Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Seagoon on September 06, 2005, 03:00:14 PM
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Hi All,
Came home today for lunch and my wife was near tears. She handed me a certified letter from the IRS indicating that we owed them over $8000 and that they wanted the money NOW and that they had put a lien on our account.
How did we get in such a state? Well, way back in early 1997 I decided to quit my high paying computer job and start seminary so that I could be a pastor. My wife moved her job to Sun Microsystems in PA. In April of 1998 we took a bit of a hit in taxes because I was no longer earning, and we had used our savings in the move and the first year of seminary (my Seminary education ended up costing us a little over $30K).
Well I don't want to bore you with lots of details but our tragic mistake was in attempting to graduate from seminary without a host of school loans. To do that, my wife sold off her Sun stock options. Bad idea. This was considered a Capital Gain and massively taxed. We paid off the school bill, but after having our first child and getting flooded out of our apartment, we couldn't pay the taxes in April. We ended up not only in debt to the US Gov't but also paying heavy penalties. We were also in debt to the State of PA which wanted their own "bite."
We worked out a payment plan with the IRS to pay off the 14K we now owed them and borrowed money to pay off the state. So instead of being free and clear, because we had sold stock to pay our bills, we ended up in debt. We have been struggling to make the payments to the US Gov't for the past 4 years (in addition to our yearly tax bills). We got some relief from current taxes when my wife quit working outside the home, but that didn't help us in paying the back taxes on our "Capital Gain." Late last year our denominational medical plan collapsed, and we were forced to switch to a private (and much more expensive plan). No matter how we ran the numbers, the pay-off plan we had worked out with the IRS (when my wife was still working) had become impossible to pay at its current rate. She wrote and asked them if we could renegotiate the payment so it would be over a longer period of time. Their kind response? NO, in fact, pay it all now, get loans to do so. My wife tried to explain that no bank in their right mind would give someone with a lien a loan but apparently they meant "sell plasma, knock over a convenience store, get the kids to make sneakers in Mexico, we really don't care, just git me mah money sukah, daddy needs some more pork."
Now, my take home pay, after medical, taxes, and the like is around 20K. I live in a rented house, and I drive old cars. The only thing I do have is a salary and an underfunded retirement plan. If you seriously think our current tax system can't make the life of even a virtually penniless pastor and his family miserable, think again. I will do all can to pay, because I understand that there are no exceptions to the Romans 13 clause instructing me to pay my taxes. But I'm crying out for relief from this stupid, confusing, and confiscatory system. I couldn't think of a better disincentive system if I tried. Please, please, please support the fair tax, or the flat tax, or anything...
- SEAGOON
PS: This is also a heads up that I'm probably going to have to cut the $14.95 a month I pay for AH2. So If I do go, please know its not because of dissatisfaction with the game.
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I don't understand ,when you where at the seminaire you were not earning money ?
If yes shouldn't it have lowered your tax ?
Btw seminaire for a roman catholic is free :p (if I'm not wrong)
it's a joke man :)
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I'm thinking you need a lawyer. I sure as hell don't know the answer.
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Seagoon im very sorry to hear that................ some things in this world just aint right!
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Seagoon, I'm sure there is some sort of relief you can get.
E-mail me at:
mrwolf_riaz at yahoo dot com
I've got a few contacts that might be able to give some free advice.
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Seagoon I'm sorry to hear about your financial set back. Help will come, keep praying for guidance, for that person to help you move on. Remember from every cross there is a resurrection. Your family is in our prayers.
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I'm thinking you need a lawyer. I sure as hell don't know the answer.
The IRS knows that Seagoon is not likley to be able to afford significant legal expense, that's why they typically target him (and others in a similar situation) instead of those who have the resources and can fight back. Big thing in Congress about that a few years back, obviously nothing but hot air on TV.
My best and good luck.
Charon
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It's probably true of most cases. Those that really need lawyers cannot afford them.
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Crud! I'm sorry to hear that, Seagoon, and I hope you can find a solution. This sounds terrible, have you consulted an accountant? I know it might be difficult rationalizing the extra cost of an accountant at this stage, but sometimes they can do miraculous things.
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Hi Sandman,
Yeah, we are in the process of contacting a tax lawyer now. I don't doubt we will be able to clear it up and get a new payment plan worked out eventually, but not without considerable effort.
