Deleted
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May 1, 2024 17:52:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 11:28:39 GMT
We never get a tax refund. For 2014 we did, and just received the check last week. The check amount is quite a bit less with no explanation.
Saturday we get the IRS letter and it says, along the lines of: "Your refund has been adjusted because the social security number and name of one of your dependents do not match." Ummm...wtf?
DD is 17 and DS is 15. We've already checked and the names/social security numbers are all correct on the forms. We looked back years and it's all correct for every year.
So our first thought: DD got her first job this year. I know it has no impact on 2014 taxes, but we're hoping there was just a simple error on her forms sent to the IRS for the job she got this year, or someone at the IRS input the information wrong, and it flagged it for our return?
Our second thought--identity theft? I sure friggin' hope not.
DH spent so much time trying to get thru to IRS yesterday with no luck. We're gonna have to try again.
Any thoughts?
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Dec 2, 2015 11:57:03 GMT
They are darn near impossible to get ahold of by phone. Good luck!
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Deleted
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May 1, 2024 17:52:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 12:11:21 GMT
I just happen to have a friend who is dealing with them over a mistake made and thought to be fixed 4 years ago. She has had to make numerous calls the past couple days and chats online with me as she waits on hold.....sometimes over an hour!!!!!! normally over 40 minutes. It is very, very difficult working with them because you never get the same person and you always have to give the whole story over again and see if that particular person knows how to fix it. She has dealt with the rudest people. They have this defensive attitude and ASSUME you are wrong/stupid/trying to cheat before even hearing you out. Thankfully everyone she talked to agreed she is right but it took at least a 5 or more calls to find someone with any clue of how to fix it.
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Post by littlemama on Dec 2, 2015 12:11:44 GMT
When we had an issue in mid February, we had no problem getting through to the IRS and they were very helpful. Stay calm and keep trying. (Ours was identity theft, but your message is not the same as the message we received)
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,726 
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Post by purplebee on Dec 2, 2015 12:13:35 GMT
Oh no, what a pita. But as least you have a pretty good idea about what caused the adjustment. Hope you can get it fixed quickly.
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Rainbow
Pearl Clutcher
Where salt is in the air and sand is at my feet...
Posts: 4,103
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Post by Rainbow on Dec 2, 2015 12:14:10 GMT
I've dealt with the IRS a couple of times and they were less than helpful. And I went there in person.
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Post by mlynn on Dec 2, 2015 12:31:05 GMT
If there is a local IRS office, I would go in there. Take the letter, the return, a copy of the refund, and the social security cards of your children.
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teddyw
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,817
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Post by teddyw on Dec 2, 2015 12:31:10 GMT
Not sure if this has anything to do with it but I thought 17 yo dependents aren't considered full dependents? I'm not sure I'm saying that right but I thought my Dh mentioned something about that. This only relates to the refund portion though. He's traveling in a different time zone so I can't reach him till later.
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back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Dec 2, 2015 13:16:04 GMT
Are the children's names as they appear on their social security card exactly the same? If the SS card is Mary Susan Smith and the tax return is Mary S. Smith then to the IRS, the names don't match.
For years, I filed as Mary S. Jones but my social security card was Mary Smith Jones. In order for me to get my refund which they would not issue,I had to go to social security and change my name to Mary S. Jones. (Names obviously made up for explanation.)
Good luck!
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tincin
Drama Llama
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Dec 2, 2015 13:24:01 GMT
Do you hire someone to do your taxes? If so, they are the first call you need to make. Other than that, I have nothing, which is why I hire mine done.  Good luck though. |
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mommamagoo
Junior Member
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Post by mommamagoo on Dec 2, 2015 14:40:25 GMT
When I got married, I moved my maiden name to a middle name, but kept my original middle name too. So full name is officially Momma (first middle name) (second middle name) Magoo. Taxes got rejected, because the IRS had me listed as having two last names. Same exact order of names and everything, just the difference in classification of one being a middle vs. last name. It took an infuriatingly long time to fix. Agree about going to see someone in person if you can. Good luck, hope its a simple fix for you!
