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But if someone stuffs money in an envelope and slips it under your door, the taxman could very well argue that it is yours and want their cut.

by naavis 4y ago

rocket_surgeron 4y ago
It has been my experience that the IRS is extremely accommodating and will work with anyone who is honest and direct about their issues. The conversation would probably go like this: Dude: "Hey taxman Google sent me money but it's not mine" IRS: "Ok don't spend it or it becomes income, if it turns out it was yours file an amended return. Contact us and reference this conversation and any penalties will be waived." The IRS is not extremely accommodating and will not work with someone who is dishonest or evasive about their issues.
- RHSeeger 4y ago
  That all being said, you can run into the same issue you can run into with _any_ official; if you happen to encounter one of the bad eggs, your entire life can be turned upside down. You get the person as the IRS that decides you were supposed to pay taxes on it and now you owe penalties, and then you can't get anyone to overturn that. Then Google comes and wants its money back, but the IRS has already said you owe taxes and penalties, and bad egg has decided you contradicted him once, you you can go suck an egg. Yes, in most cases, government agencies will work with you and behave rationally. But one time in <some large number>, things go a different direction. And the people with the power can turn your life into a nightmare without batting an eyelash. I would get a lawyer, someone that knows how to best protect you from the system.
  - WastingMyTime89 4y ago
    The IRS doesn’t arbitrarily tax random things. That’s just not how it works. Also you can obviously sue the IRS and get wrongful penalties overturned.
- datavirtue 4y ago
  Interesting. I couldnt get anyone to talk with me at the IRS. I eventually resolved my issues through my senator (his office contacted the IRS and worked out all the details for me).
WastingMyTime89 4y ago
If you come home and find an envelope of money slipped under your door which shouldn’t have been given to you and bring it to the police, you will never be taxed on it. Anyway the correct analogy here would be incorrectly receiving from someone you know payment in cash which should have been given to someone else. You realise the mistake when you are back home so you bring it back later. You obviously didn’t owe taxes while you were merely storing the money which wasn’t yours in the first place.

But if someone stuffs money in an envelope and slips it under your door, the taxman could very well argue that it is yours and want their cut.

by naavis 4y ago

But if someone stuffs money in an envelope and slips it under your door, the taxman could very well argue that it is yours and want their cut.

rocket_surgeron 4y ago

It has been my experience that the IRS is extremely accommodating and will work with anyone who is honest and direct about their issues. The conversation would probably go like this: Dude: "Hey taxman Google sent me money but it's not mine" IRS: "Ok don't spend it or it becomes income, if it turns out it was yours file an amended return. Contact us and reference this conversation and any penalties will be waived." The IRS is not extremely accommodating and will not work with someone who is dishonest or evasive about their issues.

RHSeeger 4y ago
That all being said, you can run into the same issue you can run into with _any_ official; if you happen to encounter one of the bad eggs, your entire life can be turned upside down. You get the person as the IRS that decides you were supposed to pay taxes on it and now you owe penalties, and then you can't get anyone to overturn that. Then Google comes and wants its money back, but the IRS has already said you owe taxes and penalties, and bad egg has decided you contradicted him once, you you can go suck an egg. Yes, in most cases, government agencies will work with you and behave rationally. But one time in <some large number>, things go a different direction. And the people with the power can turn your life into a nightmare without batting an eyelash. I would get a lawyer, someone that knows how to best protect you from the system.
- WastingMyTime89 4y ago
  The IRS doesn’t arbitrarily tax random things. That’s just not how it works. Also you can obviously sue the IRS and get wrongful penalties overturned.
datavirtue 4y ago
Interesting. I couldnt get anyone to talk with me at the IRS. I eventually resolved my issues through my senator (his office contacted the IRS and worked out all the details for me).

WastingMyTime89 4y ago

If you come home and find an envelope of money slipped under your door which shouldn’t have been given to you and bring it to the police, you will never be taxed on it. Anyway the correct analogy here would be incorrectly receiving from someone you know payment in cash which should have been given to someone else. You realise the mistake when you are back home so you bring it back later. You obviously didn’t owe taxes while you were merely storing the money which wasn’t yours in the first place.