I don;'t know whether to cry or scream or cry

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I just had a conversation with our accountant at work. Apparently, my ex-husband owes around $7,000 to the IRS for several years of back income taxes (which I thought he had paid), and isn't responding to anything they're sending him. Since those years were filed jointly (fuck fuck FUCK how could I have been so stupid?), he's not working, and I am, they're garnishing my paycheck. Yep, 25% of every check comes out and goes to them. I'm barely making it as it is right now (he doesn't pay child support) and honestly, I don't know what the FUCK I'm going to do. I can't afford this, I can't get a second job right now and I want to fucking cry. Or scream. Or scream and cry.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

wow, that sucks big time. You have my sympathies, Luna. Unfortunately, I have no useful advice.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

shit, luna, I'm sorry. I don't know if there's anything I can do to help, but if there is, let me know. That totally sucks. Any idea why your ex is doing this? Or if there's any way you can get out of this since you're no longer married? Can't your co-workers help you with this?

― hstencil, Monday, 5 May 2003 17:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Woah, fuckin A! This is just not right, not at all. Where is this guy? < /honestly not gonna track him down and put his testes in a vice grip, honest>

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

we should start a thread where we all establish alibis for when Luna's ex gets his shit fucked up.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

anybody know any hitmen?

― buttch (Oops), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Jesus, Luna, that's horrible. Have you contacted a tax attorney? (not just an accountant.) Maybe there's some hardship clause thing they can do to not bury you. That's unreasonable.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Luna, I'm really sorry, I would think there has to be a way for the IRS to make your husband responsible for at least 1/2 of the amount.

― Carey (Carey), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

That's awful. I second what That Girl said about contacting an attorney. You should have some protection there.

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

However, I have no money to pay an attorney.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Couldn't you get someone to work pro-bono or at least waive the fee until after it's settled? I'd think your co-workers might be able to help...

― hstencil, Monday, 5 May 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Are you sure there's nothing in your divorce agreement that could be used to get this money back? Maybe a lawyer would be worth it.

Is there any possibility of having some sort of a hearing (?) with the IRS?

Try writing to your Congressional representative. They might possibly get involved. (It's a long shot, but it doesn't cost much in terms of time or money.)

As a last resort, you could try magickal ritual, but you'd be taking a risk that if there really is something to it, then there really might be some price to pay for it. (I am not putting this in to be funny, just sort of going down the list, to the most extreme options, the way I would do it in my own mind if it were me.)

― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 5 May 2003 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Luna, still call an attorney. A consultation is next-to-nothing (if not completely free) and they will at least be able to advise you of some options. Many attornies can negoiate settlements that will greatly reduce what you owe. Don't just take the IRS's plan without investigating on your own.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely his not-paying-child-support should give you some sort of rights-of-recovery or something against him, no? < /IDKWTFITA>

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

but he has nothing to be recovered

― luna's representative (Oops), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Fuckity fuck fuck. :-( The Smite Squad really should become a reality now. I have nothing to offer but as many good thoughts as I can -- Rockist and That Girl seem to have the best advice possible right now.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:03 (twenty-two years ago)

We don't do tax law at work, it's strictly union-side labor law. I have called a friend of one of the attorneys here, though, so we'll see. I'm going to have to file bankruptcy any way I look at it, but I don't think that gets me out of any tax problems.

Fuck, I just wanted to be RID of him.

Thanks, y'all, for your support. It means so much to me.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I just wish there was something I could do to help, hope it works out for you.

― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

: ((

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess they're not going to do much to chase after him for $7,000. How long will it take you to pay this amount to the IRS? Are there any additional penalties involved?

― amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Well if they go just by garnishing my checks, it'll be about a year and a half. I don't know about additional penalties yet, but it's the IRS, probably.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:17 (twenty-two years ago)

You MUST talk to a lawyer: they won't charge you to tell you whether there's anything they can do for you. Do this, it'll have therepeutic benefits besides helping you figure out how to deal with this deeply fucked situation.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Good luck, luna -- all the good advice has already been given, I think, but there are bound to be options to at least appeal, buy some time, or something. Fingers crossed for you.

