Efficiency in Government

[calmloki]

Gotta give a shout out to our Federal Government this morning. Staggered in to the computer with coffee in hand and opened up the email - this was before 6:00AM. Two Fidelity alerts, both in this format:

For account ending in 0000: Money was withdrawn from your account through a direct debit in the amount of $xxxxx.00 by IRS. If you authorized this transaction, no action is needed. I had authorized the payments for taxes due and quarterly payment this date, but that money sure did get snatched muy pronto. Thumbs up?​

 

[Koolau]

Heh, heh, very efficient indeed when it's in their favor.

 

[EastWest Gal]

When my dad died, I contacted Medicare, Social Security, his life insurance company, etc. Everything federal government already knew-efficiency on the part of the funeral director and the government. Also, the federal government offices answered promptly and courteously. The health insurance company kept me on hold a long time. This was in 2009.

 

[Koolau]

When my dad died, I contacted Medicare, Social Security, his life insurance company, etc. Everything federal government already knew-efficiency on the part of the funeral director and the government. Also, the federal government offices answered promptly and courteously. The health insurance company kept me on hold a long time. This was in 2009.

Yes, once I've been able to contact gummint services, I've typically been impressed with their service and their people. It's a good feeling.

 

[wrigley]

Gotta give a shout out to our Federal Government this morning. Staggered in to the computer with coffee in hand and opened up the email - this was before 6:00AM. Two Fidelity alerts, both in this format:

For account ending in 0000: Money was withdrawn from your account through a direct debit in the amount of $xxxxx.00 by IRS. If you authorized this transaction, no action is needed. I had authorized the payments for taxes due and quarterly payment this date, but that money sure did get snatched muy pronto. Thumbs up?​

Isn't it nice that you had it to pay it?

 

[MC Rider]

It's nice they apparently had no problem paying it.

 

[Dtail]

Not just in the efficiency area, but all my lifetime contacts with reps from the ACA have been accurate, efficient and pleasant.

 

[Koolau]

Isn't it nice that you had it to pay it?

Yet another reason to LBYM and live the FIRE life. In general, we rarely face a financial crisis - especially over a few thousand dollars.

 

[HFWR]

My refund from the IRS hits my account within a week or so. My SS check arrives as expected.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

My refund from the IRS hits my account within a week or so. My SS check arrives as expected.

My refund (last year) was 6 months late. They paid me about $800 in interest, so I guess I shouldn't complain about their inefficiency.

 

[Chuckanut]

My local post office is a gem. I know other areas have issues but not mine.

 

[jebmke]

My refund from the IRS hits my account within a week or so. My SS check arrives as expected.

Mine was a little over a week. My state return was two days.

 

[FD1000]

Gotta give a shout out to our Federal Government this morning. Staggered in to the computer with coffee in hand and opened up the email - this was before 6:00AM. Two Fidelity alerts, both in this format:

For account ending in 0000: Money was withdrawn from your account through a direct debit in the amount of $xxxxx.00 by IRS. If you authorized this transaction, no action is needed. I had authorized the payments for taxes due and quarterly payment this date, but that money sure did get snatched muy pronto. Thumbs up?​

I have been filing taxes electronically for many years. When I owe money, the IRS takes it within 1-2 days; when the IRS owes me money, I get it within 3-5 day. My state pays within 4-5 days.
I don't see a problem with this. When you pay someone money, you have to check and verify it.

 

[Car-Guy]

My Tax return this year (filed by paper) was received through the US Mail, (that's a crap-shoot in the base case) processed by the IRS and refund deposited electronically in my account in less than 3 weeks. Not bad, IMO..

Not sure what's changed but it's working!

 

[VanWinkle]

Just because these things happen as indicated doesn't mean there isn't waste or fraud at the government level. So as long as we all get what they promised, then there is no waste in government? I agree that many in government are responsible individuals who do a great job. That was true at Enron as well, but a few bad apples changed the course of that company.

