Question

Wrong refund amount!

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
June 20, 2020
4 replies
0 views

TurboTax calculated a $209 federal refund. I received $9 from the IRS, with no explanation for the difference. I have not cashed the check yet. How do I get the other $200?

B

BillM223

As you probably know, the Department of the Treasury handles an offset program which removes amounts from refunds - see https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/TOP/

The letter that the Treasury sends a taxpayer explaining what has been done is sent separately from the refund itself (which is usually a direct deposit).

With the current COVID-19 situation, many government offices are running at reduced capacity, so your letter may literally be "in the mail".

You can use that link above to find the phone number for the TOP program to call and ask.

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VolvoGirl

Employee

Is it for your federal refund? Maybe it is just the Stimulus Check? And Federal and state refunds come separately from different places at different times. Were you having the Turbo Tax fees deducted from your refund?

I would check over your return and see if you can see anything wrong especially in the payments section. Make sure you agree with all the amounts listed. Like is the difference the same or close to the refund you got last year? Maybe you put down that you applied last year's refund to this year? Or you applied part of your refund to next year as an estimated payment. Or you put down you made a payment with an extension or paid an estimated payment that you didn't make?

If the IRS adjusted your refund they will be mailing you a letter explaining why the changed it.

fanfare

Employee

@VolvoGirl the stimulus check is hard to miss since it has
The Donald's name on it !

VolvoGirl

Employee

Not if you get Direct Deposit. It says the same description as the regular refund.

J

jaredstokes

I have the same issue. I called the IRS TOP and the automated system stated that I do not have any debts at this time. What else can I do to understand why my refund was reduced by such a large amount?

VolvoGirl

Employee

The prior posts were a year old and about 2019 returns. Are you asking about your 2020 return?

A common adjustment is if you claimed the Recovery rebate credit on 1040 line 30 when you already got the Stimulus payment or got the second one after you filed or reported the wrong amounts. Do you have an amount on line 30?

R

Reeseru

I received my refund but it was $300 short and they also charged me $300 for filing with them. I need answers, it's just not right.