What’s the contrapositive of a Pyrrhic victory?

[quislet]

I surrender, O Commonwealth of Virginia.  Somewhere in the bowels of your tax administration, someone has committed an error to the tune of $39.16.  I did not claim to have paid this amount in state taxes to Maryland last year.  Seriously, I have never cheated on you with Maryland.  I spend a lot of time at her place, I admit, but I promise I've never given her a dime of my salary.  I was shocked last year when you sent me the bill for back taxes, and I was frustrated by how long it took to track down a warm body who could tell me what I had to do to prove that I didn’t owe you.  I was slightly encouraged that you eventually told me that if I’d resubmit the paper copy of my electronic submission, you’d fix the mistake.  I did, but now you haven’t done your part, and you’re sending me threatening letters, using credit-affecting language.

I’d really love it if I could get you to acknowledge that I’m right, but I also have to admit that being right here would cost me more than $39.16.  If I pay you the money now, I save my time (and yours, which I’m paying for with the same taxes).  Just getting to this point in this conversation has already cost me more than $39.16 of my time and, quite frankly, yours, too.  So, only because I’m saving both of us money by caving to your erroneous demands, I’m writing you this check.

This is a defeat that costs me almost nothing.  It’d feel great to hear you tell me that I'm right, but I’d rather use the time I just saved in not fighting you by thinking delicious thoughts.

Thanks for nothing,

Quislet

Comments

[terribleturnip.livejournal.com]

I have in my purse a check from the IRS for a not insignificant sum of money. I'm afraid to deposit it. I've spent three years clearing up a tax snafu (aka, the ex failed to file) that was not inexpensive. And it was all resolved. And then they sent me a check for $36.42 because I overpaid. Whatever, I said, and deposited it. And two weeks later got a "You owe us nearly $2,000 in penalties and interest." Er, what? But wait. You said we were good. Up to date. Finito. Then you even sent me extra money. I don't know why, but who am I to look a gift check in the mouth?

And after several phone calls, we resolved that I did NOT actually owe anything more, I was really paid up and case closed. So, ha! And then I got this check, a refund of the penalties and interest. That I didn't pay, because, well, it was a figment of someone's imagination.

Do I dare deposit it and wake the beast?