tax people!

this is unbelievable! for the first time this year, i had to pay French taxes. as it was my first time, i had to get all the paperwork myself (ie, it wasn't sent to me automatically). i filled in the whole thing, sent it off, and a few months later, got a letter back saying i'd paid too much and that a cheque would follow soon. nice.

a couple of months later, i got a letter addressed to me, but with a spelling mistake in my first name. apparently, i hadn't paid my income tax! considering i wasn't on their register before sending in my form, i was a bit surprised that there now were two of me. i still had to send in a written letter saying there was just one of me. but ok, it happens. i did ask, however, when i'd get the next round of tax papers (as i own my flat). they said they were being sent out as we spoke. so although i didn't get anything for a long time, i didn't worry too much. and i finally got the papers yesterday. and what a surprise, when i realised that they'd first been sent to Japan (where i haven't lived for over 2 years)! i looked at the due date, which said October 16th... so i called the relevant number and asked what the new due date was, seen as i'd only just received the papers. it was one big mess...

but what amazes me, is that while i didn't exist for the tax people before May, they still managed to get three of me (the spelling mistake and the Japanese me - which by the way, is weird, cos i really don't know how they managed to get hold of that address). what a feat!