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Completely unrelated but interesting case: https://www.propublica.org/article/lord-of-the-roths-how-tech-mogul-peter-thiel-turned-a-retirement-account-for-the-middle-class-into-a-5-billion-dollar-tax-free-piggy-bank Summary: Guy who founds Paypal (before it went public) is given stock with an ultra low cost basis as part of his salary contract. The cost basis is deemed $1,700 so he puts the shares into his Roth IRA. The company goes public shortly after that and those shares are worth well over $100m. He does this multiple times with different companies and his Roth IRA is now worth $5 Billion which he'll never pay $1 in tax on if he holds off on withdrawing. Yes it's all strictly prohibited but the IRS never audited him. You would think a $1,700 Roth value going up 9 figures in one year might draw an audit flag. First, he was a principal in the company so that's a violation. Second, he contributed stock and not cash which is prohibited. Third he valued the shares at far below market value and the IPO disclosures of the firm outline they were below market value.

Telling clients to keep calling, or to be patient, depending on the urgency of their issue with the IRS. That I will work on it after 15 October. Very frustrated with the client calls/emails/texts during these last 3 or so months when I'm trying to prepare returns before 15 October. Very time-consuming at my busiest time of year! The IRS is broken. Why does the buck stop in my lap?!

Client had a significant refund which we applied to next year. Client gets a letter stating part of it was taken and paid to the state for an outstanding tax bill from 2019. I know there was no tax due. Spent WAY too much time trying to figure it all out. Client gets mad that I haven't done enough. State hangs up on my 3-4x and one lady informs me they didn't pay estimated taxes we claimed (the estimated tax is paid by her IRA so we know it was paid). Check comes from the state for the amount the IRS gave them with no explanation. When I ask the state again they finally admit there was no outstanding balance and no clue why the IRS sent them the money. Rep can't explain why I was lied to repeatedly.