After 15 1/2 years the IRS is off my back!!

[Drop Top]

I've been fighting inheritance tax for more then 15 years. My sister and I owed 1 million to IRS after my Dad passed away. My Dad's brother's family took us for the family farm and about 15 mill. This left us with no way of paying the debt, all we had was some small acreage that at the time was not saleable for many differant reasons. This was purposely done by the other family. Needless to say my life was turned upside down.

Its a long story. But, over the years. We've done 3 offer and compromise with them. I've paid over 1 mill already to them over the years, not to mention the money I've put out in legal fees. I got a letter yesterday stating that they excepted are last offer. We went to my attorney's office and everything is going to be worked out. We had $400,000 in the bank. They are getting that and all they want is $180,000 more. (I'm glad I have friends to barrow the money from. I only need 1/2 of that.) The bastards always want more then you have! Anyway it looks as if there is light at the end of the tunnel. To top it off my Sister has agreed with me that it would be best to sell the 150 acres that we grew up on all are lives. The city is moving in way to close. I'm thinking about out of California. Any suggestions?

To make make things sweeter my two cousins that put the screws to me have lost the 5000 acer farm that was free and clear. (Dew to very poor management) They have gone bankrupt, lost the farm and now each of them still owes us $300,000. After bankruptcy. This will fallow them to the grave. Or until they pay us. If they don't pay by a certain time it will double and intersest will start. I really don't care about that money. But it dose fell good to turn the tables on them for a change. Let them live the life that they made us live. The only thing that saved me was that we lived on the last 150 acers and the IRS couldn't take away are home on a tax like this.

Its going to be about 2 years before we sell. But I'm know on a mission to find about 20 acres with a small home and a very large shop on it. Away from snow or tornados. In the country. Any thing out there that you guys know of?

[Old Moparz]

Congrats on the whole thing coming to an end.  

My parents had their share of IRS problems for years before they straightened it out. (Partially their own fault though) As for relocating, I can't help you with any ideas except that it has to be someplace that you really like. 20 Acres anywhere sounds great, but for me I love places that are not flat. I like being able to see mountains & woods, not lawns & neighbors. If I wanted to leave New York, I'd consider Pennsylvania. Gotta stay close to Carlisle.     

[triple_green]

Medford, OR

Sequim, WA

[41husk]

Congratulations! with your automotive skills, you should be able to find work any place you choose to live.  Good luck!

[RD]

come to kansas!!  havent seen a tornado and 12 years

[Brock Samson]

I'm glad there's light at the end of the tunnel...
   but wonder why you want outta Calif. (without the usual rant fests foks give for such pls.) 
Because Calif has such wonderful country and climates... (If ya can stand it.) 
Check out Apple Hill Calif. or somewhere in the Gold Country perhaps.
Me, I'd like to be within ten miles of the Pacific given the chance, though I sure am begining to feel priced out. Myself... 

[SirNik73]

I titaly understand your want to get out of California if you are concidering the Gold Country, thats where i'm at. its better then the rest of the state, at least from what i've seen. there is a diffrent aditude. more like you seen in the rest of the counrt. but it is still california. i don't know whats better then california, but there has to be some place. but as fat as staying in california the Gold Country is your best bet. any on the "inland" aeras are nice expecaly if you get into the mountians, or on the other side of the monutians like over along Highway 395. i spens a summer in Mamoth Lakes. that is some nice country.

i still sant out of california once i get out of school.

[Brock Samson]

 "sant" ?... 

[Charger_Fan]

Drop Top, congratulations on being able to overcome another huge hurdle! I would imagine the victory is bittersweet for you, but at least it didn't follow you to your retirement years...that would really suck.

I hope things go really, really well for you from here on out. You've overcome enough crap, you deserve some smooth sailing.

Now next week, go set a flaming bag of dog sh!t on your cousin's front porches.

[PocketThunder]

Is everyone misspelling words on purpose!!     WTF!!

[Silver R/T]

I think you can officially buy yourself this tshirt now

[last426]

It might be a matter of semantics but an inheritance and a gift are always tax free.  They might trigger a taxable event, but the taxes are paid by the estate and by th donor, not the person who receives them.  Save all the "but I thought you could only give away 10,000 tax free" comments as, once again, if more is given it is the concern of the giver, not the person who gets the dough.  And even then it can just be deducted against the lifetime exemption of 1.5 (or has it gone up this year?) million per person.  Just give me 20k for that advice and I won't pay taxes on it, dare ya!  Kim

[gsmopar]

   Maybe there was something to that Steve Forbes guy   My head hurts after reading all of this, and I suddenly feel like I don't make crap for a living!  Anyone interested in a hard working engineer?  Will work for 20acres and a small house with a big garage.

Later,

Greg

[mustanghater]

that guys an idiot

[Troy]

that guys an idiot

Huh???

