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April 3, 2021
Question

IRS CHANGED MY TAX REFUND TO $0 BECAUSE LAST NAME OR SOCIAL SECURITY WAS WRONG BUT IVE CHECKED IT AND ITS CORRECT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO

  • April 3, 2021
  • 1 reply
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1 reply

LenaH
April 3, 2021

It depends. Per the IRS, if your Recovery Rebate Credit was eliminated due to a last name or social security number being wrong, please consider the following:

  • If either you or your spouse does not have a Social Security number valid for employment and you file a joint return, your 2020  Recovery Rebate Credit should not include the portion for the spouse who does not have the required Social Security number, unless one of you was an active member of the U.S. military in 2020. 
  • If one of you was an active member of the U.S. military in 2020 and you were denied the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit for the spouse without the required Social Security number, contact the IRS and have a copy of your 2020 military Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, available for further verification.  A contact phone number for assistance is on the top right-hand corner of your letter or notice.
  • If neither you nor your spouse has a Social Security number valid for employment, you are not allowed any 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. No further action is required.
  • If your child does not have an SSN valid for employment or an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN), you do not qualify to receive 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit for the child. However, if a Social Security number valid for employment or ATIN is issued to your child before the due date of your 2020 tax return (including extensions) and  the other qualifying child requirements are met for the child, contact the IRS with their SSN or ATIN to have the 2020 additional credit issued. A contact phone number for assistance is on the top right-hand corner of your letter or notice.
  • If you, your spouse and qualifying children have a Social Security number that is valid for employment and entered it on your return, compare the number and name entered with what is on the Social Security card. If this information does not match or it was left blank on your 2020 return, the amount associated with that number would be denied. If you identify an error in the tax return entry, contact the IRS at the number provided on your notice and have a copy of the Social Security card(s) available. If the information entered on the 2020  tax return matches the Social Security card or you have recently changed your name and did not update it with the Social Security Administration (SSA), please contact the SSA to confirm the information they have on file is accurate.  

You should receive your IRS notice a few days after your refund was adjusted. If you disagree with the IRS decision after reviewing the information above, then you should contact the IRS directly at the phone number provided on the form you receive in the mail. 

 

For more information, please see 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic G: Correcting issues after the 2020 tax return is filed

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