The taxman cometh
I’d like to interrupt the series on the book of James to bring a word concerning our friends at the IRS. As you know, tax day is approaching, and you will once again be reminded of the fact that a hefty chunk of your income, representing the work of your hands, is taken from your account every year so that our government and its programs can continue unimpeded. For a look at some of the “greatest” projects, here’s a link to Oklahoma Senator Tom Colburn’s “Wastebook 2011″ (link opens PDF file).
Jesus paid taxes. Even though He knew that He and His disciples were being illegally taxed, He told Peter, “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me” (Matthew 17:27). Jesus came to the earth to save us from our sins, not from taxes. He understood His mission and refused to be distracted by lesser battles. However, throughout history He has appointed and anointed individuals to address the excesses and lawlessness of their governments. Men and women confronting such issues in our time need our prayer coverage.
Fun with the IRS
In 2006, I received a notification that my 2003 tax return was under full audit. Along with the menacing letter was a dire warning to send either my check for an exorbitant amount immediately, or to send all of my tax documentation to the IRS for their inspection. They enclosed a business envelope in which to enclose my mountainous pile of documents. Yeah, right. I panicked. And then I prayed.
A friend from church worked at the IRS. I trusted her and gave her a call. I could tell by her normally upbeat voice that she was alarmed for me. “Get a face-to-face audit. That way you can walk in with your documents and keep your eyes on all of them. And when you sit down to go over everything, don’t offer any information. Just ask, ‘What would you like to see?’ and only show them that. Don’t offer anything they don’t ask for.”
After hours and hours on the phone with their recording (was it my imagination, or was I listening to a scratchy old Victrola?) and talking to this agent and that, I finally managed to secure a face-to-face. And it was scheduled to happen in four months. Miracle number one: Time. To organize; to pray.
It’s good to have a place where you put all the things you’ll need for your taxes, whether it’s a file, a box, or a drawer. It doesn’t matter if you do them yourself or you take them to someone else, you need to know where you’re putting your information.
My stuff wasn’t entirely organized, but it was in one place. Since I’m old-school and do my taxes myself, no one else was involved in the process. During my four-month preparation time, I got everything arranged and labeled. And I prayed.
The day came for my face-to-face. I sensed my agent was a Christian. Miracle number two. The meeting lasted for at least a couple of hours as she scrutinized every bit of paperwork I gave her. Every line on my tax return was examined. Every scrap of documentation rode in her hands to the official IRS copy machine. Even though I figured she was a Christian, I kept my eye on every piece of evidence.
After some probing questions, she handed me a document which she signed, declaring me cleared by the IRS. I didn’t have to pay a dime. Miracle number three.
I nearly danced out the door and across the parking lot, waving the letter in the air like a hanky. I was free from government scrutiny. Or so I thought.
A couple of weeks later, I received a letter from my state declaring that they had received notice of my audit and they wanted me to pay over $700 to them immediately. What?!
I whipped off a letter to the state, informing them that they would be thrilled to learn that I had been cleared by the IRS, agent #XYZ, from any further investigation and that my taxes were found to be accurate and complete, without any need for additional payments. I included a copy of my victory letter from the IRS.
I received a second letter from the state a few weeks later. Yes, they had received my letter, and I owed them over $700. I could feel the steam pouring out of my collar and ears.
But in the mail that day was also a newsletter from my state representative. On the back of his letter was a form for constituents to fill out if they had any questions. Well, I had one big question. How do I get the Department of Revenue off of my back? I wrote my saga on that form and asked him to explain why the state would demand money from me when the IRS had cleared me. This would prove to be the beginning of miracle number four.
After that, a series of interesting things happened. I received a letter from my rep, a Democrat (I’m a fairly die-hard conservative Republican), telling me that he called the Department of Revenue to plead my case. He said they wouldn’t give him any information due to privacy issues (more like extortion issues, I thought), but he was trying to help me. What a great Democrat! 🙂 And then the very next day when I got home from work, I had two phone messages from the state capital—one from my favorite Democrat, letting me know again that he was going to bat for me, and the other from the Department of Revenue, declaring that they found my state tax return to be complete and accurate; I owed nothing. Miracle number five.
No matter what the tight place may be in which you find yourself, God will make a way. I pray that you stand steady and strong, trusting God to come through for you in every aspect of your life—even when it comes to the IRS and the Department of Revenue!
Dorothy
When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7
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