I'm trying not to grumble and complain, but I'm tired of being in hock to the US Government merely because my wife was a good worker and we tried not to go into debt. Ah, well.
Straffo,
No in Seminary I couldn't earn money by working and still expect to pass Greek and Hebrew.
Our Income Taxes were indeed lowered when my income was taken out of the picture, but over here in the US we have something called a "Capital Gains Tax" which means that when you convert an asset into cash, you are taxed by the Government at 28% regardless of your income. Additionally we paid a State Capital gains tax of around 3% and then a local county tax (if you can believe it).
Additionally, we ended up in the situation of paying taxes for the previous year when our income kept declining from year to year. In other words from '97 onwards, we were always paying taxes with less money than we'd had the year before. The answer to this is of course to save, so you have the money you need to pay the taxes in April, but we were living from hand to mouth.
Regarding seminaries being free, some of the larger denominations do indeed offer a free or almost free ride to their students, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the mainline Presbyterians.
Students from smaller conservative denominations like mine though, will end up paying for Seminary as you would any post-graduate education. The majority of guys in my class ended up getting school loans to do this, and consequently ended up graduating in debt and expecting to go into a low-paying profession.
- SEAGOON
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Very sorry to hear this Seagoon. What you should have done was to pay all the taxes immediately from the profit and then budget the leftover money.
You just made a huge blunder in finance, the system can't be blamed for that, can it?
Anyway I hope someone can find assistance for you, the government values money more than your family or its future. It's never a good idea to mess with the IRS.
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Originally posted by Siaf__csf
Very sorry to hear this Seagoon. What you should have done was to pay all the taxes immediately from the profit and then budget the leftover money.
You just made a huge blunder in finance, the system can't be blamed for that, can it?
Siaf,
Unfortunately, much of the money went to paying off our previous tax bills, and then to expenses we didn't know we were going to incur (we hadn't budgeted for a tropical storm for instance). Also, to tell the truth, I'm terrible at math and don't really understand the system at all. I used Turbo Tax that year and it came out with the wrong numbers (even then, we didn't have enough to pay our tax bill). Had we not had income tax to worry about, we could have paid the Cap gain, and vice versa.
Yeah, if you want to get down to it, the problem is that I'm too stupid to be able to live in modern America, I can figure out the finances of the 19th century, (you work, you get paid, you pay for the things you buy) but apparently can't figure out how the 21st century's work ( get paid, pay taxes on your income to the federal, state, & local governments, pay for the things you buy, pay taxes on the commodities you buy to the State and Local government, continue to pay taxes on the durable goods you now own, pay taxes on the goods you sell, pay taxes in order to live where you are, pay to educate your children AND pay taxes in order to send other people's children to bad schools, pay taxes for the privilege of dying, pay taxes on what you want to leave your children and so on (I proabably missed many other taxes, but then again, thats my problem all along isnt it?)
The last line of Braveheart seems a little hollow to me at present...
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I would find a CPA to give you ideas.
My wife deals with this kind of crap all the time (She's a CPA here in Indiana)and she says the lawyers don't always tell their clients the best way to deal with the IRS.
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Seagoon, my heart goes out to you. I have just been through something very similar with revenue canada (our form of IRS).
It's unfortunate, but they don't really care that you used that money to put shoes on your kids feet and food in their belly's. They want the money.
They need the money more than you because a new mop for the government employed janitor, who washes the floors in the gov offices, costs a few thousand dollars once it's an approved purchase. It is important to note that this is really important.
My saving grace was that I own my own home (or the bank does rather), and I was able to refinance and pay off most of what I owe. It will take me the better part of a year to get totally free and clear, but it is happening now.
You will get through this, and it is wise that you are taking it to a lawyer. My best advice to you is once it's all said and done, get some assets.
If at all possible buy a home, even if it is too small, or not quite what you envisioned living in. It is a valuable asset and gives you some options you currently don't have.
Seagoon, once again my sympathies sir. Take heart, it will get better.
Lastly, don't cancel that account right away. You have always stepped up to the plate to help those in need in our little community, and I have a funny feeling that you won't need to worry about your account for a while.
cheers,
RTR
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I find the IRS and our whole tax system to be absolutely ludicrous! Why should I (we) have to pay a 3rd party to tell us how much money to give the government? They already have all the information. Why isn't there simply an IRS website you go to, punch in your SSN and a pin number and it tells you what you owe? I actually think it's borderline criminal. Essentially they are hoping for errors in their favor, but they'll audit you when the error is in your favor :mad:
Plus as you found out, it's sometimes better to be poor. Or at least arrange your assets to look that way. Declaring bankrupcy may actually be an option in your case. I know several people that made out like bandits by declaring bankrupcy after the dotcom crash.
