IRS: Ending a nightmare

In April 2016, we sent a significant check to the U.S. Treasury Department to pay our 2015 tax bill. Unfortunately, we misaddressed the letter. The government cashed the check, but our payment was lost in the bureaucracy and our account wasn’t credited.

The IRS wrote in July saying we were in arrears and faced penalties and interest. We could prove we’d paid the government, but couldn’t reach anyone at the IRS to hear us out. After many attempts, capped by an entire business day on hold, we contacted Congressman Raul Labrador.

Mr. Labrador’s office was amazing, particularly caseworker Bev Jensen. Bev kept us updated whenever she made progress. After 18 contacts with the IRS, Labrador’s office recently succeeded in closing the case by convincing the IRS to waive a penalty of almost $1,700. The frightening threats of tax liens against our home are over.

We are both in our 70s and retired after long careers in business. We consider ourselves relatively sophisticated people, but we needed help to negotiate the red tape. One lesson we’d like to share: If you have a problem with any agency of the federal government, don’t hesitate to contact your congressman. They can help put an end to your nightmare.

JOYCE and VINCENT HAMM

Hayden