Special offer

Behold...the Tax Man Cometh!

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country

I rarely will use this venue to gripe about our government...unless I have facts that will benefit a client or fellow agent.  However.................when I saw this story I about fell over in my chair.  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  I am sure all of us (as small business owners) will be able to relate to the maddness that is out there.  Here's a guy that unknowingly owed the IRS 4 cents...yes...you read right...4 lousy cents.  He now owes the "Feds" over $200 and got a personal visit from them as well.  Read on...

What say you, Active Rainers????

Mar 14, 2010 2:23 am US/Pacific

Car Wash Gets IRS Visit Over 4 Cents In Back Taxes

More Local News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBS13) -

Click to enlarge 1 of 1
The bill for the four cents in back taxes ballooned to more than $200 after interest and fees.

CBS

 

 

 

A local business owner was surprised to find IRS representatives on his doorstep to collect unpaid taxes, but was stunned to discover they were billing him for less than a nickel of back taxes.

When two federal agents hand-delivered the bill to Harv's Metro Car Wash, owner Aaron Zeff didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"[They] came into the car wash, handed my manager a bill, and it was from the IRS," Zeff said. "The amount was four cents, four pennies."

The IRS agents did not stop to get a car wash, Zeff added.

The bill sparked laughter until Zeff took a closer look at the final cost. After three years of penalties and fees, the four cent tax skyrocketed to more than $200.

"This is more like a parking ticket," he said.

Attorney Ashley West, the attorney for the car wash, said the IRS sent a letter in October saying the business had filed all required taxes and did not have a balance.

"It was a surprise to us that they came on site and surprise to us we didn't receive and correspondence related to it," West said.

Harv's says they are working with the IRS to find a resolution.

The car wash is planning a special promotion: Pay your taxes on time and get a car wash for just four cents.

iPhone App

Close

Btw...I love how this owner responded to it.  I would have probably lost my cookies.  Props to the owner for making lemonade out of lemons!

Comments (6)

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Unbelievable....makes me want to owe 4 cents this year, but I am afraid of my government, so I'll pay exactly what I owe (or a bit more)

Mar 15, 2010 11:01 AM
Claire Record
Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Karen...can you imagine the poor folks that owe substantial money and that are accruing penalties and interest every day.  Holy cow!  Makes me ill thinking about it. 

Mar 15, 2010 11:07 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Claire - deflation thanks to the tax man now that would be a first.

Mar 15, 2010 03:03 PM
Anonymous
Jerry from SC

This is yet another perfect example of why we need to scrap this whole taxation system and replace it with something that works. Maybe the Fairtax or one something like it. The Fairtax not only fixes the system and restores our economy it also eliminates the IRS altogether! With the exception of the military, the government can't seem manage anything properly.

Stories like this make my blood boil. Next time it may be you that they come after.

Find out more about the Fairtax at WWW.fairtax.org.

Mar 17, 2010 04:10 AM
#4
Anonymous
Jerry from SC

This is yet another perfect example of why we need to scrap this whole taxation system and replace it with something that works. Maybe the Fairtax or one something like it. The Fairtax not only fixes the system and restores our economy it also eliminates the IRS altogether! With the exception of the military, the government can't seem manage anything properly.

Stories like this make my blood boil. Next time it may be you that they come after.

Find out more about the Fairtax at WWW.fairtax.org.

Mar 17, 2010 04:11 AM
#5
Claire Record
Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Thanks, Jerry....  I will look into it. 

Mar 17, 2010 04:35 AM