The proper way to state that would be "That guy is an idiot" or "That guy's an idiot". Now who are you talking about?

Troy

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Wow.  Congratulations, I think.  Now who honestly can say that we shouldn't get rid of the IRS and the death tax?  You're not the only one they've put the screws on either...


Anyway, if I was you, I'd consider south/middle Georgia or west Tennessee.  Flat, cheap, great neighbors, lots of land, good weather, and away from natural disasters.

[last426]

Wow.   Congratulations, I think.   Now who honestly can say that we shouldn't get rid of the IRS and the death tax?   You're not the only one they've put the screws on either...

Once again, the beneficiary is not the person who pays the taxes.  I come from a fairly flush family and I totally support the inheritance tax.  Why should I benefit from the talent and luck of my father; or his father?  Why should a wealthy person made wealthy by the society in which he lives, not return the gains to that society?  I believe in the concept of talent being rewarded.  My talent enhanced by my education is rewarded handsomely -- my kids should not gain because I am a wiz and racounteer.  Dynastys and nobility are what brings many countries down, at least it stiffens creativity.  Here is an article by Gate's dad about inheritance tax. http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/11/gates-w.html

[Lowprofile]

Wow.   Congratulations, I think.   Now who honestly can say that we shouldn't get rid of the IRS and the death tax?   You're not the only one they've put the screws on either...

Once again, the beneficiary is not the person who pays the taxes.   I come from a fairly flush family and I totally support the inheritance tax.   Why should I benefit from the talent and luck of my father; or his father?   Why should a wealthy person made wealthy by the society in which he lives, not return the gains to that society?   I believe in the concept of talent being rewarded.   My talent enhanced by my education is rewarded handsomely -- my kids should not gain because I am a whiz and raconteur.   Dynasty's and nobility are what brings many countries down, at least it stiffens creativity.   Here is an article by Gate's dad about inheritance tax. http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/11/gates-w.html

Spoken like a true Socialist.


I know that if I was fortunate enough to amass a "small fourtune", I would not want the govt to re-tax Money that I've already worked hard for & paid more than my fair share of taxes on already. Keep the govt out of my personal business. If I want to leave my $$$$$$ to my family, why the hell should Uncle Sam be able to "double dip" on my back. The redistribution of wealth is a Socialist idea best left in a Socialist country.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Wow.   Congratulations, I think.   Now who honestly can say that we shouldn't get rid of the IRS and the death tax?   You're not the only one they've put the screws on either...

Once again, the beneficiary is not the person who pays the taxes.   I come from a fairly flush family and I totally support the inheritance tax.   Why should I benefit from the talent and luck of my father; or his father?   Why should a wealthy person made wealthy by the society in which he lives, not return the gains to that society?   I believe in the concept of talent being rewarded.   My talent enhanced by my education is rewarded handsomely -- my kids should not gain because I am a wiz and racounteer.   Dynastys and nobility are what brings many countries down, at least it stiffens creativity.   Here is an article by Gate's dad about inheritance tax. http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/11/gates-w.html

Clearly we don't see eye to eye politically, but the fact that you come from a "flush" family (never heard that term) and people like Gates and Buffett oppose getting rid of death taxes has nothing to do with the actual effects of the law.  What happens is not that the comparatively tiny class of super-rich is the only targeted class - what happens is people like Drop Top lose their family farms, as illustrated here.  People who invest in a family business can have their families lose what comparatively little they had with an unexpected death, as illustrated by my grandfather, whose small business running grain elevators in southern Minnesota with his only son was forced into bankruptcy when he passed away quickly because of late-diagnosis cancer.  My uncle is now out of work at 50 years old, and my step-grandmother is casting about for retirement income.  If you want to make the case that the mega-rich should be the ones to pay death taxes (which I'd still disagree with on principle) it might be more appealing, but having seen firsthand what happens to the vast majority of people - everyday, average Joes - under the current rules, I just cannot see it the way you do.

[Todd Wilson]

For 15mil I think I would have cut someone up in little pieces and buried them on the farm!


Todd

[bull]

Wow.   Congratulations, I think.   Now who honestly can say that we shouldn't get rid of the IRS and the death tax?   You're not the only one they've put the screws on either...

Once again, the beneficiary is not the person who pays the taxes.   I come from a fairly flush family and I totally support the inheritance tax.   Why should I benefit from the talent and luck of my father; or his father?   Why should a wealthy person made wealthy by the society in which he lives, not return the gains to that society?   I believe in the concept of talent being rewarded.   My talent enhanced by my education is rewarded handsomely -- my kids should not gain because I am a wiz and racounteer.   Dynastys and nobility are what brings many countries down, at least it stiffens creativity.   Here is an article by Gate's dad about inheritance tax. http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/11/gates-w.html

Come on Kim, you don't actually believe this garbage, do you? To whom should our parent's money be given? The government? Estate attorneys? It's their money, not ours, not yours, not some able-bodied schmuck living off the system. It belongs to the people who earned it and it should be passed on to whomever they want it to be passed on to. There's nothing like the opinion of a Marxist lawyer to turn my stomach.

