Few organizations suffer as negative a public perception as the
Internal Revenue Service, the government agency responsible for the
collection and distribution of federal taxes.
The three letters “IRS” typically inspire feelings
of fear, annoyance and anger in the populace, conjuring thoughts of
vengeful number crunchers tirelessly working to pinch every last
cent out of taxpayers.
Scorn for the tax man has deep historical roots. Long before the
IRS was even in existence, popular sentiment, as reflected in both
ancient and modern art, was squarely against those who collect
taxes.
A source as influential as the gospels of the Bible portrayed
the tax collector as one of the most vilified figures in ancient
society. Many questioned Jesus’ sanctity simply based on his
willingness to dine with members of this much-despised
profession.
A more recent but perhaps equally revered work, the
Beatles’ acclaimed 1966 album “Revolver,” begins
with a musical condemnation of the greed of the
“Taxman,” who taxes the ground one walks on and
haughtily declares, “You’re working for no one but
me.”
With such negative images enduring through more than two
millennia, the legacy of the tax worker at the onset of the 21st
century remains defined by greed, selfishness and even
wickedness.
Meet Feny Shen, iconoclast.
The young IRS employee, who graduated from UCLA in 2001,
counters these long-held stereotypes of the tax worker with the
selflessness and social consciousness that guides her labors for
the government agency.
Rather than meticulously surveying income tax returns for a
reason to implement the dreaded audit ““ the task many imagine
to be an IRS employee’s principle duty ““ Shen devotes
her time to activities that help lessen the burden of the tax
process for those most in need of assistance.
“I work with taxpayers, (forming) organizations to provide
outreach and tax preparation support to low-income families and the
elderly,” she said.
Her efforts to ameliorate the often difficult and confusing
process of filing federal income tax returns have taken her across
the metropolitan area of Los Angeles, where she has helped
establish several free income tax assistance centers.
Shen’s work has even brought her back to her alma mater,
where she was instrumental in the creation of the UCLA Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance Program. VITA has been assisting UCLA
students with their tax returns all week in Ackerman Grand
Ballroom.
The day before taxes were due, hundreds of students were
utilizing the program that is Shen’s progeny.
“It is a great service,” said Henry Lin, a
fourth-year business economics student who was one of the student
coordinators of the event. “With the deadlines and
everything, it’s wonderful to give people an extra
hand.”
The fact that many people throughout Los Angeles will have an
easier, far less stressful Tax Day because of Shen’s labors
inspires her to continue her efforts to spread her knowledge of the
tax processes with the population.
“When I go out to outreaches, I feel I am … providing a
valuable service. I can help them get a bigger refund, which can
help them a lot,” she said.
Despite the social conscience with which she works, service to
the community was not a crucial factor in her decision to join the
IRS three years ago.
“I always wanted to work as an accountant, and the ad for
the IRS said it was the largest accounting firm in the
nation,” she said. “I thought, “˜that’s
perfect.'”
Three years later, her enthusiasm for her work has only grown
stronger as she learned to appreciate the community service
component of her position.
Countering the image of the villainous tax worker presented by
people as diverse as the disciples of Jesus and the the most
popular rock and roll band of all time, Shen shows the other side
of this often loathed profession ““Â the hero of the
feeble and downtrodden who uses her expertise to improve the lot of
the masses.
And the scorn with which tax men have historically been
regarded?
“Most of the time, people are appreciative,” she
said.