Hope you enjoy this! Mr. Charles A. Murphy Tax Specialist Dept. of Finance City-County Building Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Dear Mr. Murphy: My social security number is XXX-XX-XXXX and my city account number is XXXXXX. Thank you for your recent letter of July 24. As you may recall, my city taxes were audited by Mr. XXXXXXX from your office on April 20. During that audit, the auditor determined that my taxes were in order and that I had no unpaid taxes. I enclose photocopies of the auditor's report, and of correspondence from your office of May 19 stating that I had fully paid my taxes as of the date of the audit. Since then, I have received two more pieces of correspondence from your office demanding that I pay the $0.00 I owe the City of Pittsburgh. The letters have warned me that interest on this amount will continue to accrue until I pay the $0.00. I especially appreciate your letter of July 24, which you sent via registered mail, return receipt requested. That letter (a photocopy of which I have enclosed) warns me that unless I pay the ``full amount of $0.00 (taxes) and $0.00 (interest),'' that I may be subject to legal sanctions under section 209.04 of the Pittsburgh Code. I'm sure all will agree that the $3.29 you spent on the postage for this letter was a wise use of the taxpayer's money. Since I do not wish to accrue further non-existent interest on this non-existent debt, I am enclosing a check for $0.00. I wish the City of Pittsburgh all the best. Sincerely yours, J. D. Tygar Cc: Mayor's Office Enclosures: Auditor's report Correspondence from your office, May 19 Correspondence from your office, July 24 Check for $0.00

ROTFL, it sounds just about right for a government agency.  Someday they will know what they are actually doing. Thanks for sharing it with us.

God Bless
Gaby

While this kind of letter will make you laugh,

it is a frightful example of how far bureaucracy has come.

Hans

I think he was really nice about it!
I once argued with the IRS because they had decided that the tax on $8,000 was $12,000. They knew I had only made $8000 & even sent me verification on that amount but, insisted that the federal income tax on that amount was still $12,000. In the end I got a hold of someone that could use a calculator. They then decided I was owed a refund because I was low income. All together it took over a year to settle.
I am so glad that I did not deal with the only idiot! LOL!
Sheryl Loch ~ allmylovecrafts

Hi Mahlon,

Yes, I agree this is a very funny story. But I think I have a better one.

One of the first companies I owned was a clothing factory that I bought after the owner passed away. I bought the premises and all the machinery from his wife.

His wife remained on board and ran the sewing room. One day a letter arrived in my post box from Income Tax  addressed in the following manner.

"Mr. John Doe DECEASED".

No mention of survivors at all, just a letter to a deceased individual. Well I guess Income Tax will try to milk you into the grave and thereafter. :)

Happy New Year & Shalom,

Peter
CMU7 Co-Founder