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Got a surprise tax bill of 15k € (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Apparently it's perfectly possible to owe the IRS tens of thousands, and then just make up debt and point to a random person telling the IRS to go after them... ...and they will simply draft up a letter, demanding you to pay this outstanding, ficticious debt within two weeks.

What. The. Fuck.

I know the person who claims that I owe them 15k. It's my weed dealer. I also know he has legal and financial issues, so I assume he somehow told his creditors that I owed him a lot of money, and there is no law requiring verification.

So... Either I pay 15k € I don't actually owe, or I get a lawyer to dispute it, which will also be several thousands, none of which I am responsible for.

I'm not currently in debt but I also don't have any savings.

I dunno man, it seems like in this world it's just not possible to go a single year without being accused/hounded/... no one gives a fuck and everyone just wants "theirs". Which would be fine if people would leave me alone and not try to get their grubby mitts on what little I do have.

Fuck.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'm in w-europe so I just meant our local tax agency. And to be clear, I don't owe this guy a dime, always bought from him cash in hand. Him being my weed dealer is the only connection we have, and since weed is illegal here he couldn't exactly claim any of that to begin with.

No, he apparently owes the tax office a large sum and when questioned on how he'd pay, somehow made up that I owe him 15k (letter doesn't even specify what for, services? Goods? If so, what?).

I'm not afraid I'll have to pay it, I'm just afraid it'll take me weeks, months and thousands in costs just to get the record straight.

I'll also have to find a new dealer, which is a lot harder than it seems. I don't have a very extensive social circle.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

This is such a weird circumstance, like even if the debt was real shouldn't that legally be up to him to pursue? Why would the tax agency just go perform free debt collection services for people and let them off the hook for what they owe?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Honestly, kinda sounds like a scam. Call your local tax office and verify the letter is genuine.

Don't use the number on the letter, get the office number from their website.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

It's unfortunately real. I was able to verify it, but I can't contact anyone to fully verify and explain to me on what BASIS I'm deemed to owe this sum until Monday. Very much looking forward to that phonecall...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Do you mean the US IRS? They don't go after euros. If it is US IRS and you owe them, they use private collection agencies, and go after assets, not other debts. You sure this isn't an Indian scammer? And lol you owed a weed dealer thousands? Surprised it isn't a guy with a knife or gun collecting.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

UPDATE: called the tax office, they verified the letter was real. However... This is apparently SOP in case someone is delinquent on their taxes. The tax authority will simply "claim" these funds from EVERYONE who had any known dealings with this person.

Technically, the 15K is now 'frozen' and will remain so until I receive a new summons lifting the freeze order. However, in practice, I don't have 15k worth of liquid assets, so the point is moot.

I now have to formally protest this garnishment in order to, so to speak, claim my innocence.

But their confirmation that this is regular SOP is quite chilling. They really DGAF as long as someone eventually ponies up.

Goddammit. I guess this is why the saying "death & taxes" exists.