IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

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Leesbro63
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IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

I filed my 2020 tax return on March of 2021. Two full years ago. The IRS web site showed it's receipt soon thereafter, and for two years you can still see it online with my a negative $7 balance. They owe me a $7 refund. I used to arrange a small payment or refund as sort of a "receipt". Now that I can see things online, and after having the 2020 return still "open", I quit doing that. Anyway, is there some point where this will just "time out" and the IRS computer will automatically send me $7 plus interest? Should I contact the IRS about this, or am I better off just letting whatever happen, happen. I've squandered $7 on worse. Is there any downside to doing nothing?
Fpdesignco
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Fpdesignco »

You have spent more time for a value perspective writing this, and now reading my response.

You will spend hours on the phone to try to contact the IRS, or even more time in correspondence.

Suggestion, let it go.
Rebels38
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Rebels38 »

Write them a letter telling them you will put a lien on their headquarters if they don’t pay with interest by July 8. And make sure you note how the interest has been compounding love before they have been informed by you.

I recently heard about a case where the IRS put a lien on somebody’s house for supposedly $8 in unpaid taxes the homeowner didn’t even know about.
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

Fpdesignco wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:50 am You have spent more time for a value perspective writing this, and now reading my response.

You will spend hours on the phone to try to contact the IRS, or even more time in correspondence.

Suggestion, let it go.
That's my inclination, but I'd like them to close my file for 2020. Will that happen automatically at some point? Will it "time out"?
Fpdesignco
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Fpdesignco »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:57 am
Fpdesignco wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:50 am You have spent more time for a value perspective writing this, and now reading my response.

You will spend hours on the phone to try to contact the IRS, or even more time in correspondence.

Suggestion, let it go.
That's my inclination, but I'd like them to close my file for 2020. Will that happen automatically at some point? Will it "time out"?
Ultimately, the government owes you a debt. Whether or not they close out your file, you don’t owe them anything, they owe you. If it really, really, bothers you, write a quick letter and wait 6-18 months for a response.
Blue456
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Blue456 »

Take them to court. The IRS even tells you how to sue them:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxpayer-bill-of-rights-5
PaunchyPirate
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by PaunchyPirate »

My personal experience is that there are some situations where tax refunds appear to go into a status where an IRS employee has to manually release it for payment. If they always work on more pressing matters, they never seem to get to a person who releases it. Write them a letter. I would not wait on the phone for very long on the topic. However, when I've called early in the morning, I've been able to speak to an agent within about 15 minutes of hold time. Not always. But sometimes.
Asyouwish
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Asyouwish »

Are you viewing your account transcript? What codes do you see?

A code 570 is a refund hold. If it is not released with a 571, the credit balance will sit forever.

Either a phone call is warranted, or print out the transcript and attach a letter requesting the refund be released.

When you send a payment for no reason, the IRS will put a refund freeze code on the account. This prevents the computer from issuing an erroneous refund. The IRS thinks you may be amending and will owe $7. Therefore they freeze the credit balance waiting for you to provide paperwork or a reason for sending them a payment.
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TomatoTomahto
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by TomatoTomahto »

Asyouwish wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 11:04 am Are you viewing your account transcript? What codes do you see?

A code 570 is a refund hold. If it is not released with a 571, the credit balance will sit forever.

Either a phone call is warranted, or print out the transcript and attach a letter requesting the refund be released.

When you send a payment for no reason, the IRS will put a refund freeze code on the account. This prevents the computer from issuing an erroneous refund. The IRS thinks you may be amending and will owe $7. Therefore they freeze the credit balance waiting for you to provide paperwork or a reason for sending them a payment.
I try to learn something every day, and this plausible explanation fits the bill, and just before noon to boot!
I get the FI part but not the RE part of FIRE.
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retiredjg
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by retiredjg »

Leesboro will be our "test case". :happy
stan1
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by stan1 »

TomatoTomahto wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 11:11 am
Asyouwish wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 11:04 am Are you viewing your account transcript? What codes do you see?

A code 570 is a refund hold. If it is not released with a 571, the credit balance will sit forever.

Either a phone call is warranted, or print out the transcript and attach a letter requesting the refund be released.

When you send a payment for no reason, the IRS will put a refund freeze code on the account. This prevents the computer from issuing an erroneous refund. The IRS thinks you may be amending and will owe $7. Therefore they freeze the credit balance waiting for you to provide paperwork or a reason for sending them a payment.
I try to learn something every day, and this plausible explanation fits the bill, and just before noon to boot!
Agree, seems we have an expert (mostly) lurking amongst us! Thanks for posting to help explain asyouwish.
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

There is no code next to the -$7 balance, but the last activity, dated April 12, 2021, shows code 570 "Additional account action pending".

