. I observed a simple rule early on, and always tried to let it dictate the course of a particular interaction.
The Two Most Important Things About Bureaucrats. If you are a person constantly putting paper on their desk, so to speak, they will hate you and your ride will be arduous.
If you are seen to be solving things without their direct action, thus taking paper off their desk, they will love you like a son.
hay rick
(9,271 posts)I delivered mail to over 100 business customers, mostly private businesses, but also a Social Security office. The people who I dealt with in the Social Security office were the most professional customers on the route.
mahina
(20,256 posts)Who wrote the big short and Moneyball among many other. He’s a great writer. It’s a terrific book, extremely well, written, entertaining and informative.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/10/michael-lewis-discuss-the-fifth-risk.html
DFW
(59,593 posts)For some reason, they said my daughter owed $7 for some late fee. I couldn’t figure out what for. In 1990, my daughter was seven years old. I tried to contact them, but could get no one on the phone, and my daughter got increasingly threatening letters which she couldn‘t even read. No one at the IRS would listen, or even deal with me, since I was not the taxpayer involved. I finally sent the whole thing to the Washington office of one of the two US Senators from Texas. A month later, I got a letter back from the Senator‘s office informing me that the issue had been „resolved,“ and my daughter no longer owed anything.
Sometimes, you luck out. Not always, though.
wryter2000
(47,940 posts)Informed, helpful people all around. I have complimented each one.
hwmnbn
(4,299 posts)I feel the same.
I find MY attitude going in has a lot to do with their attitude coming out.
Deminpenn
(17,236 posts)especially as a retired fed civil servant. The vast majority of my colleagues did their best to help our customers and deal with the irate ones as calmly as possible.
OldBaldy1701E
(9,812 posts)Every single person in a government role that has turned me down for every single attempt at finding help has been very nice and helpful... except for the doing noting to stop my slowly dying from inability to generate income to survive... but other than that... totally nice and professional.
ecstatic
(34,992 posts)They tell you what you need to know, they're not rude or obnoxious. That said, the problem is you can barely reach anyone on their business services line. They have to do better in that department.
NowISeetheLight
(4,002 posts)I’ve had to deal with the IRS a few times for both myself and my late parents. Honestly going in and seeing them I’ve always been pleasant and friendly and I’ve ALWAYS been treated well and helped. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Even phone calls, I’ll say “Hi name, I hope you can help me”. Thank them too. I mean no one calls them on their best day. So be nice. It helps.