The $29,000 Oopsie
I often joke and say “oopsie” (imagine a high-pitched voice, cringy looking expression/half smile) when realizing I’ve made a mistake. It’s similar to Alicia Silverstone’s character in Clueless saying “Oopsie, Should I write them a note?” after she sideswipes a parked car. I say “oopsie” a lot to apologize for both un-intended and intended things. “Oopsie, I forgot to take the recycling out” or “Oopsie, I called your HR manager and told them about how you steal money from your company!” Mistakes happen, and saying Oopsie makes it all the more fun to me.
However, all of my oopsies came back to get me a short time after April 15th. I owed the IRS $2,900 (a 1099 oopsie) and so I sent them a check. When the check was inputted, they added a zero to the end. Unfortunately, I didn’t have $29,000 in my everyday checking account, so the check was returned. Bloop, I got a $33 charge for not having the funds to cover the fatty check. I called my bank to find out what was going on, and that is when I learned of the IRS’ inputting oopsie. The drama has continued, and the government continues to think that I owe them $29,000. Most recently, they sent me a letter informing my of the extra $500 in fees that has been assessed on top of my supposed now $30,000 debt. I spoke with an IRS rep Friday who said “on behalf of the entire IRS, we apologize Miss White for this inconvenience” (a much more formal way of saying “oopsie”).