― Tep (ktepi), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe I really should move to that mountain in Nepal.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Make a note of that, boys

― IRS (Oops), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Luna, I'm really sorry.You probably know I've gone through similar post-relationship problems, and the advice is good - talk to a lawyer, find out if there is something you can do. And good luck. I really wish I could find a way to help.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh,and I don't know about child support laws in yr neck of the woods but down here, non-paying asshats can be jailed for not providing support. (job or not).

― That Girl (thatgirl), Monday, 5 May 2003 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

You have my sympathy, luna. "Asshat" is too good a term. I second the advice of everyone here about the legal stuff, you can't fix it unless you know how.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 5 May 2003 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Will he still owe the IRS money if he's found dead? Maybe there's a clause where they waive back taxes in case of sudden, possibly very violent, death. Have you ever considered what a common claw hammer can do to the human head?

< /psycho >

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 5 May 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Best wishes Luna, that's dreadful news.

― Matt (Matt), Monday, 5 May 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Kenan, I was thinking more angle grinder.

― Matt (Matt), Monday, 5 May 2003 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not a garnishment, I've found out, it's a motherfucking levy. That means they don't want some of my paycheck, they want it ALL.

I think I'm going to go throw up.

(And then call them. Goddamn the IRS).

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

That is terrible, I'm so sorry Luna.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Are you kidding me? The IRS can do that? Take ALL your money? Because then you would be homeless, and you would starve, and you would almost certainly lose your job as you would be unpresentable in your cold, damp, dead state. Then, no more money. No more money ever. Can't they see the business angle of this?

Seriously, call a lawyer right this second.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

My advice to you all: never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, NEVER EVER marry anyone with money problems. Just don't do it.

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Man I guess Horace is just SOL today.

Who Wants to Marry A Totally Broke Dude?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:15 (twenty-two years ago)

luna, that's really outrageous. Where do you live, if you don't mind saying? I still think the idea of complaining very loudly to an elected representative might possibly help.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:15 (twenty-two years ago)

In Los Angeles

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:15 (twenty-two years ago)

levy the whole paycheck? This doesn't make any sense. Talk to a lawyer asap, sweetie.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

You could try the LAFLA hotline at (800) 399-4529, if you haven't already.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Hurrah for Rockist! Call immediately, Luna.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm so sorry luna, my fellow assistant. *hugs*

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I just snooped around their site and they have nothing on tax law, but they will more than likely know an organization who can help. Please call.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I called them, and through an embarrassing series of questions about the state of my finances (which I hadn't realized were QUITE so bad), the IRS called the dogs off, I have to send them $1000 in a month and then prove that the rest of the debt isn't mine.

Ultimately, I think it will be ok. Thank you all SO MUCH for your support (and e-cards too - ty Sarah, you roXor) - it means the world to me.

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Hurrah hurrah hurrah! :-) :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Now then, the Smite Squad is still on call nonetheless against the bum who caused you all this horrid nonsense...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:58 (twenty-two years ago)

My advice to you all: never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, NEVER EVER marry anyone with money problems. Just don't do it.

This is very good advice. There's nothing wrong with living in sin. (My mother lost her half of the sale of the house after the divorce because of my father's debts; my girlfriend insists we wait for my old bad credit to clear up before we get married, which makes sense since her credit is sparkling enough that her total credit limit vastly exceeds her annual income, while mine is as beat-up as a dead lizard on the evening of Beat Up A Dead Lizard Day.)

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

And Luna, congratulations on getting a little bit of cooperation from the goon squad :)

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

What a fucking asshole. I hope everything works out for you Luna. I'll be happy to make you another cd if that would cheer you up.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

That's good news, Luna. $1000 is bad, but it sounded as if things were to be far worse.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

And to the IRS, I say the following:
http://www.co-junk.net/martin/domo-kun.gif

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Yay Luna! I'm glad a more agreeable solution was found. I had faith something would work out for you.

Tep's description of his credit:
while mine is as beat-up as a dead lizard on the evening of Beat Up A Dead Lizard

Describes my own to a T. :(

― That Girl (thatgirl), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

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