"According to the BLS, the cost of health insurance is down 32% since 2022."
Always an adventure calling the IRS
Me: "Hi, I'm calling about penalty relief for my client. He's disabled and --"
Agent: "What's the account number?"
Me: "He lost his job. Couldn't afford to file. He has severe anxiety and --"
Agent: "I see. The penalty is $847. Next?"
Me: "His anxiety is documented. He's been struggling for years. He literally couldn't handle opening the mail from you guys."
Agent: "Understood. The penalty stands."
Me: "So there's nothing we can do? No hardship exception? No compassion?"
Agent: "Not without something to base it on, sir."
Me: *long pause*
Me: "I mean - unless I..."
Agent: "You could...."
Me: "Could what?"
Agent: "Well. You'd have to say it."
Me: "Say..."
Agent: "I can't say them for you."
Me: "First time penalty abatement."
Agent: "Excellent. Your client is eligible. I'm releasing the penalty now. We're all set."
Me: "Wait. That's it? Just like that?"
Agent: "Yes sir. The penalty is gone."
Me: "It's automatic?"
Agent: "Exactly."
Me: "So why all the drama? Why couldn't you just tell me?"
Agent: "Because most people don't understand how serious a decision it is to say THE words."
Me: "It's that serious? Why?"
Agent: "First time penalty abatement. You can only invoke it once per client. Ever."
Me: "...once?"
Agent: "That's right. Once... And then it resets again in three years."
Me: "Wait, it resets? So we can do this again in a few years?"
Agent: "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"A downstream effect of college being so unaffordable is that private equity has bought up youth sports and turned it into a college scholarship hunger games that is ruining communities and putting parents in debt"
