MetaChat - The IRS still hasn't cashed my check! WTF?

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09 May 2006

The IRS still hasn't cashed my check! WTF? →[More:]So I spent half of last year self-employed, so I didn't have any taxes withheld. The net result is that I had to write checks for about $1200 to various state, city and federal agencies. It's been nearly 6 weeks and they're still not cashed.

This is making me paranoid, as in those checks will go through when I least expect it, leaving me high and dry.

Anobody know what to expect? How long is this usually supposed to take?

post by: pieisexactlythree at: 14:10 | 13 comments

They withdrew mine directly from my checking account electronically, and it happened right away.

posted by matildaben 09 May | 14:11

(mom voice)

This is really why you should keep a paper or electronic checkbook register; so you always know how much money is in your account, so you don't have to worry about when checks will clear.

(/mom voice)

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 09 May | 14:14

Well, but don't you just deduct it from your checkbook and go on functioning as if its already gone? You've already written the checks, so whether they are deducted one by one or all at the same time, the money is still gone.

Unless you're still using the money or there's some other thingy I don't know (likely, eh?) then I don't know what the worry is for.

On preview: Essentially what TPS said.

posted by viachicago 09 May | 14:17

TPS and viachicago convey the content of what I was composing but didn't post because it was too snarky.

posted by matildaben 09 May | 14:19

They just did mine in the last 24 hours, ending my similar paranoia. I assume it's just the machine grinding away ... slowly.

posted by bhance 09 May | 14:34

I've been checking my bank account online at least once a day for the last month, and I'm getting a little sick of it. That's all. Is it wrong to expect outstanding checks to be deposited in a timely fashion?

posted by pieisexactlythree 09 May | 14:40

It's not wrong, although, when every person in America is sending in a check on the same day, you have to expect some backlog. My check was cleared in about a week, probably because I sent it in a few days early.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 09 May | 14:49

WTF is my problem today? Could someone please clean up all my double posts? Thanks.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 09 May | 14:59

Odds are they haven't even opened the envelope you mailed them yet.

They take a while. There's a couple thousand people ahead of you. Odds are, if you did a schedule C, that'll slow it down a bit over someone who just did a 1040, so keep that in mind, too.

But, so you know, you can do direct debit, and select the day. Might be something to think about for next year.

posted by kellydamnit 09 May | 15:06

Thank god I don't have to ever worry about this again. As of 9 months ago, I'm a salaried working stiff, so from now on I might actually get money back at the end of the fiscal year for a change.

posted by pieisexactlythree 09 May | 15:10

That's why I always send the government cashiers cheques or money orders. That way the money's withdrawn immediately.

posted by cmonkey 09 May | 15:22

I suppose I should get around to filing this year.

God, I hate tax forms. Don't mind paying the taxes, but god I hate the forms.

posted by Five Fresh Fish 09 May | 18:38

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