I also know a few people who simply don't pay their taxes, including this guy, who likes to fight the government:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/January/30/local/stories/16local.htm
He claims that he hasn't payed taxes in 30 yrs. Not sure of the details, or if in truth, I support not contributing anything at all to the government coffers. They do occasionally render userful services :)
g00b
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We got into a similar situation at one point.
When the letters started taking a threatening tone in the form of confiscation, etc. I took some advice from someone in the know.
I started doing the exact same thing that they were doing to us. I bombarded them with letters, questions, proposals and so on. If you will notice when you send the IRS a letter or try to get a call through pertaining to a situation like this that you will rarely receive a reply from the same dept. They shuffle problems like dominoes. :)
It took very little time to get the right hand into not knowing what the left hand was doing and we started receiving diferent options and proposals from about four or five different places. I saved all of them. :)
At that point i requested a face to face meeting with them.
I took all of the letters and propsals in, layed them in front of the IRS rep and told him "You figure it out".
After about an hour of confusion he broke out a calculator and went into action.
He came up with a monthly figure that was to be paid. I said "Nope, unacceptable". he looked like someone had just hit him with a handfull of cockleburs. :)
He asked what I meant by unacceptable. I explained that I fully intended for my family to have a roof over their head, clothes on their back and food in their stomach and that with the figure he had came up with this was impossible. He said "Sorry, that`s what has to be paid monthly" We were in a conference room in a justice center right below the jail. I told him "Nope, not gonna happen. You can call a deputy down now and we can get the ball rolling". He had a blank look on his face and came out with a "Huh?"
I told him I could set out the time for the penalty and in the meantime my wife and kids could survive in an acceptable manner. I explained that I had no intentions of working my rear off, giving the majority of money to them while my family suffered, especialy since the most of the amounts were in penalties.
Before the meeting was over he had knocked off about 75 to 80 % of the penalties and came up with a figure that was reasonable.
I asked him to send tax forms for one year that had to be refigured. Imagine that. They had made a huge mistake on the year in question and actualy owed me money for the year. He said that he couldn`t get the tax forms, that I could get them at the library. I told him no, the library only kept forms for two years.
I then told him that I would like him to help go over the figures for that year.
He then told me that he wasn`t allowed to because he was only qualified to figure an EZ form. :)
Fight back and get things reasonable bud.
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Seagoon,
I will cover the next year of AH for you. Send me an e-mail.
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Yeah, that pretty much stinks. Ya can't really blame the government for your ignorance of the tax system, but the capital gains tax nonsense is hardly something that the average joe would know without looking into it. The suprising thing is that Sun didn't spell this out to your wife in big bold letters...I know ThrustMaster did when they were giving out employee stock options.
And yeah, Capital Gains tax is a big load of garbage. I think the idea is that it'll pull more money out of the pockets of the rich. It doesn't really work out that way though, and even if it did, it'd still be garbage. Punishing people for being more successful is just asinine.
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Deleted.
5- Flamebaiting, trolling, or posting to incite or annoy is not allowed.
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Originally posted by Maverick
Seagoon,
I will cover the next year of AH for you. Send me an e-mail.
Damn... that's a good idea... Can I buy in for a share of that?
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Sandy, tell me how much you want to cover and it's a done deal. ;)
Some of us are in the habit of taking care of our own ya know and Seagoon is a good egg. His wife makes great sweedish meat balls too!
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Mav et al,
An offer of one month would have been more than I deserve, and I am really not worthy at all of having an entire year of AH2 paid for, although I sincerely appreciate that thought. I'm truly touched and thankful for the gracious way you've responded.
I'm sort of at a loss for words, when I can come up with a better way of saying thanks(!) I'll post it. This week has been something of an emotional wringer for me, but the kind messages you guys have posted and willingness to help are a huge boost.
- SEAGOON
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Mav, Sandy.... I'm in for a piece of that.
