Quote Originally Posted by Jethro View Post
Then require the man to verify the "proposed tax assessment".

Agencies don't do anything -- they have no hands or arms. An "agency" exists only on paper or in the mind. Only a man can "do" something, like create an "assessment" or "compute a tax bill". Find out what man has created the "assessment" or "tax bill", and hold him accountable to the penny for his claim. If he can't verify the debt, then he made a claim that was not true -- that's an act of fraud (and possibly extortion, if threats are involved for non-payment). That's a trespass for which the man may be held personally liable.

I would never bring the make-believe (titles like "assessor", etc.) to life by arguing with it. Call out the man and see if he's ready to put his money where his mouth is.
Well if someone is playing Monopoly or joins a sports league, that kind of thinking might not work especially if they are willingly participating. The approach of debt verification is better than meddling with the 'FRN factor' IMHO. Because telling them you paid with FRNs is not going likely going to work in your favor. Telling them that you were paid in FRNs is another thing when it comes to taxability.