So what should I do or avoid doing?
Last edited by Leesbro63 on Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
stan1
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by stan1 »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:08 pm There is no code next to the -$7 balance, the last activity, dated April 12, 2021, shows code 570 "Additional account action pending".

So what should I do or avoid doing?
Just curious, how did you get here? Did you send them a check for $7 after you filed your return or did you overpay your taxes by $7 to get a refund? Paper file or e-file?
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

stan1 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:11 pm
Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:08 pm There is no code next to the -$7 balance, the last activity, dated April 12, 2021, shows code 570 "Additional account action pending".

So what should I do or avoid doing?
Just curious, how did you get here? Did you send them a check for $7 after you filed your return or did you overpay your taxes by $7 to get a refund?
Nope. I had a big overpayment from estimated payments made in 2020. I applied all but $7 of that overpayment to 2021 tax, which they did, fine. via my instruction on Form 1040 line 36. And requested they refund $7 via line 35a. EFiled via Turbotax. As I stated earlier, I used to do this as sort of a "receipt"....just have a few dollars refunded. But after this annoyance, I quit doing that.
j.click
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by j.click »

A five minute conversation with a congressional staffer in your Senator's or Congressman's office will get best results....
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

j.click wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:20 pm A five minute conversation with a congressional staffer in your Senator's or Congressman's office will get best results....
It's $7!
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Harmanic »

Fpdesignco wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 9:05 am
Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:57 am
Fpdesignco wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:50 am You have spent more time for a value perspective writing this, and now reading my response.

You will spend hours on the phone to try to contact the IRS, or even more time in correspondence.

Suggestion, let it go.
That's my inclination, but I'd like them to close my file for 2020. Will that happen automatically at some point? Will it "time out"?
Ultimately, the government owes you a debt. Whether or not they close out your file, you don’t owe them anything, they owe you. If it really, really, bothers you, write a quick letter and wait 6-18 months for a response.
That would be a waste of resources that could be used for something else. There are people with real issues who are stuck in the backlog and they shouldn't be delayed further because of frivolous claims.
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

It would be nice if Asyouwish would chime back in now that we know it’s code 570. In theory I'm fine never seeing my 7 bucks, but in reality I don't like any balance, positive or negative, on any IRS account.

As to the post just above, I can't see why it's harming anyone else if I inquire, by phone or in writing, about an open matter, even if the amount is small. My issue is "open", not "small".
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by mushripu »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:44 am I filed my 2020 tax return on March of 2021. Two full years ago. The IRS web site showed it's receipt soon thereafter, and for two years you can still see it online with my a negative $7 balance. They owe me a $7 refund. I used to arrange a small payment or refund as sort of a "receipt". Now that I can see things online, and after having the 2020 return still "open", I quit doing that. Anyway, is there some point where this will just "time out" and the IRS computer will automatically send me $7 plus interest? Should I contact the IRS about this, or am I better off just letting whatever happen, happen. I've squandered $7 on worse. Is there any downside to doing nothing?
I would say leave it alone. Do not poke the bear for $7
erp
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by erp »

People have too much time on their hands if they are tracking and posting about $7 imo. (I thought it was 7k when I first started reading!)
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Parkinglotracer »

And the winner for the most BH post for 2023 is …
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Asyouwish »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:08 pm There is no code next to the -$7 balance, but the last activity, dated April 12, 2021, shows code 570 "Additional account action pending".

So what should I do or avoid doing?
You need to call. The 570 will hold the refund until an employee reverses it.

I don’t recommend Mondays. Tuesday through Friday early morning.

You can try writing a letter. But generic correspondence could take weeks to get processed.
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

Asyouwish wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:01 pm
Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:08 pm There is no code next to the -$7 balance, but the last activity, dated April 12, 2021, shows code 570 "Additional account action pending".

So what should I do or avoid doing?
You need to call. The 570 will hold the refund until an employee reverses it.

I don’t recommend Mondays. Tuesday through Friday early morning.

You can try writing a letter. But generic correspondence could take weeks to get processed.
And if I just let it go, I’d there any downside?
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:55 pm And the winner for the most BH post for 2023 is …
This made me laugh 🏆 😀!