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Seagoon,
Every once in a while those who provide help for others and are the care givers get in a position of needing a hand themselves. Now don't be a tard and say you don't deserve help. :huh
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Originally posted by Maverick
Sandy, tell me how much you want to cover and it's a done deal. ;)
Some of us are in the habit of taking care of our own ya know and Seagoon is a good egg. His wife makes great sweedish meat balls too!
Toad said he's in also... give me an equal share for the year... what's that... $60?
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Seagoon
Can't do anything about your taxes but just informed HTC to charge my AH account for two months of yours.
You need the escape provided by this game in times of stress
best of luck with the IRS
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Originally posted by Seagoon
Our Income Taxes were indeed lowered when my income was taken out of the picture, but over here in the US we have something called a "Capital Gains Tax" which means that when you convert an asset into cash, you are taxed by the Government at 28% regardless of your income. Additionally we paid a State Capital gains tax of around 3% and then a local county tax (if you can believe it).
Im' not sure to understand it's 28% on the income or 28% of the gain ?
Example :
you earn 1000$ you sell for 50$ stock you paid 40$ 5 year before.
Is the 28% on the whole 1050$ or the 10$ of gain ?
tax on the 10$ sound logical.
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Toad, Sandy, Mav, I'm in as well if I can. PM me details or I'll try to mail.
Seagoon I know your pain. I have been in that place and the desparation and depression it causes is unbeliveable to anyone who hasn't been there. It helped finish my marriage. You and your wife need to lean on each other and take time out from it - that's why I think it is important to have an outlet for a short while. Pity we vcan't help you both.
We are trying to protect my mothers potential estate after clearing up my fathers estate - death duty here is 40% of everything over 250,000. And you don't get the money until the tax is paid.
Give Curval a call - he can probably help. You have people on your side - even Aetheists :D
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Originally posted by straffo
Im' not sure to understand it's 28% on the income or 28% of the gain ?
Example :
you earn 1000$ you sell for 50$ stock you paid 40$ 5 year before.
Is the 28% on the whole 1050$ or the 10$ of gain ?
tax on the 10$ sound logical.
It'd be 28% on the $10. The problem with stock options, is that the person generally doesn't own any stock, they're just options. They don't purchase the stock until they are going to sell it, therefor, it's pure profit for them, and 100% of that profit is taxed at the capital gains rate. It's a gain because your option entitles you to buy the stock at x price, regardless of how much the stock is actually trading for...well, if the stock is trading for a greater amount than the option price, anyhow. :)
The extra stab in the kiester arises, or arose especially in the high tech boom, where people who took lesser salaries, at the promise of stock options to boost the return for their work. The feds don't consider this to be a paycheck, but rather a profit on an investment, and tax it as such.
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Tax laws a writen to keep the working class down.
I'm sorry to hear of you problems Seagoon, wish there was someting I could do to help.
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seagoon going round and round with the IRS can be fun, been there done that and we won, but not without help. it can be done inexpensively too. try this site http://www.taxhelponline.com or 1-800-34-NO-TAX. this is Daniel Pilla's site. he is christian btw. best of luck with this issue I kept frau storch out of the loop because she would have gladly sent them all they asked for to remove the threat. once you start bombarding them with the proper forms and a well thought out strategy they back the flock up. it was the most challenging exciting fight of my life and I kinda miss it a bit. way better than hunting or fishing or even AH.
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The capital gains tax enables the IRS to tax the people who are so rich that they do not have to raise salary at all (at least officially). Without the tax it would be extremely easy to skip paying any kind of tax whatsoever just by borrowing a huge amount of money, making investments and paying off the bank interests with what should normally go to taxes.
Even better if you didn't need to borrow and owned a lot already.
Of course the law is not perfect and the truly rich use lawyers to figure out how to skip most of the taxes. But at least it forces them to employ the lawyers. :lol
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Sorry Seagoon but the road to hell is paved with good intentions and no good deed goes unpunished, far as trying to do things the right way. Guess you learned your lesson the hard way.
The world is not fair. God works in mysterious ways but don't harden your heart to the present situation. You chose to do what you do and gave up a computer job that payed well. There is no one to blame but yourself if money is a problem.
The reason you decided to be a pastor is probably along the same philosophy I had to become an artist. It wasn't for the money but for an ideal. Something that had to be, your reason for existence. Something that only you could do, and your reason was justified and in service to God and man.
