280 percent increase in first-time delinquent taxpayers?

[girl gone mad]

From http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0531348220090414?sp=true">Reuter's:

More Americans wary of U.S. tax man this year

WASHINGTON, April 14 (Reuters) - As a deep recession strips Americans of their jobs, homes and investments, the 2009 U.S. tax season promises to see a large uptick in first-time delinquent income taxpayers.

"Our calls are up 280 percent," said Richard Boggs, founder and chief executive of Los Angeles-based Nationwide Tax Relief, a firm that helps delinquent taxpayers resolve tax issues.

"We've seen a huge rise in what we call the rookie delinquent taxpayer," he said. "They are incredibly scared, and they have no idea what's going to happen to them because, God bless them, they've never owed before."

As the weak economy puts job security and a steady flow of income on a slippery slope, many are wary of the U.S. tax man, tax consultants say.

With household balance sheets under pressure, more U.S. households are having trouble keeping up with their day-to-day bills and struggling to pay their taxes.

"Folks are not paying their taxes because they are spending it on necessary living expenses," said Kristin Lavieri, an accountant with Weinstein & Anastasio, PC in Hamden, Connecticut.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0531348220090414?sp=true">More...

[AnneD]

1. Maybe NOW....

the government will will understand how important those job numbers are and stop using imaginary numbers. The rubber is about to hit the road.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. Not to mention wage stagnation and inflation

They need to stop including plasma TVs and computers in the CPI so they can make inflation look lower. There's a reason that the American savings rate is negative and it ain't only because we're buying too many gewgaws. Housing, food, fuel, health care, and education costs have all outpaced so-called "inflation".