 

[TickTock]

My latest estimated federal and state tax payments went through in 1-2 days. 2024 federal and state tax refunds came through in ~10 days; I'm happy with that. Much better than 2023, when the feds stretched it out ten months! Like RetiredAt55.5, I did receive interest for their inefficiency.

 

[Flieger]

Gotta give a shout out to our Federal Government this morning. Staggered in to the computer with coffee in hand and opened up the email - this was before 6:00AM. Two Fidelity alerts, both in this format:

For account ending in 0000: Money was withdrawn from your account through a direct debit in the amount of $xxxxx.00 by IRS. If you authorized this transaction, no action is needed. I had authorized the payments for taxes due and quarterly payment this date, but that money sure did get snatched muy pronto. Thumbs up?​

I got my State refund in a little over a week, just mailed my payment to Fed yesterday (4/14) even though I heard in SC we had until May 1st due to Helene. Playing the Gov't efficiency (well, State Govt anyway)!

Flieger

 

[Markola]

This reminds me of my years living in the District of Columbia. The local government was basically a patronage-driven banana republic, except when it came to parking enforcement. In that case, they’d achieved German efficiency. Or maybe it was Orwellian, because parking instructions on one signpost often contradicted each other.

It was still a great experience living there, just comical sometimes how quickly one can get ticketed or towed.

I digress, because the OP triggered me.

 

[Midpack]

There’s no one for waste, fraud or abuse in government or anywhere else. But our Federal government does a lot of great things, many very efficiently.

https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Risk-Michael-Lewis/dp/1324002646

https://www.amazon.com/Who-Government-Untold-Public-Service/dp/B0DHZ2ZXPM

 

[Flieger]

There’s no one for waste, fraud or abuse in government or anywhere else. But our Federal government does a lot of great things, many very efficiently.

https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Risk-Michael-Lewis/dp/1324002646

https://www.amazon.com/Who-Government-Untold-Public-Service/dp/B0DHZ2ZXPM

Yes. They have the most efficient tax collection system known!

Flieger

 

[TheWizard]

Yes. They have the most efficient tax collection system known!

Flieger

Sort of.
But when fraudsters are at work filing fake returns with identity theft, those fast refunds can be a problem.
There's a webpage somewhere listing all the prosecutions of those fake tax return perps, a considerable number...

Stolen Identity Refund Fraud

www.justice.gov

 

[Koolau]

There’s no one for waste, fraud or abuse in government or anywhere else. But our Federal government does a lot of great things, many very efficiently.

https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Risk-Michael-Lewis/dp/1324002646

https://www.amazon.com/Who-Government-Untold-Public-Service/dp/B0DHZ2ZXPM

I especially like the National Parks Service.

 

[Walt34]

This reminds me of my years living in the District of Columbia. The local government was basically a patronage-driven banana republic, except when it came to parking enforcement. <snip>

I grew up and later worked next door to D.C., and on some days I had to deal with some aspect of the D.C. government. On one occasion I was speaking with the executive secretary of the Chief Financial Officer of the D.C. government, trying to track down the origin of a forged endorsement government check. She had to ask me how to spell the word "fraud".

I thought that spoke volumes about the quality of the people working there.

 

[ivinsfan]

Every private company and government program has things they do very well and things they do poorly. We can only hope the well performing continue and poor performing can improve. My DD worked for a Fortune 500 company who always had annual improvement goals for every work group. Virtually every year her group came out at the top end of ratings. But her comment to me was, it's like being in a pie eating contest, you eat all the pies, get a hand clap and the next words are, for next year we are adding a couple of pies to your pile. In my experience, I say hat's off to the SS/Medicare system for good work...

 

[HFWR]

Every private company and government program has things they do very well and things they do poorly. We can only hope the well performing continue and poor performing can improve. My DD worked for a Fortune 500 company who always had annual improvement goals for every work group. Virtually every year her group came out at the top end of ratings. But her comment to me was, it's like being in a pie eating contest, you eat all the pies, get a hand clap and the next words are, for next year we are adding a couple of pies to your pile. In my experience, I say hat's off to the SS/Medicare system for good work...

No good deed goes unpunished.