The tough part is you can't just change jobs when things aren't fun anymore, because it is a mission from God. That's one reason I never married. 27 years of an income under $6 to 7K has just about run me ragged, and yes I have to pay taxes. Self employment taxes around $400. That's a big chunk of about $1200 profit for an entire year.
If anyone should be complaining it should be me, but what I do only I can do, and so far I have survived and done well through my parent's help, but complaining doesn't help. I'm almost 50 years old. I thank God I have been able to continue long as I have, for 27 years. I am proud of my work and have spent all that time learning how to do it.
Please be patient, it will get better. Count your blessings mate.
Anyhow, that's my rant. It's not professional to rant but we're among friends. One day I'll make a decent income through plenty of suffering and hard work. This is reality. The good thing about it is I'm not in debt and own everything I have for the time being.
Les
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income under $6 to 7K
Monthly income?
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Lol Siaf, unfortunately not but it would be a good thing. Cheers.:)
Les
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My weekly income for the past 3 years is about $100 per week.
Les
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Originally posted by Leslie
My weekly income for the past 3 years is about $100 per week.
Les
Are you a student? If so than its not that bad.
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I'm a professional gambler, as an artist of course. All my work is done on speculation. I do the work and then have to sell it to make an income.
I have a BA in Spanish from Auburn University. So there's no excuse for me. It is my choice to attempt to make a living from my art. Might have been a mistake financially, but I don't feel it has been a wasted life.:)
Les
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If it makes you happy it aint wrong Les.
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Seagoon... My girlfriend lives on about 13 bucks an hour... the federal and state have been taking money from her for 4 years in penalties and interest and she owes em about the same as she owed 4 years ago.
If a credit card company charged the kind of penalties and interest that the government does.... no... if they charged half that... they would be imprisoned under loansharking laws.
lazs
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Seagoon,
All my sympathies go out to you and your family in your present situation. I may get in a lot of trouble for what i'm about to say but I mean you no disrespect. my father was a minister for several years I never did understand organized religion, nor do I think I ever will. I have lived in several manses I will say this they are very nice, large an opulent. It was always very confusing to me here we were trying to help the poor and disenfranchised having taken some kind of pledge of poverty, yet we were living on a large estate, I have never quite been able to understand this. Without getting into it too deeply I just don't believe in organized religion, however I will say this I have seen my father preside over baptisms, marriages, funerals and comfort people on there deathbed all services that were appreciated beyond words. I don't know how to explain it but somehow the system gets all distorted and twisted it never seems to work as people think it does. When I was still very young my father gave up the ministry, although we lived in a large beautiful home, I don't believe that he thought he was being paid enough to put his children through college so he joined the real world. Like I was saying "twisted" lots of money and assets but they don't seem to spend it on the people.
Well after that little prelude i'll try to be as gentle as possible. I don't understand why you left a good job to go into the seminary. I certainly applaud your efforts to help other people if that's the reason why you join the seminary. I don't believe that you needed to spend 30 K or join the seminary to help other people. I believe organized religion to be as inept and corrupt as government. As we've seen recently sometimes organized religion can be downright evil. I guess I'll just come right out and say it you should have taken care of your family first and saved the religious nonsense for your free time, then you would not have found yourself in the spot you are now. Well I'm kind of sorry for saying that but I just dont understand why people feel the need to sacrifice themselves and the ones around them for some kind of religious baloney. Where is your God? Why hasn't he come to help you? You have devoted yourself to him and what have you gotten in return? If there is a God, then explain this, why is it young innocent children suffer and die? Every time i ask that question I always get some kind of answer that makes no sense or seems like some kind of lame excuse. By the way am i going to hell? Well I guess I've gone too far really I wish you no disrespect it just seems that you've gotten yourself into a bad spot for what seems to me to be just silly. To tell the truth you really shouldn't be in this spot it's more the fault of government than anything else.
OK so I've been ranting stuff like this really winds my clock. Here's some of my suggestions to try and help you out of your current situation. Have you tried the resources of your seminary school? I don't know what religious organizations you are affiliated with but I do know that even Christians hire good Jewish lawyers now that's funny. What I mean is the regional, National and international religious organizations keep on retainer or in their employ some very good accountants and lawyers. For instance I know my father's organization the Protestants offer several services to their pastors everything from counseling to low-interest loans. For many years my father had a Sears credit-card that said Reverend on it and he always got a standard 20% discount on anything he bought, I always thought that was kind of funny. Sears has since discontinued that practice many years ago. It seems to me that somebody such as yourself should be able to find some kind of helps somewhere without the personal expense of hiring your own lawyer. Perhaps there is someone in your own congregation who can help you.
