Samster
Well-known member
This is a vent which I hope I can have a good laugh at someday. I'm always reminded of the expression of Joey Bloggs' "Innkeeping is not for the faint of heart" when I run into idiocracy with local bureaucrats....
I closed my inn earlier this year and have been dealing with the final details since then. I spent this afternoon talking to the local and State revenue departments. I fared better with the State folks - helpful, polite, and handled my ongoing issue finally. I hope! (Did I mention that they wanted to charge me a penalty on zero sales tax dollars collected?) I did have to go the the local branch in person since the phone was busy every time I called. Good grief...
I did NOT have a good experience at the local revenue department. Both clerks were very rude and weren't very helpful. Even faced with a photocopy of paperwork submitted to them last year, they swore it was never completed and/or filed by me. The clerk wanted me to hand copy this document on a blank form (3 pages with detailed financial info) rather than her using their very visible photocopier. WTF? I did manage to convince her that it was definitely redundant effort on my part to do that and she photocopied it. Jeez... Meanwhile, the person who collects lodging tax apparently not only doesn't talk to the person who tracks occupation tax but they can't look at each other's notes in the computer? Huh? Nothing can be done either on the phone or online either. I now have more forms to fill out which I need to bring back to them in order for the business to be closed officially.
Some examples of the conversation....
"Can you at least enter a note into the computer on my account stating the date the business closed per the owner (me) who has appeared in person before you today and the final paperwork is pending receipt?" "No, I can't do that."
"Have you ever thought of creating some kind of brochure or instructions for small businesses to navigate all of this since you're saying that I should have contacted you to ask for paperwork that I had no way of knowing that you were supposed to send me that I never received?" After the deer in the headlights look, she answered, "No, there are no instructions, but you can call us and ask us what you should have received from us?" Double HUH??
Now, I'm sure that this doesn't happen everywhere but being forewarned is being forearmed.
I think I'll have a glass of wine now....
Oh, rats...I still have to fill out that paperwork that I should have divined that I should have received and needed to complete...........
I closed my inn earlier this year and have been dealing with the final details since then. I spent this afternoon talking to the local and State revenue departments. I fared better with the State folks - helpful, polite, and handled my ongoing issue finally. I hope! (Did I mention that they wanted to charge me a penalty on zero sales tax dollars collected?) I did have to go the the local branch in person since the phone was busy every time I called. Good grief...
I did NOT have a good experience at the local revenue department. Both clerks were very rude and weren't very helpful. Even faced with a photocopy of paperwork submitted to them last year, they swore it was never completed and/or filed by me. The clerk wanted me to hand copy this document on a blank form (3 pages with detailed financial info) rather than her using their very visible photocopier. WTF? I did manage to convince her that it was definitely redundant effort on my part to do that and she photocopied it. Jeez... Meanwhile, the person who collects lodging tax apparently not only doesn't talk to the person who tracks occupation tax but they can't look at each other's notes in the computer? Huh? Nothing can be done either on the phone or online either. I now have more forms to fill out which I need to bring back to them in order for the business to be closed officially.
Some examples of the conversation....
"Can you at least enter a note into the computer on my account stating the date the business closed per the owner (me) who has appeared in person before you today and the final paperwork is pending receipt?" "No, I can't do that."
"Have you ever thought of creating some kind of brochure or instructions for small businesses to navigate all of this since you're saying that I should have contacted you to ask for paperwork that I had no way of knowing that you were supposed to send me that I never received?" After the deer in the headlights look, she answered, "No, there are no instructions, but you can call us and ask us what you should have received from us?" Double HUH??
Now, I'm sure that this doesn't happen everywhere but being forewarned is being forearmed.
I think I'll have a glass of wine now....
Oh, rats...I still have to fill out that paperwork that I should have divined that I should have received and needed to complete...........