Confessions of a Tax Collector: One Man's Tour of Duty Inside the IRS (HC/DJ) [Paperback]

Richard Yancey (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: HarperCollins (2004)
• ASIN: B000OEQCM2
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Rick Yancey is the author several books for adults, including The Highly Effective Detective. He is also a produced playwright and former theater critic. He lives in Gainesville, Florida with his wife and three sons. Visit him at www.rickyancey.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oddly Compelling, July 24, 2004

By 

Elizabeth Hendry (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Confessions of a Tax Collector: One Man's Tour of Duty Inside the IRS (Hardcover)

Admit it. You think this book is probably pretty boring. Tax Collector? Well, I assure you, it is certainly not boring; rather, it is an oddly compelling read that I just couldn't put down. (And no one is more shocked about that than I am!) Richard Yancey worked for 12 years as a revenue officer for the IRS collecting (or at least attempting to collect) unpaid employment taxes from small businesses. It was an interesting, challenging and sometimes grueling job for Yancey. Yancey's story is an interesting read for many reasons. First, he is an excellent writer. Second, the story he has to tell is interesting. His co-workers were a collection of colorful souls, all flawed, none of them the straight-laced, buttoned up type. Yancey also structures the story well and doesn't bore us with any memoir-style introspection. The book is paced well. Enjoy this one, despite any reservations you may have.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm double checking my next 1040, June 1, 2004

By 

Publius "publius_1788" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confessions of a Tax Collector: One Man's Tour of Duty Inside the IRS (Hardcover)

What a great book. I couldn't put it down. I had read the reviews and thought it sounded interesting, but probably would not have picked it up, but for the fact that on a visit to my local independent bookstore the author was there and doing a signing. I figured it was worth the $ to bring my wife a surprise (as she's an MBA and loathes the IRS - am I going to get audited now?). Anyway, I quickly stole the book from my wife and read it practically straight through.

Not only is Yancey (if that's his name) a great and sardonic writer, but his story actually had me laughing out loud with some frequency. And though I certainly hate paying my taxes I was comforted by his continuous message - If the Revenue Officers have been sent after a tax payer it is because that person has repeatedly ignored the IRS.

Scary though it may be to say it, I found myself having empathy for the tax-man. Yancey does paint a picture of a dysfunctional office environment, but not one very different from those I've seen in government service or the private sector. By the end not only was I rooting for him, but I was hoping he'd put away more tax protestors. After all, why should they be able to get away without paying their share while the rest of us work 4 months a year in effect to pay the government?

I would quibble with the details of his personal life at the end. They seemed forced and uncomfortable. Uncomfortable for him to write and uncomfortable for the reader to have to wade through.

Highly recommend it, for the type of laugh that sticks in your throat. I can't wait for the next installment.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brillant....Did you see the Christian Science Monitor?, March 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Confessions of a Tax Collector: One Man's Tour of Duty Inside the IRS (Hardcover)

The reviews of this book are outstanding. This author has taken the revelation of this feared agency's secrets and weaved in a beautiul coming of age tale and love story. The critics are loving it as I am sure most readers will. Mr. Yancey has been receiving national praise. As for the O'reilly show, Fox owns the publisher, Harper Collins, so do you really think Mr. Yancey was invited on the show to discuss policy, no, it was to spread the word about this amazing book. I found it to be the best book I've read in a very long time.