Man, don’t get me started on the IRS, and tech. They now run returns through AI-enhanced programs that use formulas to determine red flags; one of those is if charitable donations exceed a standard percentage of income (which assumes, evidently, that most Americans are cheaper than used Hi-point shoppers). My folks are #1, long retired, and #2 Catholic. Their 2021 return got pulled because their donations to catholic charities triggered a flag, and the IRS stated, somewhat unequivocally, that they had “under reported their income by 60K,” based on a generic formula that assumes nobody ever donates more than a few percentage points of their income.
It took a 400 dollar an hour tax attorney—who pretty much came up with the same numbers as my dad, go figure—and almost 2 years to get the 14K the IRS owed them for that debacle.
TL/DR: some damn algorithm decided that my ‘rents were too generous. WTF. They’re in their 80s, don’t really need all their retirement money, and want to support select Catholic shit, like building transitional housing for the formerly homeless or addicted re-entering the workforce—a charity that I support as well, because it’s been proven to work well in our region. And for this, they got run through the wringer by the IRS. I mean, nobody is really a *fan* of the IRS, but I’m at the point where I consider aspects of their modus operandi pure fucking evil.
At any rate, it’s the flavor of pure fucking evil we’ve got, so best get on with it, and keep every receipt.