Efficiency in bureaucracy

In order to file my 2005 US federal tax return electronically, I needed my Adujsted Gross Income from 2004. “Hmm, I don’t have that,” I think to myself.

Not a problem! Call the IRS at 1-800-826-1040, access your personal tax account, enter your social security number, press 1, press 0, and the nice lady on the other side will give you the number you need.

She will, of course, ask you about 10 questions to confirm you are who you say you are, and this is a Good Thing(tm). After waiting on hold for about 3 minutes, she’ll return with your information. I wonder if she had to run down to the filling room to get my records..

That notwithstanding,  I’ve only once before seen a government agency offer such efficiency. It was quite pleasant all in all.

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