Politics & Government

This Year, are More Taxpers Saying 'Goodbye' to Their Returns Before 'Hello'?

IRS gets aggressive in pursuing uncollected debt

Tomorrow is the deadline to file 2012 tax returns.

But already, some individuals are receiving notices of audits or letters advising them that their entire return has been applied to an outstanding debt owed to a federal agency.

Earlier in the year, irs.gov reported plans for reinvigorated efforts in 2012 to pursue back taxes and conduct more audits of returns.

Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

During a time when the country is suffering record number job losses and lower wages with more people on fixed incomes, IRS and State tax authorities are both increasing the scrutiny of tax filings and aggressively pursuing taxpayers for deficiencies and penalties.

Consider it a one-two punch: As taxpayers are less able to uphold their personal debt responsibilities, the government has revved up its collection efforts during the one and only time taxpayers normally could count on a little financial reprieve.

Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I didn’t get back anything this year,” said Jeannie Clarkson-Hill , 37, a lawyer, a single parent and Bed-Stuy resident.

Clarkson-Hill moved to Bed-Stuy from Los Angeles in August 2011, a few months after losing her job. She was receiving unemployment insurance, but under California’s law, was cut off after only three months. She says she made sure to file her taxes early this year because she desperately needed the money. But she received a notice almost two months later stating her entire return was applied to uncollected debt on a student loan.

“I was paying my loan as long as I was working, but it fell into default after so many months of unemployment,” she said. “At a time when I really needed that check more than ever, the government took all of it.”

Bed-Stuy, what’s your experience? Do you think the government has acted with more scrutiny and more aggressively in pursuing uncollected debt this year, and if so, do you think it’s fair?

Take our poll and give us your feedback in the comments.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here