Is it possible to die of bureaucracy?

[desperance]

I've just filled in (I think?) a one-page form to do with the tax regime of a Foreign Power. This form - which asks for nothing more than my name, address, nationality and tax details - comes with seven pages of notes.

Random para:

[do not use this form if] You are a disregarded entity with a single owner that is a US person and you are not a hybrid entity claiming treaty benefits.

Uh, okay, then...

Seven pages of that. Much of which I entirely do not understand, although I am not actually stupid.

It's like US immigration, I think: they make it deliberately mean, just to scare you.

That works.

Comments

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Imagine having to deal with this every year. Twice now, since I file 1099 MISCs for royalties for my US authors. I've never been confronted with that particular language, but all Domestic Power documents strike me the same way. Fortunately, our wonderful tax person speaks DPese and can translate into English. We just had a long conversation about how much money and in what form and made out to whom I can transfer to my daughter for her college expenses.