Oh IRS, I fell asleep to the sound of your lulling music (again)

At the desk, 11:46 a.m.

This morning, I called the IRS. Of course, the first number I called was the wrong number.

No problem.

I dug around in my files until I found the number for the non-profit/exempt office. You see, I was calling about the Open Grove, the non-profit I actively ran for six years and have passively hung on to for another four. The Open Grove officially closed as a non-profit on January 6, 2011.

And yet, there's always this issue of lingering paperwork for the IRS.

It's not really their fault. I'm not a tax lawyer and the non-profit was so small that we couldn't afford to hire one. So I've fumbled along through extensive reading of the IRS site and many, many phone calls.

So I found the number and dialed the IRS.

And promptly fell asleep.

Seriously, I don't have any idea what's up with the music they play on hold, but it's absolutely sleep inducing. I'm sleeping away when Ms. Converse answers the phone and rattles off her number.

"Ah shoot," I said. "I fell asleep again."

She laughed and very efficiently helped me with my situation. She explained what I had to do and where I had to go. Actually, most of my experiences calling the IRS, and speaking with agents, has been helpful, practical, and very easy.

The music on the other hand? Always sleep inducing.

I honestly think it's a kind of program to keep calm while they wait.

I just wish I had a copy of the music for those nights when I can't sleep.

-----