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Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Two IRS Agents Visit Sacramento Car Wash to Demanding 4 Cents in Overdue Taxes

Aaron Zeff, the owner of Harv’s Metro Car Wash recently complained that two IRS agents came to his business and demanded payment of his over-due taxes in a rude and condescending manner. What was even more remarkable is the amount of unpaid taxes that led the IRS to send two agents in a car across town to collect: 4 cents.

It turns out that the business was billed for $202.31 but the tax cad only paid $202.35.

An IRS spokesman Jesse Weller refused comment “due to privacy and disclosure laws.” This a bit odd since Zeff has already gone public with his tax dispute.

For the full story, click here.

16 thoughts on “Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Two IRS Agents Visit Sacramento Car Wash to Demanding 4 Cents in Overdue Taxes”

  2. I guess he should have given them a cheque for 5 cents and demanded a receipt and a refund on the 1 cent overpayment.

  3. “It turns out that the business was billed for $202.31 but the tax cad only paid $202.35.”

    I think you have it backwards… otherwise, the IRS would owe him $0.04

  4. First, let me point out that the IRS’s failure to comment is not a “dodge.” The IRS cannot talk about the case by law under 26 U.S.C. § 7213(a) and, if disclosed, the agency employee is subject to criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1905.

    Second, let me suggest that because the IRS must remain silent, the taxpayer can get away with saying anything he wants. I frankly don’t believe the story and I think that the guy probably owes a lot more than 4 cents. I think this primarily because the IRS contracts out hundreds of million dollars in collection work to private agencies. While it might not waive a 4 cent deficiency, it would most likely get thrown into a contract with other debts requiring collection. Even then, the agency would be addressing the taxpayer by letter or phonecall, not personal visits.

  5. How much you want to bet there was a restaurant (or other establishment) the I.R.S. fellows wanted to visit? The tax debt was just an ‘official’ excuse to be in that part of town.

  6. Well, all considering, you probably have a better chance expecting truth from loyal Bushies than thoughtfulness from IRS-agents..

  7. a friend once received a tax refund check for 21 cents. he framed it and hung it on the wall

  8. “Being a Lesbian Catholic makes you a Tea Beggar?”

    What?

    I never said anything like that.I am a Catholic Lesbian and a tea-partier (not beggar(sic) do you kiss your mother with that mouth?). Repeat after me “Correlation does not equal causation.”

  9. LL,

    Being a Lesbian Catholic makes you a Tea Beggar? Learn the difference. No one really cares for the IRS, well maybe the Prosecutor when they can’t get somebody on one thing…..Most people have about as much use for the CIA, FBI etc.

    I think the point is 4 cents. Maybe I am wrong, I will split the difference and put my 2 cents in…..

  11. QUOTE “refused comment “due to privacy and disclosure laws.”

    This is an old dodge, they use it ALL the time, not just the IRS but anytime you want a Freedom of Info Request that the authorities don’t want out they use that excuse.

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  15. And I wonder what it cost tax payers to send 2 agents out to collect those 4 cents!!

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