HELP
[personal]
posted by catherine / June 17, 2005 / 
is anybody out there who reads this blog an accountant? or a sorta-accountant?
because i could use your help.
it has to do with the D.C. government telling me i owe them $1500. and me drinking a lot of vodka in response. i don't need help with the vodka part, though.
i turned to my mother, but this was her thought: "the D.C. government is a BUNCH OF IDIOTS. you CANNOT FATHOM THEM. you NEVER SHOULD HAVE MOVED TO THAT CITY! your credity history WILL BE RUUUUUINNNNNED OH MY SWEET CHILD."
so, yeah. i could use a bit of advice.
Comments
Um, you *did* remember to adjust your tax withholdings at work when you moved to DC, right? Is that the problem?
*i* remembered. my work, i am not so sure. but yes, i'm pretty sure something got screwed up along those lines. i'll bring hell to work on monday.
You lived in Virginia for some part of 2004, right? Do you recall noting that on the appropriate state form in your taxes? When I first moved here I remember that DC told me I owed them $500, which was preposterous since I had lived here for less than six months (and was only nominally employed for the time). Then I fixed my 10whatever form to reflect my time in Texas and suddently DC owed me $500, at which point I decided to stay on the hand.
yeah, but i'm pretty sure i noted all that. i lived in va for 8 months, dc for 4. my work knew that too. so blah, i hate them all. even better is that the letter got redirected somehow to my landlord and then he mailed it back to me after a while, so i have less than 10 days to deal with this before i get additional penalties, etc. anyway, i know i'm right on this one - i'm just terrified by the rumors of dc govt employees and that it will be impossible to fix. but i'll call monday and see what i can do.
Even if it turns out that your company screwed up your withholding and you do owe the money, don't just write DC a check. Call them up, act really friendly/clueless, and try to negotiate. I consult for the tax department of a state that shall remain nameless and the auditors there cut deals with taxpayers all of the time. Charm them into a situation where they feel good both for collecting some money for DC and for helping poor little you out.
Not knowing your whole circumstance, keep these in mind:
1. You are responsible for filling out a new W-4 and giving it to your work. If you didn't fill out another W-4, chances are nothing got witheld. I would be willing to be that when you told your work that you moved, they did not set up the witholding.
2. DC's tax rate is a lot higher than VA's, so the same portion of your check was being witheld after you moved to DC, you will owe.
I had this exact thing happen to me, and the money witheld incorrectly for VA (that I got back) did not even remotely cover what I owed DC for like 3 months of residency.
At any rate, you should hopefully have your W-2s to see what was witheld and be able to calculate what you owe and what you've paid.
it's been fixed! i think! i called at 8:30 this morning, was on hold for like 45 minutes, talked to somebody for like 5 minutes, told them what was on my w-2s, was on hold for another 5 minutes, then she came back on the phone and was like, "so DO YOU WANT A REFUND OR WHAT?!" and i was like, well, that's not what i'm calling about...and she was all like, "JUST TELL ME IF YOU REQUESTED A $160 REFUND" and i'm like, "...?" and she's like "THE OTHER PROBLEM IS FIXED. DO YOU WANNA REFUND OR NOT?" and i'm like sure! ack! just stop freaking me out! so i think it's all good.
Post A Comment