IRS adjusted my refund from 1400 to $1 and aren't able to tell me why.

Submitted by BadamPshh t3_12812en in personalfinance

(AZ) TurboTax 2021 return showed am expected refund of $1400, went to the IRS website to check it and got a notice that they had adjusted it to 1 dollar and gave 5 possible reasons, all reasons were various forms of that either someone claimed me as a dependent, or that I made over 74k or so that year, none of which are true, taxable income was maybe half that, and no one should have been able to claim me as a dependent.

Called IRS and someone worked on it for 45 minutes, she said the only info she could give me was the same that I got, the 5 possible reasons, She said it was called a "mass error" (edit I guess it's "math error") in their system, and tried to send me the notice again but said It wouldn't allow her to.

In the end she said there was nothing more she could do. I asked her if she could escalate it and she said they don't escalate.

I can't find out which of those reasons it was in their system, I can't find out who claimed me as a dependent if that was the case, or why they think I had a higher income than I did. They won't send me the notice again and I don't have the original one.

I have the 2021 return, I asked if I should send it again or something to help clear it up, she said sending it again wouldn't change anything.

If the IRS can't tell me these things who can? What should I do thanks.

TL;DR IRS adjusted my refund from 1400 to $1 and aren't able to tell me why. Trying to figure out what to do about it.

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Comments

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84740296169 t1_jegqeju wrote

Suspiciously close to a COVID stimulus check value.

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BadamPshh OP t1_jegr3r5 wrote

Agreed and she did ask if I got that I think she called it a rebate credit, I don't remember for sure if I got it but I probably did.

If that went unreported when I filed, I suppose TurboTax may have assumed that I didn't get it and listed that as an expected refund because of that. could that explain it?

Still I don't understand why they can't tell me that that's what it was if that was the case. Also that was not listed in the possible reasons that they gave. All the reasons had to do with having a much higher income or someone claiming me as a dependent.

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antoniosrevenge t1_jegsl10 wrote

> If that went unreported when I filed, I suppose TurboTax may have assumed that I didn't get it and listed that as an expected refund because of that. could that explain it?

Yes

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BadamPshh OP t1_jegx8hh wrote

Alright I'll double check but I bet that's it

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themagicalpanda t1_jegsoej wrote

check your IRS transcripts. this is 100% because you said you didnt get the covid stimulus check during the 2021 tax year when the irs has on their end that you did receive it.

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Its-a-write-off t1_jegqhx2 wrote

This is a 2021 tax return isn't it? With 1400 on line 30 of the 1040?

You claimed the recovery rebate credit, but the IRS says they already had paid you the third stimulus during 2021.

Can you access your account transcript?

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nothlit t1_jegqvz4 wrote

A pretty common reason for this is if you claimed the $1400 Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 return, but the IRS thinks they already paid you the $1400 stimulus earlier that year, so you weren't eligible to receive it again a second time.

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antoniosrevenge t1_jegqp0t wrote

You tried to claim the 3rd stimulus payment of $1,400 on your return, and the IRS thinks you're not eligible, thus removing the credit

Did you receive the third stimulus payment in 2021?

Take a look at your 2021 tax transcript as well

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

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Special-Band3558 t1_jegqzg1 wrote

It’s a “Math Error” correction. You’ll get a notice in the mail with details and how to appeal if you disagree.

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BadamPshh OP t1_jegrwrs wrote

apparently I did, she said a notice was sent to my correct address but for some reason can't send it again. It also would have been sent about a year ago.

I do save my paperwork for that stuff, I'll dig through but I don't see it anywhere. I don't know why they can't just give me the same information over the phone. I also suspect that it will just have the same general error information that I got when I checked on the website.

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Mfers_gunlearn t1_jegsq3n wrote

My sister has been going through the same thing. IRS revised her return she filed last year. She received conflicting reasons why then she was inevitably told they can’t say, and she would have to refile by paper. They've been sitting on it since then and she still doesn't have an answer.

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