I'll try to make this as short as possible...
We own a small contracting business and get a letter about 2 years ago from the IRS... "You owe $1,600 from 2002." Huh? I make a phone call to my accountant and send him the letter, he's one sharp dude, use to be an IRS agent.
A month goes by and another letter from the IRS, "Intent to levy from our account... $820." Now what do I do?... after all, the amount is half of what the first notice said. I call my accountant and he says, "John, I've called, I've written letters. I can't make heads or tales of what they're talking about. So many new laws, always talk to someone different, do you want to call them?" Um, ok.
So I make the call knowing I sure don't want to p*ss off the IRS, I remind myself to be thoughtful, kind and respectful. Ring, ring... and I ask 'Why do I owe this money?' Her response, "It's what my computer says, $820." We talk for a few minutes with my main focus being 'Why? I paid my taxes back then, why do I still owe this?' Her only words, "It's what my computer says." Ok, please tell me the amount one more time, I'll send a check today. "It's too late, we're pulling it from your account tomorrow." Umm (patience, patience) ok, please give me that amount one more time so I can deduct it from the checking account. "$860"... what, the amount was $820 ten minutes ago, why did it just go up $40?
"It's what my computer says."