Am I overreacting?

[ellen_datlow]

I just received a notice today from the IRS notifying me that I will shortly receive “a notice and additional information shortly before the payment is made” about the economic stimulus payment we’re all going to receive. So how much did this mass mailing cost us?

Ellen
(outraged by the seemingly waste of MY money and YOUR money on postage, not to mention paper--even "recycled," which it proudly proclaims it uses)

Comments

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

It really is Alice's looking glass world we live in, isn't it? Crazy. Nothing makes sense. And while Romes burns, our fearless leader cavorts on the White House lawn with the Easter bunny.

No, you are not overreacting.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Thank you :-)

[temporus.livejournal.com]

No. Because it's silly, to get a message saying: "Wait, you are going to get more information later."

Um...just pay me the money. Or not. Whichever, but don't keep mailing me flyers about it. Especially generic flyers that aren't going to tell me anything more than: "You might get money. It could be anywhere from nothing, to something. If you make too much money we won't give you anything. But otherwise, you'll get something. And if you aren't sure, just wait, we'll send more information later. And it doesn't really matter, because we're going to do all the deciding, and all the paperwork, and you're just going to get the money we decide to give you back anyway. So really, just wait for the money."

[barb-krasnoff.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right to be outraged.

It's basically a paid political announcement -- they don't only want you to get the economic stimulus payment, but they want to remind you (at least twice, according to this) who is bring you this payment. The only difference is that we're the ones paying for ie.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Yeah--Boy, do I hate them!

[amygrech.livejournal.com]

You have every right to be annoyed, Ellen...I got one of those notices, too. What a waste of paper! Just send me a check.

Any

[robvagle.livejournal.com]

You're not overreacting. We had the same reaction here in Eugene. What waste of money.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

So why isn't there ever any news coverage on this crap?

[spacecrab.livejournal.com]

42 million dollars.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/08/tax.letter.ap/
http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/16413371.html

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Well I'm glad it's not just me --but there should be more of an uproar!

Grr . . . IRS

[joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Don't even get me started. A couple of months ago (on our anniversary, no less!) my wife and I got matching certified letters from the IRS telling us that we owed them a bunch of money from last year because they had disallowed our deductions for our children and for our child care expenses after determining that we do not, in fact have children. Um, wha?!?! So we called and spoke to a guy who said someone else had claimed the same kids as dependents, and when this happened, rather than investigating, the IRS always just sent such letters to all involved parties and let them prove that they actually are entitled to the deductions. He told us to mail copies of certain documentation in, and it would be okay. So we mailed the documentation they asked for, and waited, and heard back that we can't simply take care of this by mailing some copies in. We have to file an appeal with the US Tax Court. So to get this straightened out, we have to pay court fees, get a date arbitrarily assigned to me at the court--the nearest court is in TAMPA, an hour away--and probably take a day off from work to do it, which will cost us money. All to straighten out something that is not our fault. If we get a tax attorney, it will cost an arm and a leg. If we do their version of small claims court, then, if, through some bizarre happenstance, the ruling goes against us, there is no appeal. (Perhaps we should bring the kids with us. And feed them sugar for breakfast.)

We can't file our 2007 taxes until this is resolved, because I sure as heck plan on declaring my kids on them. So I will be filing an extension. My understanding is there will be no stimulus money for us until we file. I hope we don't lose out somehow. (Not that I think the stimulus thing is the greatest ideas, but if everyone else is getting a check, I want one too!)

Re: Grr . . . IRS

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

This isn't the IRS. I'm sure as someone above pointed out, it's the Administration hoping we'll all be sooo grateful for getting a few bucks that we'll forgive what they've done over the past 7 1/2 years.

Re: Grr . . . IRS

[joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I know . . . I just wanted an excuse to rant. ;)

Re: Grr . . . IRS

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

That's ok :-)

[rosefox]

Ah, that would be what was in the two envelopes from the IRS addressed to previous occupants of this apartment.

Envelopes received for current occupants of this apartment: zero.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

You'll get yours and then you can open all three and rail about the waste of money too :-)

[colubra.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. There's already been how many hundred thousand spent telling every newscaster in the country about it, and pages upon pages of ink in daily newspapers.
Why did we need a mailing?

Department of Irony

[joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I wonder if Turbo Tax still prints out copies of the Paperwork Reduction Act . . .

[secritcrush.livejournal.com]

that's like having a meeting to discuss having a meeting.

Sheesh.

[nitewanderer.livejournal.com]

Don't laugh. I work at a university :(

[k-dunlap.livejournal.com]

I used to be an accountant, and friends still in the field are seething over this. Not only is the paper waste ridiculous, they're only giving you half the story.
It’s worded in such a way that people are flooding the tax places with phone calls and questions.
You only get it if you file this year--so tons of people that don't have to file, and usually don't, are doing so, just to get this ‘gift’.
Depending on how you choose to receive your refund [or pay your taxes] dictates when you get paid. Direct deposit gets you the fastest 'gift' check, so people that normally just do a paper refund or have a check sent are changing the way they do taxes [and again, flooding the tax places].
The dummy messages have gone out to people that aren't eligible [for instance, a dependant child getting social security because of a parent that’s passed away. They can't get this, only their surviving parent can, but the children are receiving them because they get SS payments and are on the books.
And the best part? This is NOT, I repeat NOT a present from the government. Hang on to your stubs--you're going to need them. The government hasn't decided yet if they're going to tax you for this next year, or just take it off your refund. This is NOT a gift, it's a loan, no matter how you look at it, and you’re paying for it next year one way or the other.

And people wonder why I got out of accounting and taxes...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Jeez. Thanks for your clarification. This makes the whole thing even more egregious. There was an Op Ed in the NY Times yesterday that suggested it be rescinded and that the money instead go to homeowners who really need it to save their homes....as pointed out by the op ed, who is actually going to spend that money? I wouldn't. If I get anything, it'll go to pay bills so it's certainly not going to "stimulate" the economy. It's been tried before and failed before.

[k-dunlap.livejournal.com]

Exactly what my sister said [pay bills]. It's a broad stereotype, but I'll say it: The percent of the population that will blow it are not people that generally help the economy anyway, so a one-shot spending spree isn't going to do much.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Okay, now that's just depressing.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Yup.

[k-dunlap.livejournal.com]

Sorry. =)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

That was my reaction, exactly.

[(Anonymous)]

As Lewis Black says, "We'd be better off if they sent us Blockbuster video coupons."

Jeff P.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I might go for that!

[joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I think they have posters with my picture on them in all Blockbusters saying DO NOT RENT. So me . . . not so much. Now Barnes & Noble gift cards, on the other hand . . .

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Well, I actually have netflix, so don't need blockbusters :-)