The IRS says, “Too much paperwork”
Today I received the most ironic of notices. The IRS tells me we are filing too much paperwork! That’s right, I have received notice that instead of a quarterly Form 941 (Federal Unemployment Tax Return), we should be filing only an annual Form 944.
In true IRS form, there was a cover sheet which had nothing more than our address on it, two copies of the letter and an envelope. Why two copies of the letter? Why an envelope – nothing had to be sent back. I can only assume some Congressman’s nephew owns an envelope factory that has the contract to sell the IRS overpriced envelopes that will never be used.
Time wasted on this incident: 15 minutes (faxing copy of notice to our payroll service)
How many taxes?
It is amazing just how many taxes, forms, reports and regulations there are for running such a small business. Yet another notice has arrived from Nevada – an Annual State Business License Renewal. We cannot have the "Privilege" of earning a living without having first sending a check to the State.
Time wasted on this incident: 5 minutes
Money wasted on this incident: $100.42 (tax and postage)
Frantic call
I just got a somewhat frantic call from Julia at the Davidson County (TN) Metro Health department. The basic gist of the conversation was that the people over at Animal Control has screwed up the 2007 rabies book & tag situation so badly, that she has been recruited to take the job back. I advised that I attempted to deal with the book & tags in January but never got a call back from Animal control. Also, I told her that our check had never been cashed and that I would have to track down the books and tags. I did not adviser her of the fact that I am very busy preparing to open a new clinic – I will get to this problem when I can. Ineptitude on the part of government officials will NEVER compel me to drop what I am doing to repair their screw-ups!
Time wasted on this incident: 15 mintues