Well I hope you won't hold my words against me it just happens to be that I personally believe organized religion is just, well silly. I'm sure you and your family will find some kind of solution. If I were you I would use the resources and power of my religious affiliation.
Good luck to you.
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Originally posted by Eagler
Seagoon
Can't do anything about your taxes but just informed HTC to charge my AH account for two months of yours.
You need the escape provided by this game in times of stress
best of luck with the IRS
Eagler.
You never cease to amaze me. You are one class act.
It will get better Seagoon. Everything passes eventually. hang in there.:)
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Mav, Toad, Sparks... I called Carrie (HTC) and purchased three months.
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Eagler and Sandy. Outstandig :aok
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:aok :aok
Pretty good community we have here:)
Mav, Toad, Eagler, Sparks and Sandy.
Seagoon, we all get back what we give. It's a truth. and good luck to you sir.
cheers,
RTR
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Y'all are a great bunch of guys! I've already received calls or emails from Eagler, Sandmn, and RTR and they have credited your account with 6 months of payments, Seagoon.
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Now only his internet connection is left unpayed. Next round? ;)
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
Now only his internet connection is left unpayed. Next round? ;)
and his taxes
anyone?
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And thanks to Toad, y'all have collected a total of 8 months!
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Hey Rosie!
who's Pedro?
My vote can be bought.
RTR
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It's from the movie Napoleon Dynamite. :lol
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LOL
RTR
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MacMAW has just added a month also - for a total of 9 months!
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Seagoon,
You've been there for me.
I don't have much and wish I could do more, but I gave you a Month on my account.
Spoke with Carrie.
God Bless you Andy,
Mac
:aok
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Petition and congressional contact info at:
http://www.fairtax.org
This is only one story out of many. The current tax system cannot be fixed by "reform" measures (10,000 tax code changes in only a few years, and it's only gotten worse). Scrap it!
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Thanks to a couple of anonymous donations, y'all have succeeded in collecting a full year of subscription dues for Seagoon! Y'all did great! :aok
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Can ya feel the Love?
Great Community!
:aok
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Cool, I've vote for Pedro too it's one of my cats (Pedro,Pippi,Pus and Pelle)
Nice of you guys to help out for seagood, seems like he need the help. It was a terrible situation to get into.
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Sorry to hear about your situation. You and your family are in my prayers.
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I just wanted to chip in how it cranks me up when people wade in against someone in debt. It's bad enough to be in that position, knowing you've probably not done the smartest things but people don't choose to get themselves there and sometimes circumstances force you into a position. But then to be treated like some kind of social disease is unjust. You can have a drink problem and beat your kids .. "hey the guy needs help" , have a drug problem ... "support and compassion", have a money problem "what kind of human waste of space are you ?? It's your own fault !!" .
The support you get if you have a self inflicted drink problem is all directed at improving your life. Everything you get for an accidental debt problem is all directed at destroying your life. Apparently now you have nothing you can afford to pay the highest charges and highest interest as punishment for your perverted errant ways.
Someone makes some bad descisions, ill thought out plans, add in a few uncontrolable events and it goes wrong. But because we're talking about money it's "screw you baby". It makes me sick.
To all you superior types who look down on those with financial problems I hope your day comes sometime.
In the eighties we were driven into bankruptcy to the tune of 55K by medical payments not covered by insurance and we found out who our friends were.
A few months subscription is just a way of sending a pick-me-up to someone in need.
Seagoon it's just money and there's always a way out. Just to let you know there are people here who have been where you are and know how it feels. IMHO get advice - free advice - lawyers will stiff you - our bankruptcy lawyer did a few days work, saw all our books and dropped a bill for $750 on our step the day after the hearing and actually it was the wrong thing to do. We found a charity organisation who gave counseling and advice and were wonderful.
Hang in there.
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Originally posted by Sparks
To all you superior types who look down on those with financial problems I hope your day comes sometime.
In the eighties we were driven into bankruptcy to the tune of 55K by medical payments not covered by insurance and we found out who our friends were.
Three cheers!
Been there, done that.
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Sparks good post.
I have just been there as well (actually still in it, but it's at least stable now, and am able to dig my way out. The only thing that saved me was owning a house where market values have taken a huge jump in the last few years).
