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Blogs by Rolf Richardson
An Insane world 10/16/2019 1:25:35 AM
Those of us of a certain vintage are agreed on one thing: we live in an insane world, where the lunatics are our keepers. I was reminded of this when I recently received a letter from Dallas Texas. But first some background.
I live in England, but over the years have done a bit of business through an agent in the USA. Revenue from this is taxed at 30% by the IRS, but because I reside abroad am entitled to claim it back. Eventually I was owed a few hundred dollars, but having had no luck with the IRS in America, went to their embassy in London, where it also has an office. There I spent a morning filling in complex forms, under the eye of a sarcastic fellow, who finally stamped them all and declared "next thing you'll be getting a check from the IRS". That was maybe twenty years ago and so far it hasn't happened, in spite of further efforts.
Fast forward to last week, when I received that letter from Dallas, snail mail, lots of colorful stamps. Inside was IRS form 1042-S, in triplicate, informing me I had gross income from their sales of $0.59 (yes 59 cents!), so was entitled to claim back $0.17 (17 cents!).
This company in Texas has to spend valuable time and expense sending me a form to claim 17 cents, which the IRS has no intention of ever paying me. Truly an insane world!
