I'm taking the test for a Census job today.

[Hello_Kitty]

The application asks if you owe the fed'l government any money. I have to be honest that I owe the IRS a few grand in taxes for the little income I had and cashing in an IRA in 2008. I filed but couldn't pay anything. I've been looking online and not finding anything specific about federal debt making you ineligible for hiring but have seen some anecdotal stuff from people claiming that the IRS will seize your pay.

Should I even bother with the interview?

[Cal Carpenter]

1. I dunno...does it provide health care?

(Sorry, totally in bad taste)

I really don't know what to tell you. It may be worth trying - I would guess the worst that could happen would be that they say no, and any interview is at least good for practice...

[Hello_Kitty]

5. Actually there's no benefits. The pay is $15 an hour.

Which would be okay for me since I'm living with my bf right now and don't have many bills. I was hoping to earn enough to pay for my bankruptcy (I know, sad!) but if they're just going to take a big chunk of my pay what's the point?

[Cal Carpenter]

13. Well, I would guess

that unless the IRS has already come after to you to try to garnish wages etc you may be okay...BUT, starting a real payroll job (even temporary) would put them on alert that you make income, so it may backfire and they'd come after you...

I don't rightly know. But again, it may be worth interviewing. It wouldn't surprise me if the census people could answer your question since they are targeting low-income and unemployed folks for this job (I know they are distributing info about it at food pantries and other social service programs) - there are probably a lot of people out there who are reluctant to even open that can of worms..

All I do know is: TAX THE RICH!!! TAX THE SHIT OUT THE RICH AND LEAVE US SMALL POTATOES ALONE!!!

And yeah, I figured there were no benefits, I just have health care on the mind.

Good luck!

[Hello_Kitty]

14. Thanks!

I want to pay my tax bill at some point. I really do but I have to survive right now.

[LWolf]

2. Why not?

My mom is working for the census. She is always filing extensions on taxes she owes. She's 71.

[NightWatcher]

3. dont worry, it looks like a pretty tame background check

with the backlog of work they prob wont even notice your debt.

http://www.census.gov/hrd/www/jobs/background.html

[rfranklin]

4. The IRS might garnish your paycheck...

to retrieve what you owe plus penalties and interest.

[Brickbat]

6. Are you on a payment plan?

If not, I'm guessing they'd use this as a chance to collect.

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Honey, I'm on $150 a week unemployment.

I can barely pay attention, let alone be on anyone's payment plan.

[Fire1]

8. I wouldn't risk it, myself. n/t

[lunatica]

9. Take the online sample test. All the questions are hard

They're multiple choice and trick questions. Beware that what appears to be a pretty straight forward question and an obvious answer are not.

[Hello_Kitty]

12. I took it. Got 3 of the 28 wrong. Just stupid not reading the question stuff. eom

[Deep13]

10. Can't hurt. nt

[brettdale]

11. Holy cow

Im taking a test for a new zealand census jhob today, good luck to ya.

[Hello_Kitty]

16. Good luck to you too!

I wish I could be a census-taker, or anything, in NZ.

[Xenotime]

15. It can't hurt.

[Hello_Kitty]

17. Was the unrec really necessary?

I said I wanted to pay the taxes when I could. Sheesh.

[gvstn]

18. I don't think the IRS works that fast.

Your only talking a few month stint, right?

If you get the job make sure you have as little as possible withheld towards federal taxes. Chances are that whatever is withheld will not be returned in the form of a refund next year but applied to your current tax bill.

Just curious does bankruptcy effect your past due taxes?

[Hello_Kitty]

19. From what I understand you can't discharge tax debts in a bankruptcy. eom

[tonysam]

20. It also asks, at least on the one I was planning on filing out,

if I had been fired in the last five years. Screw the Census Bureau on stupid questions like that, especially on an application for a temporary job.

[proteus_lives]

21. I took the test.

I'm hoping to get a call.