Congrats to you Drop Top on getting close to the end of your trek. Come up here to Orygun and well find you a nice place. No twisters, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or fires. Well, not too often anyway. We just have to keep and eye on all the volcanoes around here.

[last426]

Come on Kim, you don't actually believe this garbage, do you? To whom should our parent's money be given? The government? Estate attorneys? It's their money, not ours, not yours, not some able-bodied schmuck living off the system. It belongs to the people who earned it and it should be passed on to whomever they want it to be passed on to. There's nothing like the opinion of a Marxist lawyer to turn my stomach.
Congrats to you Drop Top on getting close to the end of your trek. Come up here to Orygun and well find you a nice place. No twisters, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or fires. Well, not too often anyway. We just have to keep and eye on all the volcanoes around here.

It belongs to the system that provided it.  Anything else stifles creativity and talent.  Better watch out, though, cause my gf and I are going up to Oregon next week looking for some ocean property with a nice, warm shop for my car.  From Gold Beach to Astoria, watch out!  Spending some of my money instead of leaving it to kids.  Heck, I could sell my car and get a decent place up there.  Kim

[Dans 68]

...Come up here to Orygun and well find you a nice place. No twisters, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or fires. Well, not too often anyway. We just have to keep and eye on all the volcanoes around here.

If you do move up north just don't tell them you're from California; it will only garner you dirty looks and comments. Somewhere from the midwest works best.

[bull]

Kim, I think you should filter some of your money into my system if you feel bad about keeping it. Buy on high ground if you're looking at the Oregon coast, you never know when a tsunami will hit. Not kidding.

[Charger Aficionado]

For 15mil I think I would have cut someone up in little pieces and buried them on the farm!
Todd

You should've hired me.  (I make problems dissapear) lol.  (at least that's what everyone thinks)  

[Drop Top]

Todd; I though about it.  But If I did, I wouldn't have been able to see whats happening to them now. Much more satisfying.  Of coarse its not completely over with yet. But at least its very close. Thank You, God!

Last426; Lets just say I don't agree with you completely. There is some truth to what you spew. However, I don't believe in double taxation. Inheritance Tax Is truly double taxation at it finest. I worked hard on my fathers farm growing up. I started working there for very little money $.50 an hour at 7 years old. Plus room and board. Then with the money I earned I bought my own cloths. Don't get me wrong my Father made sure I was taken care of. This just taught me how to manage money matters and not to expect anything without hard work. I never asked for any of his things including his business or told him how to spend his money. He payed taxes all his life on everything he did and wanted to give my Sister and I everthing in the end. After of course we proved we could handle it. He was in the process of handing everything over to me at the time of his untimely death. I had stayed there on the farm in hopes of having a life for my family and to pass it on to my children. But dew to his partner in business (His brother) and poor sight on his part. The IRS was used as a tool to try and take everthing that I had worked for (from a very young age) away from me. If I was a bit more wiser at the time or my Father had set things up properly I would not have been in this situation. Or if there was no such thing as Inheritance Tax, things would have worked out much differant. I don't blame the government or the IRS Mafia for my problems. But If the IRS used the money it was was originally intended for, this country would be much better off. God has seen fit that all things worked out in the end. I thank him every day that it has. Now go sell your Charger and buy that house on the coast. When you get old, grey and lonely and you don't understand why your children won't or don't want too bring your grandchildren to come visit you. You'll understand why you should be more giving of yourself. I don't mean with money matters eather. The older my Father got, the more he realized this. He was very well off. But dew to the way he had raised his family, he had nobody to share it all with. My Father died a very lonely man. We had a good working relationship. No Father/Son relationship though. But he knew I loved him in spite of his shortcomings. In fact the last day I saw him alive and well. He told me he loved me for the first time in his life. I was 30 years old. Yes, I told him I loved him back.

To the rest of you; Thank you very much for your replies. I have become a much more wiser person dew to all of this. In a few years I will have my cars compleated and will be looking for my Charger that got away. Then I what to go to all the major Mopar Meets with it and would like to meet all of you. I'll buy the adult beverages. Maybe even do a BBQ somewhere too. I'm really not a bad guy once I let my hair down. Its amazing what stress will do to a guy.

[nh_mopar_fan]

First off, congrats on getting this past you. It must be a relief.

Second, your last response hit the nail on the head. This "royalty" crap line is such BS. The money that the socialist redistibutionists want to confiscate has been taxes multiple time already.