It’s not about the $7, it’s about the not closed out status.
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retiredjg
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by retiredjg »

Have you gotten a refund since then...for some other tax year?

If not, I would wonder if your next refund will trigger the $7 to get unstuck or trigger your next refund to get stuck. I'm guessing the former, but it is just a guess.

However, if it is the latter, maybe it would take the same effort to fix then as now.
Asyouwish
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Asyouwish »

And if I just let it go, I’d there any downside?
Not that I know of. You let the IRS keep your $7.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by David Jay »

Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:55 pm And the winner for the most BH post for 2023 is …
The year is young...
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by EddyB »

Blue456 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 9:08 am Take them to court. The IRS even tells you how to sue them:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxpayer-bill-of-rights-5
Two years, prior notice—by their standards it probably rises to the level of willful disregard of the law.
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

EddyB wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:00 pm
Blue456 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 9:08 am Take them to court. The IRS even tells you how to sue them:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxpayer-bill-of-rights-5
Two years, prior notice—by their standards it probably rises to the level of willful disregard of the law.
I believe this is known as “poking the bear”. Or on the street, it’s known as being something related to the posterior. I’m not doing this.
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

retiredjg wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:46 pm Have you gotten a refund since then...for some other tax year?

If not, I would wonder if your next refund will trigger the $7 to get unstuck or trigger your next refund to get stuck. I'm guessing the former, but it is just a guess.

However, if it is the latter, maybe it would take the same effort to fix then as now.
Both 2021 and 2022 I had overpayments fully applied to the next year without problem. I can even, already, see my 2022 overage applied to 2023.
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

Asyouwish wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:51 pm
And if I just let it go, I’d there any downside?
Not that I know of. You let the IRS keep your $7.
I think I’ll just do this, then. Thank you all.
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enad
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by enad »

I used to set it up so the IRS owes me about $25 - $50, but now set it up so that I owe them that amount and pay it via EFTPS
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by retiredjg »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:37 pm
retiredjg wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:46 pm Have you gotten a refund since then...for some other tax year?

If not, I would wonder if your next refund will trigger the $7 to get unstuck or trigger your next refund to get stuck. I'm guessing the former, but it is just a guess.

However, if it is the latter, maybe it would take the same effort to fix then as now.
Both 2021 and 2022 I had overpayments fully applied to the next year without problem. I can even, already, see my 2022 overage applied to 2023.
In that case, I don't see a problem or a downside (but that is mostly a guess).

I'd probably write a letter, not wait on the phone, and hope to get the tax year closed.

Someone said recently they got a real person on the phone when they called a local IRS office to make an appointment. The IRS rep just fixed the problem while on the phone - no appointment needed. Maybe that will could work for you too.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by whodidntante »

You can write your nearest IRS service center if you want your $7 back.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Parkinglotracer »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:28 pm
Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:55 pm And the winner for the most BH post for 2023 is …
This made me laugh 🏆 😀!

It’s not about the $7, it’s about the not closed out status.
I get it. I’d send them a letter with the exact wording they sent me last year with 1,000 complicated computations and tell them they owe me 7.0709342356796543 dollars and if they can’t afford to pay it in a lump sum then … contact my attorney.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:04 pm
Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:28 pm
Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:55 pm And the winner for the most BH post for 2023 is …
This made me laugh 🏆 😀!

It’s not about the $7, it’s about the not closed out status.
I get it. I’d send them a letter with the exact wording they sent me last year with 1,000 complicated computations and tell them they owe me 7.0709342356796543 dollars and if they can’t afford to pay it in a lump sum then … contact my attorney.
No. Again, that’s just poking the bear.
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cheese_breath
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by cheese_breath »

It's been three years. Time to turn it over to a collection agency. :-P
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Metsfan91 »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:44 am ... Is there any downside to doing nothing?
No, I do not think there is any downside if you don't do anything. If IRS wants you to justify your $7 refund, IRS will write you... Perhaps after IRS hires new agents and get them trained.
Last edited by Metsfan91 on Sat Mar 25, 2023 11:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by soxfan10 »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:28 pm
Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:55 pm And the winner for the most BH post for 2023 is …
This made me laugh 🏆 😀!

It’s not about the $7, it’s about the not closed out status.
Returns arent closed until three years after filing. Whether a refund is processed or not is irrelevant and has nothing to do with whether you will be audited.

