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My wife and I are U.S. Navy veterans, each with 20-plus years of service, and now both work at Walmart. Earlier this year we sent two tax payments for 2016 to the IRS with the wrong coupons, designating the payments to 2017. Though our mistake was inadvertent, the IRS field office told us there was nothing they could do and that we were late on our payments and faced penalties.

At that point, we decided to contact Congressman Raul Labrador’s office. The congressman’s caseworker immediately became our advocate with the IRS. The result was miraculous. The very same IRS that told us there was no remedy for our error suddenly moved the payments from 2017 estimated taxes to 2016 taxes owed.

We are very grateful for the assistance rendered by Mr. Labrador and his staff, who made a true difference in our lives when we needed help the most. If you ever need a hand in dealing with the federal government, Labrador is a man who listens to his constituents and will intervene on their behalf.

DAVID and DORIS BLAKENEY

Sandpoint