It is a personally embarrassing and demoralizing situation to be in, and it is extremely hard to dig in and fight back. Often times it is the small hand that reaches out to us in an attempt to help that gives us the energy and desire to help ourselves.
We don't need much more than a little compassion and faith in our fellow human beings to get started again.
A while ago, someone reached out to me with a small hand, and I am getting back on my feet.
We need to care more about each other.
I guess that's all I have to say about that.
Cheers,
RTR
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I went into business for myself 2 yrs ago. Last year I got nailed. I had been paying quarterlies but made much more than I had expected. Of course none of that is kicking around, and its unreal where it all goes, but being married with no kids, self employed I got reamed. I hate the tax system.
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All I can say is, I am truly humbled, and grateful, you are one great bunch of guys. If I tried all night I wouldn't be able to come up with the words that would express my how moved I am at the moment.
I would have been grateful simply for a sympathetic word or some sound counsel, but I have reaped twelve fold more than I expected!
I must tell you, when I told my wife, she said, "Wow, what a gracious gift!" and then thinking further reflected "I guess this means you're going to have to play more often" to which I replied "Well, it wouldn't be good stewardship otherwise..." ;)
I'll try to write some more tomorrow, I'm dog tired at the moment, but blessed indeed.
May the Lord bless you all as he has blessed me through you...
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Gentlemen, we have found the perfect defense against wife-ack. ;)
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Add another 3 months to the total - a donation from Sparks!
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Hi All,
Thank you for the support, and thank you for what you've done for me.
It's funny, but over the past few weeks I've seen the dual truths of " In the world you will have tribulation" AND "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life" following on each others heels again and again. This has been yet another example.
Since Saturday night of last week, much of my time has been spent in prayer and visiting of one of the families of our church. They are a very young couple, newly-weds who have just had their first child.
A few days after they took their newborn son home, and just before dad was scheduled to go TDY for HALO training, his bilurubin levels shot through the roof, skyrocketing to 45, which brought on seizures. That evening I rushed to the hospital to meet with and pray for the parents, preparing for the worst, and praying for mercy. I read Psalm 61:1-4 with them, and prayed with them for a while, pleading with God to spare and heal this tiny child - to be merciful yet again. That prayer was indeed answered and since that time, his bilirubin levels returned to normal, he came off sedation, off the ventilator, and is now awake and alert. It was a real testimony to both those new parents, their own parents who had rushed up to be with them, and a great reminder to me as well. There is of course still great concern about how this might have affected little "Blue's" brain, but his recovery has been nothing less than miraculous.
I share that, not only because I'd appreciate it if you would pray for Blue (yep that's really his name, this is the south you know) but also because that kind of thing has happened more times than I can count over the past few months.
So thank you all for you part in being some of those rays of light that break when things seemed darkest.
Now, I must away to bed. I really only got up to change a diaper... Funny how the net beckons.
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I am neither a tax accountant, CPA, or a lawyer, but being liable for taxes unpaid seven years ago (1998) doesn't seem right! My understanding was that the IRS was partially de-toothed due to activiites such as this during the last administration. Certainly, as Jackel pointed out, sending letters will create confusion and misinformation among the ranks of the Government which can only be to your advantage. I recommend inquiring within your congregation (or other congregations) for tax accountants who may be able to give you advice and help in this matter.
I do not recommend blindly paying the IRS! Requiring citizens to only keep three years of tax records, then penalizing them for taxes seven years ago is definately something to challenge! Taxes are man made rules, they need have no reason or rhyme. As such, there is probably a loophole. The IRS knows the wealthy will give them a hard time and it will probably cost the Government $10K to get $8K in back taxes from them!
Just like dealing with any preditor, don't give the IRS any indication of fear or that you will make this easy! To state an old cliche, everything in life is negotiable!
Regards,
Malta
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Maverick just added another 3 months. That puts the total at one and a half years! Y'all are a great bunch of guys!
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Seagoon...my Brother.
How's it goe?... You shall reap what you sow....?
SEAGOON '08
Ya got my vote Andy...just run with it!!!
:aok
Mac
Mav is just trying to get to Heaven LOL
Besides I was the 69th post...had to make it known, Ohhh Noo don't go there dirty minds!!!!
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Me in Heaven?!?!?! I wouldn't know anyone there! :eek: :rolleyes: