What's worse about the IRS than most is any instructions given to you by them are not part of tax-law, so you can't rely on them. I had firsthand experience of

What's worse about the IRS than most is any instructions given to you by them are not part of tax-law, so you can't rely on them. I had firsthand experience of this when I called to try to resolve some issues from a prior year. I talked to the agent and then acted on their advice. I later received a letter in the mail stating that the advice that was given was possibly not legal and that I would be on the hook for any fees and penalties if I followed it. Luckily for me there was no consequences, but it made the whole process extra stressful.