Anyone remember the French Revolution? (Well, no - actually, no one now living can honestly claim to "remember" the Revolution, but I'd guess quite a few of us have read about it!... sort of like "rain" in Albuquerque.)
One of many precipating conditions was taxation... and in particular, the practice of farming out tax collection. "Tax farming" was extremely lucrative - the "farmer" got to keep some percentage of whatever he collected.
It's been quite a while since tax collection has been farmed out to non-governmental agents. Under W's philosophy of government ("that government is best which governs least" + "private enterprise is divine"), the tax farmers are back. I see their commercials on TV every night. I've two somewhat contradictory responses to these commercials:
1. Why are private businesses doing the IRS's job?
2. How do folks end up owing "more than $10,000" the IRS? (Folks who owe the IRS "more than $10,000" are the target audience for these commercials.)... and a third reaction: why do I feel like a sap for paying what I owe?
Second observation on W's economy, also based on TV commercial: "The Gold Kit". Yes, you too can now liquidate family heirlooms for a few bucks... which, sad to say, you probably desperately need! "I took a vaction on the money I got from The Gold Kit!" Wow! Your wedding ring, your grandmother's locket, your dad's watch fob - no problem! Send 'em in! We'll give you $$$ today!.
I suspect a pawn broker would give a better rate... and you'd have the chance to redeem the articles.
Liquidating portable, tangible assets to take a vacation seems the perfect metaphor for W's economy. Squander the future for today's fling!
Stop the madness.
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**It's been quite a while since tax collection has been farmed out to non-governmental agents.**
ReplyDeleteNot true. It has been repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried out during the last several administrations. Just because you don't know that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
**1. Why are private businesses doing the IRS's job?**
They aren't. The failed "farming" plans have included assigning otherwise "uncollectible" delinquent accounts to private firms for subsequent contacts to again ask for the money but with no right to enforce collection. The results have been predictably pathetic.
**2. How do folks end up owing "more than $10,000" the IRS?**
Ignorance, misfortune, bad choices, caught cheating, the whole gamut. Pretty much the same as any other kind of debt.
**Folks who owe the IRS "more than $10,000" are the target audience for these commercials.**
No, they're not. They are the "target audience" for predators who want to sell them what they can get for free -- offers in compromise of their tax liabilities. -- Those predators, FWIW, are not the same predators as the ones who think they're going to get rich trying to collect tax accounts that have already been written off. Go figure.
**and a third reaction: why do I feel like a sap for paying what I owe?**
Perhaps because you think you're more important than you are. American tax arrears collection may not be your strong suit. You could study and learn if you wanted (it's not that hard) but you can't intuit it, which is all your uninformed rant amounts to.
There are a ton of things to criticize in IRS arrears collection. How did you manage to a) not notice any of them, and b) not get ANY of your "facts" right?
Achiko