Both my partner and I were fortunate to be able to get our taxes done early using TaxScene.com. We filed online because we both were receiving a substantial refund. A trick the IRS uses so that people will withhold too much, thereby paying their taxes too early and be eager to file taxes after getting their bloated W-2s in search of a refund, a form of very poor saving that people seem to like.

Our taxes had become so complicated that I could no longer use that old spreadsheet that worked so well for so many years. Even got me through a couple of audits without harm. But when all of the government perks from both sides of the aisle pork barreled changes in the tax law giving their favored constituents tax incentives galore came along, manually filling out the forms became tedious with all of the instructions getting more complicated every year. Easy to slip up.

When I saw some new tax software for PCs appear, I tried out SpeedoTax.com, but it wasn't available for the Mac. So, I tried out TaxNeuron.com. But while doing my taxes that year, they didn't have a form that I absolutely needed. I checked out others and found that TaxScene.com had all of the forms required. I started using it and was hooked for only $7.95. When my partner's taxes became more complicated, I dragged her kicking onto the website as well. She has received some nice refunds ever since.

About the turn-of-the-century, the US government got ahead of things and started providing "free" online taxes. They contracted with all of the startup software companies previously mentioned and more to get people to go online and use computer-based filing. I tried to sign up for free software or free online filing and found that I couldn't. My taxes were too complicated. Each year being charged more as the tax law and taxes got more complicated. Grateful for the help, I paid what TaxScene was charging and then deducted the cost the next year.

I settled in to doing my taxes online even though every year the cost increased and it took longer because of all the questions TaxScene had to ask even though most of them never applied to me. I'm glad that they were doing all the research and legwork rather than I. Beating audits was almost a guarantee.

The telephone rang. As I checked it out, my caller ID flashed US-IRS. That was all I needed to grab the phone instead of letting it go to my voicemail. I feared that there was something missing in my tax filing and my refund would be held up. Worse, I was being audited!

"This is Abraham Jonas, US-IRS agent. Please bring all of your current tax forms and information to my office Tuesday morning, promptly at 11 AM. My office is located at 1931 Fanning Boulevard, room 402. I have good news that I can only share with you in person. Don't miss out."

The message seemed authoritative enough. Good news? Probably a recording. I asked her if she heard it and my partner said, "I'm scared. Did we do our taxes wrong?" She started dancing around like she does when she's upset or worried. Like a kid that has to go to the bathroom.

"I don't think so. The recording said it was "good news."

I was clued in on all the scams out there, so thought that I would check. When I did I found that the IRS federal office was located at 1930 Fanning and I recalled driving by the impressive building several times. After looking at the map on my computer screen, I called out, "Looks legit that address is right across the street. There's a building there that could be an annex."

"Do we have to go?" she whined.

"I guess we'd better. Don't want to mess with the IRS."

"Do I have to take mine?"

"I'll make copies of both of ours to take. That way if they take our originals, we will have our copies as proof."

The next morning when we arrived, there was plenty of parking in front of the four-story building across from the Federal Building. So nondescript I hadn't noticed it before. In a large bronze letters over the main entrance was US-IRS. When we entered there was no receptionist and the ground floor appeared to be empty. I started to get a strange feeling in my stomach as we took the elevator to the fourth floor.

As we came off the elevator, the entrance to Suite 402 was straight ahead. But there were chairs along the aisle with two couples sitting there before us. Both looking rather nervous with big envelopes in their hands.

Once again the hall was empty with that hollow feeling giving me a feeling that we were being sucked into something we might not like at all. But both of us had a sixth sense that kept us out of trouble. She more than I. As we sat down next to another couple, she poked me in the ribs and gave me a nasty look like, "Let's get out of here!"

I shook my head, No, but it didn't calm her down. I knew I could run at any time.

Suddenly the door opened and a couple, smiling, exited for the elevator. A middle-aged man with the look of a salesman smiled and called out, "Next!"

The voice was clearly the voice I heard on the phone. I grabbed her hand and held it tight, smiling to get her to calm down. "Looks okay." I whispered in her ear so that the couple next to us did not hear it.

The couple next to us went in next and we moved down two chairs, and another couple arrived, looking nervous. Within 15 minutes the door opened, that couple left and we were invited in to a rather large and comfortable office without all the modern accents. Rather a more well used functional place from the 1960s. The only computer in sight was a large flatscreen desktop in front of our host's desk.

Escorting us to some comfortable chairs in front of the desk, he said, "I'm Abraham Jonas, owner of US-IRS, tax preparers. Would you like some coffee or water?"

I was game for coffee and she said, "Water's okay"

I must admit that the coffee brought me was top drawer, like a fine restaurant, but I was more interested in the offer he was about to make.

Jonas went to his behind his desk, sat down, and leaned back. "A bit about me first. This is my father's firm. When I finished my MBA in accounting and my certification in tax preparing, I was ready to join him at 23. Unfortunately, by the time I was 25 he died suddenly of a heart attack and left me a lot of money. It was one of those economically depressed times when oil prices were low here downtown. Office buildings were cheap and I easily picked up this building directly across from the Federal IRS Building.

As a result, I had to hire a lot of tax consultants because people being audited across the street saw our sign over the building and dropped in on us, especially this time of the year, needing help. But that was before personal computers and the Internet devastated our business. Had to lay off all of my accountants and the building is now empty with only me to pay for utilities and taxes. I had to get creative. That's why I called you in yesterday. Hope I wasn't too intimidating!" He grinned.

I had looked around and saw some authentic looking credentials hanging on the wall as well as some on his desk like the BBB award. "You were, but that's what got us here. What are you offering?"

"Have you already filed?"

"We both filed online and are both getting a good refund."

"Here's my deal. In spite of the changes and all of these growing tax preparing online companies making millions, I'm still the best tax sleuth around. If you allow me to take a look at your 1040s and let me find ways that I can file a 1040X for you, I can pretty much guarantee I will increase the refund that you already expect. If you leave copies of your tax information with me, you may receive a big check within six months. There's no guarantee. But if you receive a couple thousand more, you might consider sending me in this preaddressed and stamped envelope my fee of $200. And, if it's even more, say $4000, drop me a check for $300 or whatever you think is fair for my services.

"Just want you to get your fair share of your hard-earned money back from the government by taking every deduction that you have coming to you. I will only be in touch if I need further information while doing your 1040Xs." He paused for a moment. "Any questions?"

He took our information and placed it in individual folders and put them in line on his desk. we looked to be about the 10th and 11th folder from what I could see. I had finished my coffee when he came back around and handed each of us his card and preaddressed envelope. He shook my hand vigorously and said, "Call me anytime and call me, Abe."

Abe ushered us out the door, smiling and called out, "Next!" to two couples and one single guy waiting.

True to his word, a week later we each received a copy of A 1040X showing that we had missed some capital losses that Abe filed for us. And, two checks from the "US Treasury" in the mail to add to our direct deposited refunds, two weeks apart, two months later. We have been using Abe ever since and have taken to giving him more than he asked for his service.

And, after a couple of years more, without being audited, we knew that what he was doing was legit. By then, he had enough loyal customers like us that he didn't have to use telephone trickery anymore because of all the referrals he got and repeat business. Even had to start hiring tax accountants again and computer coders to sharpen US-IRS's trademark company software.

Copyright 2022 © Ronald W. Hull

3/21/22