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IRS Targets 'Biblically Based' Business In Sarasota
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Published: July 2, 2008
TAMPA – The IRS is tangling with a business that trains salespeople to adopt biblical principals in their work.
A federal judge has ordered the founder of "Selling Among Wolves," Michael Q. Pink, to respond in writing and at a hearing in September, showing why he shouldn't be compelled to comply with an IRS summons. The tax agency said in court papers that Pink failed to appear as ordered June 28, when he was supposed to produce books and other records demanded.
Pink said this morning that he was unaware of the court filing and the judge's order. He said he has given the IRS everything it has asked for.
Pink said he asked the IRS to explain why and what it needed, but the agency refused. "They just respond with a form letter of just intimidation, frankly, and not the courtesy of, 'Please explain what you're asking for and the legal basis.' "
Pink said he decided it wasn't worth fighting over.
"It was simpler just to give them what they asked for," he said. "We decided life's too short, and we gave them everything they wanted."
According to court papers, Pink was asked to provide documents substantiating his business gross receipts and expenses for 2003, 2004 and 2005. Gross receipts were listed as $147,134, $229,668 and $341,582.
The "Selling Among Wolves" Web site describes the Sarasota business as "a biblically based sales training and development firm specializing in adapting biblical strategies and principles to the business development process."
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