What to Do When the IRS Changes Your Tax Return Check Amount?
Income tax refunds can be a relief at the end of a grueling tax season. However, refund check amounts are not always what you anticipated. If the Internal Revenue Service changes the amount of your refund check, there are ways to remedy the difference if the change is not warranted. The change may be the result of a mathematical blunder on the part of the IRS or you.
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Contact Your Tax Preparer
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If you work with a tax preparer, contact him to discuss the issue. Before contacting the IRS to complain, get to the source of the problem. Ask your preparer to double-check her numbers and calculations to ensure all deductions were taken as promised. There may have been information you assumed was included in your tax return that your tax preparer missed. If this is the case, you can wait until the following year to claim the deduction, if allowed, or resolve to let it go.
Contact the IRS
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If you attempted to make claims that were incorrect, the IRS may have spotted the error and disallowed a deduction. Contact the IRS to discuss. An innocent blunder could just mean a quick explanation of tax laws by an IRS agent to help you avoid making the same mistake in the future. Speaking to the source helps you to get clarity on the situation and gain a better understanding of your tax rights.
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Be Patient
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Patience is a virtue that can lead to an explanation of your altered check. "The IRS will send you a written explanation for the unexpected amount. The only problem is that the explanation doesn't always accompany the check," explains Kay Bell of Bankrate.com. Waiting a few days after receiving your check to receive a notification from the IRS can provide you with the details you are seeking.
Cash It?
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Cashing your check is harmless if it is determined you are owed more than you received. "In fact, if the check is less than you expected and it turns out that you were correct, once you and the IRS resolve the matter in your favor, the agency will make up the difference (plus a bit of interest if it takes more than 45 days to correct the error)," asserts Kay Bell. If the amount is more than you expected, do not cash the check. Wait until the issue is resolved before making a move.
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