I have not filed my federal income taxes (U.S.) in several years.

I need a lawyer to help me sort it out.

I know that I am in a Bad™ situation, but focusing on the negativity/judgment side of it ("that's bad"/"you're illegal") is not fixing the situation. I am trying like hell to stay constructive and resolve it properly, and as fast as possible.

I am physically sick over it. I am alternately trying not to vomit, panic, completely zombie/detach, roll in a ball and hide on the floor ... I keep putting on my blinders and think, "just type in this bank statement... just open this envelope..." etc. It's the only way I can keep calm enough to make any progress.

I tried contacting JK Harris today and after getting a very nice sales spiel from the guy who answers the phones, I was then repeatedly told by their (?) agent/lawyer (?) I'm "not in compliance," and "there's no person on the entire planet who can help you now."

OK. #1, thank you, Sherlock.

And #2, yes, I can be helped, U.S. law does afford me (and every citizen) some rights and recourse. I just don't know how to exercise them!




I'm sure that the fellow has no idea how talking over customers' heads by using terms that regular laypeople don't use in the 3D world, is not customer-friendly. I am sure that he has *no concept* of how pointing out the obvious, "that's not good" and "there's no person on the entire planet who can help you now" is *crushing* to a person who already feels undeserving of help; who already feels broken and worthless and stupid, because they can't do what other normal people can do.

Most likely he used to be an IRS Agent himself, which completely explains why he has the personality of a tree stump, and the empathy of road grit. I wasn't looking to be told how great I am ... I just wanted to be treated respectfully, and get some constructive HELP. You know, "Step 1, Step 2, Step 3." I got nothin'.


So.

First, DO NOT waste your time with JK Harris. They do NOT have the ability to assist someone with PTSD, in my experience.


But #2, does anyone here have ANY suggestion for a lawyer who won't make me feel about the size and intelligence of a gnat?????


I know we don't deserve to be treated like second-class citizens, and I told Lance at JK Harris that, in no uncertain terms. But the fact is I think I have to file something by Wednesday, and I don't know what, and I don't know how! I have been Googling this for WEEKS and it's not a layperson/Google kind of thing. :(


Thank you so very, very much ...

Bailey

Get the phone number for the nearest IRS office. Look in the white pages under federal government. Call them and ask for help directly. Ask if you can come into their office to talk and get assistance. Ask if you do walk in, will they arrest you?

Call local tax attorneys in the yellowpages under attorney or taxes. Call bookkeepers or businesses that do people's taxes in April. The bookkeepers should be able to offer advice that will be different from that of an atty who wants your business and may not be able to help you one bit. I have found that there does not exist an honest attorney. i hate them all.

Can you call the local library and ask the reference librarian where there is information for people like you.

I used to know the name of a group of people who never pay taxes, and they boast about it, but I never figured out how they got away with it. A member of this group was the brother and family of a guy I dated years ago. The group quoted laws, and believed that state and fed taxes were voluntary.

I do think that there are laws to protect you, you will have to pay it all back with interest and penalties, over time, or do jail time. It depends on your reasons for not paying. Libraries with govt sections will have all the relevant documents in print, not just thoughts and beliefs.

I will look for the name of that group.
Keep breathing.
You are not a mass murderer. You have not commited a violent crime against humanity, you are not a war criminal. You simply made a choice where your hard earned money goes. You will survive this.

I just found something you might want to read.

About dot com has an area on tax planning : US
by William Perez.
He has information about filing an extension (I would do that by Wednesday)
and he has a forum, and you can write him a personal email too.
I also found pay no income tax dot com
that quotes a law.
" First familiarize yourself with code §7608. It alone proves that the IRS has no authority to enforce the payment of income taxes."
pay no taxes dot org


Iwill keep looking.

Oh, we are wayyyyy past the extension stage but thank you so much for being so helpful and for all of your ideas!!!

I live in a very small town out in the middle of nowhere, so this is way beyond CPAs and local lawyers. The closest IRS office is 90+ miles away and I can't physically get there anyway. Picking up the phone and calling the IRS is .......... *blink* ......... gack, I stop breathing when I think of it. Ain't no way. That's why I need to hire a lawyer, they can do the things I'm not able to, like leave the house and talk on the phone and deal with these people.

I'm going to take another whack at it tomorrow. All I can do is try.

The kind of firm or professional I need, I will have to find online, because we have no such sort of person/company where I live. I will keep searching tonight and come up with a list, and send out some more inquiries.

At least now I know what jerks they can be and I will hopefully be a little more ready for it. I will try to be more assertive and be the one to set the tone of the exchange. Clearly these firms' approach is unacceptable so I have to define the boundaries or they will steamroll right over me. Sort of a funny way to treat the person who's going to be paying you money, but, whatever.

It has been a long time since someone made me feel that bad. Damn, people can suck. I like my cave and isolation much better!!!!

Thank you sooooo much 2quilt!!! Do you know what helped me the most? Just you caring. Just knowing you had read and you cared. Thank you for that. :)

Bailey

I have no helpful advice, but I'm rooting for ya! Hope you get it figured out.

bec

This may not seem applicable to your situation; however, you might try looking online for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. I'm not trying to make any evaluations or judgements about your particular situation; however, the people at NAMI might at least be sympathetic to your distress and emotional reactions. From my connection with my local chapter, I believe that NAMI also has experience in serving as a mediator or advocate in situations where someone may have a legal difficulty in which certain extenuating factors were involved. You might be able to e-mail someone at NAMI, and perhaps they could point you in the right direction. I wish you the best as you are working on this situation. Please take care, and let us know how things are going if you can!

Sincerely,
Ace

Hang in there bailey! Try not lose hope. There must be someone out there that can help you. I just wanted you to know that I hear you and you are in my thoughts.

Best wishes, Morgan