The IRS's Long Shadow Over a Small Farmer's Life Wilson Perry Kirby, a Tennessee farmer, spent four years fighting the IRS over a $20,000 refund they sent him by mistake.
His story highlights the power imbalance between individual citizens and government agencies, where even doing the right thing can become a battle for survival.
Kirby received the tax refund in 2022 but tried to return it instead of cashing it. However, he was charged $4,000 in interest and had his own $1,800 refund withheld by the IRS.