IRS?
Yes, I know before Cheri tried to explain me because it does the same here in Germany but I still don´t understand about your situation because I beleive that your situation are the same as ours as well. We pay low tax to Government because we have children. We pay many taxes and insurances like tax property for house, gasoline tax for travel to work, companied our boys to doctors, health insurance, household insurance, etc. etc. The tax officer work out on our annual spending (something for family, not luxury spending) like daily travel to work, accompany children to doctors, school material, trips, house and garden etc. to aviod to pay extra taxes... then we are able to get it back due our annual spendings. At your situation, I don´t understand because you both bought a house at few months ago and need a lot of renovation work with materials cost, and pay tax property, have family, travel to work, etc. It would be understandable if you earn $150,000or more salary per annual.