IRS should have live people on the phone

I filed my 2012 tax return on Feb. 10 — more than 80 days ago — and upon checking the IRS website for my refund status, it keeps saying “we have received your tax return and it is being processed.” The IRS informs taxpayers on its website that a taxpayer “can generally expect the IRS to issue your refund in less than 21 calendar days” after receipt of tax return.

Since my refund is way overdue, I have called the IRS 10 times to find out the problem and never got a real live person. All you get is an automatic message that transfers you to another automatic message that repeats the message that the return was received and is being processed (probably by someone in India). When you call the National Taxpayer Advocate Help Line you receive a recording that they won’t talk to you unless it is an emergency and you are in dire financial straits.

Why can’t the IRS have a live person answering calls and helping taxpayers? This is the same agency that will be monitoring the Obama health care bill and accessing penalties to employers and individuals for noncompliance. What a farce that will be!

James Dubinski

Rolling Meadows