Yesterday, I was looking through new mail and saw what looked like a check in the IRS envelope. Thinking it may be the stimulus come early, I was excited.
When I opened it, it was indeed a check from the IRS, but for $3,200! With the letter explaining that it is a refund for overpayment to the state.
We were floored. Of course, we were pretty sure that we calculated our taxes correctly. So immediately came the sinking feeling that it was a mistake.
From looking over our taxes quickly, it seems that DH added “taxes withheld” and “tax advance payments" together (with the logic that it is all taxes already paid).
The amount was correct; he just did not separate them.
The state must have found tax advance payments in the system and applied them again.
We will, of course, double check this very carefully on the weekend before calling IRS on Monday. I wonder if the IRS will be as stubborn in agreeing that it is a mistake and they do not owe us money, as they would be in a reverse situation.
Anyway, my fear is that a mistake in our favor is likely to end up being as much trouble for us as the reverse.
Oh, how I wish I could keep this beautiful check – I felt so much richer for a moment. But, alas…
IRS tease - it is hard to give up this check!
June 10th, 2008 at 06:48 pm
June 10th, 2008 at 11:24 pm 1213136691
June 13th, 2008 at 01:23 am 1213316604