Post 00 - About this blog

Howdy, and welcome to my new blog about my decades working for the Internal Revenue Service!

<Ducking behind my desk until the tomato throwing dies down>

I've wanted to write this as a book for years, but I have other book/blogs in mind and this one, while one of my favorite topics, keeps falling below the others when it's time to write. Well no more!

I've wanted to write this for two reasons: one, I love the topic and love telling my stories, and two, unless you've worked for the IRS you are probably loaded up with ideas about the IRS that just aren't true. I think understanding what it's really like to work there is my best effort to reduce the hostility toward the service and its many thousands of employees.

Now, I'm not saying you'll come away from this saying "Wow! I had it all wrong! I'm going to get an I Heart IRS t-shirt! I can't wait to pay my taxes this year!"

I'm here to tell stories and improve understanding, not produce miracles. 

"Abracadabra! Now you love the most maligned agency in the federal government! And for my next trick...!"

So who am I again?

To start with, I want you to know a few things about me.

* I worked for the IRS from 1988 until 2019, when I moved to the Department of Homeland Security to finish out my career, retiring in 2023.

* I loved working for the IRS for most of my time, although it just became too much to bear anymore. In short, it was great until it wasn't.

* I'm proud of my service to the American people and to the United States of America. I served with honesty, honor, and integrity, as do most everyone who works in the Public Service.

* I can't help you with your tax questions. Partly because I'm not part of the service anymore, but mostly because I never could even when I worked there. If you think anyone who works at the IRS is automatically some kind of tax expert, that's a big misunderstanding I hope to clear up.

* I don't hold any illusions that the IRS - or any government agency at any level - is spotless and beyond reproach. I don't know of a federal agency that hasn't screwed everything up over their lifespan. It would be silly to believe the IRS is beyond reproach. But I don't think all of the venom sprayed at it is warranted.

* I've had two stroke episodes, both after leaving the IRS. I want to get these stories down while I still have the ability and opportunity.

* This stuff includes my opinions. They're strictly my opinions, and do not form any policy or specific views binding on the IRS. What is it they say? "The views expressed herein are my own and not the views of the Internal Revenue Service, the United Stated Government, or any employees or policymakers involved with them." Something like that. So don't run tell everyone that "IRS thinks _______! I read it on a blog on the Internet!" Settle down.

* I like to use humor. Some folks may be offended, as if I'm making light of their own experiences or views. I like to see humor in stuff, and I have no interest in diluting your experiences or pain in any way. It's just me being me. 

Ground Rules and Understandings.

Here are some things I want to set straight right from the beginning:

* These stories are according to the best of my memory. My memory is pretty spotty sometimes, and I'm sure a few of my favorites have taken on a sort of mythical quality, and others who were there at the time might remember things way differently than I do. But that's people, you know? I don't think my version is the only right one. So as much as I want to get it all correct, I'm just a kid from Missouri. In the end I can just do my best.

* I'm very sorry for your horror stories titled "Here's my experience with the IRS." I would never suggest that what you say happened actually didn't happen. I worked during the great transition from the Communist IRS to the Kinder Friendlier IRS between 1997-1999. I watched the Congressional Testimony of mistreatment and abuse, as people hid their identity out of fear of reprisals and retribution. I didn't blame them a bit. The agency has behaved terribly at times. I have too. Again, I'm really sorry for all of that.

* But I'm not going to fight. I imagine people will share their Nightmare on Tax Street accounts with me, and that's cool. Sometimes people never get to tell their stories. If they get a chance to here, I'm fine with that. But I'm terrible at debate. I have no interest in arguing with anyone. If anyone wants to just dish hate, please go elsewhere to do it. I have no responsibility to let that stuff stay on my comments section.

* I want people to be respectful in their views and comments, but I don't expect it. Some folks have stored years of pent-up anger and frustration with the government in general and the IRS in particular. It's going to vent one way or another, as a little steam release or a Supervolcano. But try to dial it down a little, please. And if you're someone who just wants to make everyone the victim of your caustic wit and venomous hatred, please don't bother here. There's such a thing as Reddit.

* I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN ANY CAPACTITY! I can't do that, and I won't do that, so don't read my memories and say "Well, the IRS said...." My memories are not tax advice, and while my stories may reflect some policy or other it's in no way binding on the agency. There are a billion sources of tax advice out there, and some of it is even reliable. Go search for them. 

*I'm not naming names. I'll create fake identities when I need to. Although I might occasionally tell someone's name if they really deserve praise and high-fives from everyone. There were many who deserved all the accolades in the world. We'll see.

Finally, the challenge of organizing this tub of live bait.

When I decide to turn this into a book, it'll be way more organized. For now, I'm going to try and organize stories and things by what they broadly relate to. I'll have Money stories, Federal Employee stories, Rules stories, and so on. I'll try to tie them to general topics, but I've tried writing this all out in a pre-configured format before, and it simply doesn't work for me right now. I'm just going to plop this stuff onto the page and figure out categories later.

This thing ain't gonna be perfect, 'cause I ain't perfect. I'm just David Jones. Nice to meet you.

And so... On with the show!