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 2, 2015 14:53:56 GMT
Not sure if this has anything to do with it but I thought 17 yo dependents aren't considered full dependents? I'm not sure I'm saying that right but I thought my Dh mentioned something about that. This only relates to the refund portion though. He's traveling in a different time zone so I can't reach him till later. Have never heard that. DD was a full dependent on our taxes until she graduated college at 24. Our taxes have always been done professionally and that's how they did it. She did work occasionally and would note on her taxes that she was claimed as a full dependent by her parents (it's a question on the form). |
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Deleted
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May 1, 2024 17:52:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 15:18:19 GMT
We do hire someone to do our taxes, but he is on vacation. The gall! LOL.
I don't know anything about dd being 17 and not a full dependent, but she turned 17 in September of this year so that wouldn't impact our 2014 taxes.
I did check her social security card vs. tax return, and her name is spelled out in full-first name/full middle name/last name. DH had me check when he was on hold with the IRS yesterday.
Have to say I/we're assuming it has something to do with dd; for all we know, it could be an issue with ds. The letter doesn't say which dependent.
If DH can't get anywhere on the phone, I might have to pack a lunch and head to the local IRS office next week.
Thanks for the suggestions/ideas.
I really, really hope it's not identity theft.
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Post by scrapsotime on Dec 2, 2015 15:26:50 GMT
The age 17 cut off is just for the Child Tax Credit.
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Post by femalebusiness on Dec 2, 2015 15:35:11 GMT
I get those letters every once in a while questioning or not allowing something. I never call, I always write a well thought out letter explaining exactly my view of things. I always get a letter back telling me my explaination is sufficient. The one time years ago that I called it was a nightmare.
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
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Post by freebird on Dec 2, 2015 15:45:42 GMT
A few years back, my husband owed a bunch of back taxes due to some trickery by his ex wife (long story, but essentially, she didn't claim a bunch of income so she could get a big return). We (meaning I) had to spend many hours on the phone with the IRS trying to sort everything out. I'll have to disagree with all IRS agents being not helpful and hostile. There were some people that weren't very well versed in their job, but most people were really helpful and WANTED to help us get it sorted out. Yes, I had to sit on hold for a long time, but if you don't go in all aggressive with them, they'll be kind back to you (that applies to all customer service calls FYI).
In the end we got it all worked out and my husband even wrote them a letter (they told him what form to fill out) and he asked for a reduction in the fines/interest and they did it!
So while it might be a PITA, just like the real world, not all of them are a-holes.
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teddyw
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,817
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Post by teddyw on Dec 2, 2015 15:55:47 GMT
The age 17 cut off is just for the Child Tax Credit. Thanks I knew there was something about 17 yo's. |
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scrapbug
Full Member
Posts: 343
Jun 26, 2014 0:11:46 GMT
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Post by scrapbug on Dec 2, 2015 16:05:45 GMT
That explanation stinks and doesn't ring truth, typical with IRS. Usually if something is wrong like that they will not accept the return and will kick it back and have you fix the mistake. The only thing I can think of, is that you took the child tax credit for your daughter, and you can't get that credit once they turn 17. Even if she turned 17 on December 31st, she would be disqualified for that year and then on. You can still claim her as a dependent, but you don't get the extra credit.
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Deleted
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May 1, 2024 17:52:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 16:14:36 GMT
That explanation stinks and doesn't ring truth, typical with IRS. Usually if something is wrong like that they will not accept the return and will kick it back and have you fix the mistake. The only thing I can think of, is that you took the child tax credit for your daughter, and you can't get that credit once they turn 17. Even if she turned 17 on December 31st, she would be disqualified for that year and then on. You can still claim her as a dependent, but you don't get the extra credit. DD turned 17 this year, September of 2015. The issue is with our 2014 taxes. |
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mlana
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by mlana on Dec 3, 2015 6:30:04 GMT
I would not bother counting them by phone. I would make copies of the social security cards for each family member along with a copy of the tax form as you filed it that year and I'd send it certified mail. In the letter, ask for exact details of what the error was.
I've had a number of run ins with the IRS in the 28 years we've owned our business. Sometimes the conflict was the result of my mistake, sometimes the error was theirs. Sometimes the agents were helpful. Sometimes they were asshats. What each and every one of the, told me was, no matter what they told me or agreed to, nothing was binding or official until I received a letter on official IRS letterhead that stated it was so.
So, when the agent told me we had paid off our debt completely and didn't owe them a penny more, it didn't matter. I didn't have that in writing from them, so I had to pay penalties and interest even though he and two other agents swore the balance was paid I full.
Marcy
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Good luck though.
