<p>My daughter received an unexpected refund for nearly $3000. Something of a surprise as she only paid a little over $100 in taxes and has already had the refund for that. After hours trying to get through to a live person I finally succeeded - what a waste of time. Clueless - really clueless. And not very polite. It just burns me when you are trying to be honest and point out that some massive error has occurred (not to mention that the person who this rebate belongs to is probably not very happy around now) and they are so unhelpful and borderline rude. The nearest tax office is 100 miles away and I am damned if I am going to spend the money on gas to drive there and sort this out.</p>
<p>No wonder this country is in such a financial mess.</p>
<p>I know this is not college related but I am so irritated right now I just needed to vent a little so I don’t explode.</p>
<p>And you just know that it’s going to be a mess to clean up later :(</p>
<p>You might want to try contacting your congressperson’s district office. The staff there can sometimes be really helpful with dealing with stuff like this.</p>
<p>If you’d like an exec’s number and/or email address, please let me know and I will send it in PM, but you almost certainly won’t reach anyone until middle of next week, owing to the holiday…</p>
I know - that is what I am worried about. A couple of people said just to leave it but not spend it and wait for them to realize their mistake and contact her. But I am worried it could mess up future tax years or that they will want interest on the money or something. It is odd because she got her proper tax rebate a while back so it is almost as if they have 2 separate accounts going for her - both with her correct name, SSN, address.</p>
<p>
Do you think that is how I should handle it? I was thinking of writing a letter enclosing their letter of explanation about check (which includes numbers that bare no relationship whatsoever to any on her tax return) and copies of her tax return. The rebate was a check (her actual rebate was direct deposited) so I could void it and return it but I am worried about letting it out of my hands because they seem so incompetent!</p>
<p>The other complication is that she is away for 3 months so I am trying to handle it and we did not complete that bit on the tax return giving them permission to talk to me about the return. If she was here she would have no clue how to handle. She just knew it had to be an error - thank goodness she has that much sense - some people we know were like - “cash it and spend it”.</p>
<p>I wondered about that. But all the details - name, address etc are correct for her. And she already has a tax rebate based on the return we submitted. So wouldn’t the fact she has a return on record throw up some sort of red flag if another return was submitted? And the check came here. Very weird. And I have little faith in them getting it sorted out. Or am I being a little too harsh based on the one conversation with the clueless guy?</p>
<p>Write a letter explaining everything and enclosing a COPY of the check (not the actual check) and send it registered mail, signature required. Then put everything to one side. Wait for the IRS to call. It does NOT have to be resolved today, tomorrow, or even next week, especially if you don’t cash the check.</p>
<p>If someone else was using the SSN, their employer could have sent the information to the IRS and the IRS could have reviewed the information after the return was filed and the check mailed. They could have then issued a second check after they computed that withholdings were more than tax due.</p>
<p>I read an article, though it was a long time ago, about the advantages of using SSNs of young children for identity theft because no one would figure it out until the kids were old enough to work.</p>
<p>There are ways to escalate at the IRS but I haven’t done it in a while. In extreme circumstances, there’s the Problem Resolution Office which I used when they were sending me threatening letters twice a week.</p>
<p>It must be my check–I haven’t received my refunds yet. Let’s save the IRS all the confusion. I’ll pm you my address–just send me the check and both our problems will be solved. Thanks! ;)</p>
<p>What interest rate will the IRS charge if, say, three years from now they figure out they want the $$$ back? You should put the $3000 in an account earning that amount.</p>
<p>They charged 8% in 2007 for late payments - don’t know what they charge for “hey we mistakenly gave you $3000 you never asked for now give it back plus $xx”.</p>
<p>I don’t know anywhere I can make 8% at this point of time.</p>
<p>I suggest that you don’t actually cash it though. I’ve read too many accounts of people getting in trouble cashing a check erroneously made out to them. I think if you realize it’s an error and cash it anyway they consider that fraud.</p>
<p>No we’re not planning to cash it. It would make things so much more complicated. I think I will follow the suggestion of sending a registered letter and enclosing a copy of the check and also include copies of the return. Then sit back and wait. But that does raise the question - suppose they had done a direct deposit - do they then penalize you for their mistake?</p>
<p>It was funny - when she first opened it we thought it was her stimulus check (would have been nice timing as she was leaving the next day for a 3 month job 1000 miles away and it would have been gas money). We both read it as a check for just under $300 and wondered why it was not the full $300. Then we both realized at the same time it was just under $3000. I wonder how much this will mess up her stimulus check. Maybe she will get 2 of those as well! I can see this taking eons to sort it out.</p>
<p>Calmom, my daughter received hers last week. Swimcatsmom, I am wondering if it was supposed to be the stimulus check, the error being the extra zero. To answer your earlier question, personally, I would typically tend to reach out to an executive; the matter would be delegated of course but at least it would be documented and “blessed”…</p>
<p>We got our stimulus check. I think my son got his (and knowing him has spent it). </p>
<p>Our daughter - well who knows when or what - i am half expecting $300 for her and another one for whoever this other tax rebate should be for - just to make things a bit more complicated.</p>
<p>Latetoschool - are you a tax accountant? Sounds like you have some experience of this.</p>
<p>I don’t think the check is related to the stimulus check - the letter referred to a change being made in income which reduced the expected rebate from over $3000 to under $3000. None of the figures bear (bare - which is correct here?) any resemblance to any figures on her tax return.</p>
<p>^^ no, I work on fraud stuff. This could actually be a legitimate check…but I agree with everyone who has said do not cash it (I know you weren’t planning to anyway)…</p>
<p>My first thought was that is was some sort of scam - you know the type where someone sends you a check, you deposit it then get a letter saying it was a mistake and you send someone a check for the amount but then the original check does not clear. (yes i am very suspicious by nature when unexpected money appears - no ‘Nigeria’ schemes for me). But it does seem a valid check (no still not cashing it) and the accompanying letter seems to be from a legit tax office. Though i suppose a scam artist might set up a very annoying pretend IRS phone number that takes much persistance and hours to get through to a person just to make it realistic. </p>
<p>Though our returns went to California and the check is from Texas.</p>
<p>LTS - yes I would appreciate a contact person. Would I need one in Texas (where the check came from) or California (where our returns were mailed to) or ???</p>
<p>Before you conclude that it’s identity theft or fraud, consider this possibility: Believe it or not, the IRS “re-keys” all the data in your tax return. I have had two problems within the last five years with what the IRS calls “re-keying errors.” Both years, I was completely unhinged by the weirdness of the problem, but a phone call to the IRS resolved everything. I suggest another phone call to the number listed in the section of the IRS website where you can check on your refund. I spoke with a very helpful live person who gave me an ID number for herself as well as her name. If you do not get satisfaction, ask for a supervisor immediately. I’ll bet your D’s problem is the result of a typo, too. OP: If you would like to know more, please PM me.</p>