Payments of refunds is a merely procedural/processing issue and has nothing to do with anything else about your return. Let it go unless you really want to spend a bunch of time for $7.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Mel Lindauer »

If it's really a refund that's owed to you, relax and enjoy the 4% interest they automatically add to the refund. By the time it's finally paid to your heirs, it may be all the way up to $10 or even $20. :happy
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Metsfan91 »

Error
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Parkinglotracer »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:11 pm
Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:04 pm
Leesbro63 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:28 pm
Parkinglotracer wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:55 pm And the winner for the most BH post for 2023 is …
This made me laugh 🏆 😀!

It’s not about the $7, it’s about the not closed out status.
I get it. I’d send them a letter with the exact wording they sent me last year with 1,000 complicated computations and tell them they owe me 7.0709342356796543 dollars and if they can’t afford to pay it in a lump sum then … contact my attorney.
No. Again, that’s just poking the bear.
Oh I thought that is what you were doing for $7. Then I would forget it.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by obafgkm »

Asyouwish wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:51 pm You let the IRS keep your $7.
To be pedantic, it is not the Internal Revenue Service that is keeping the money. It is the United States Treasury. There is a difference.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by arcticpineapplecorp. »

It's hard to accept the truth when the lies were exactly what you wanted to hear. Investing is simple, but not easy. Buy, hold & rebalance low cost index funds & manage taxable events. Asking Portfolio Questions | Wiki
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by andypanda »

The IRS still owes my late brother-in-law's estate $91 from 2019. He died in 1/2020. Stealing money owed to a dead Priest. Figures.

My wife would pursue it to prove a point, but if she got the $91 she's have to split it with her two sisters.

The IRS is hopeless at this point. She has called and the case is in some secret office that the helpful IRS person on the phone is not allowed to have the number for. WTH. I believe they shredded the entire file.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by andypanda »

" it is not the Internal Revenue Service that is keeping the money."

Not to be pedantic, but you don't know who has the money unless you work there and know the case personally.
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Leesbro63
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by Leesbro63 »

arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:08 pm "I want my two dollars!!"
Cute. Yup! I’m gonna let the U.S. Treasury keep my $7 and move on. I just wanted to be sure that leaving a balance for a tax year, albeit a credit balance, wouldn’t have some unintended consequence. I’m now fairly well convinced that there are none and the hassle of shaking down $7 from an IRS, that still hasn’t caught up from the pandemic backlog, isn’t worth it. Moving on.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by legalwriter1 »

As a lawyer and professor, I teach a course on Alternative Dispute Resolution. An IRS refund of $7 is a classic situation that calls for acquiescence. Just let it go.

I checked out a book from a public library. The library insisted that I did not return a book. I am certain I returned the book. The cost of the book was $10k. The library put a hold on my account. We use our public library a lot. We just paid the $10 fine and moved on. Some things in life are better to just let go.
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arcticpineapplecorp.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by arcticpineapplecorp. »

Leesbro63 wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 5:05 am
arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:08 pm "I want my two dollars!!"
Cute. Yup! I’m gonna let the U.S. Treasury keep my $7 and move on. I just wanted to be sure that leaving a balance for a tax year, albeit a credit balance, wouldn’t have some unintended consequence. I’m now fairly well convinced that there are none and the hassle of shaking down $7 from an IRS, that still hasn’t caught up from the pandemic backlog, isn’t worth it. Moving on.
i'm not encouraging you to give up at all. I'm encouraging you to be as tenacious as that newspaper delivery boy. It's your money, not the IRS's. I'd either contact the IRS if you haven't, then if they won't resolve, reach out to my congressman/woman to as j.click suggested. Might knock something loose at the IRS. Your rep is working for you, your tax dollars at work. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
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Re: IRS Owes Me $7 Refund From 2020

Post by EddyB »

arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:43 am
Leesbro63 wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 5:05 am
arcticpineapplecorp. wrote: Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:08 pm "I want my two dollars!!"
Cute. Yup! I’m gonna let the U.S. Treasury keep my $7 and move on. I just wanted to be sure that leaving a balance for a tax year, albeit a credit balance, wouldn’t have some unintended consequence. I’m now fairly well convinced that there are none and the hassle of shaking down $7 from an IRS, that still hasn’t caught up from the pandemic backlog, isn’t worth it. Moving on.
i'm not encouraging you to give up at all. I'm encouraging you to be as tenacious as that newspaper delivery boy. It's your money, not the IRS's. I'd either contact the IRS if you haven't, then if they won't resolve, reach out to my congressman/woman to as j.click suggested. Might knock something loose at the IRS. Your rep is working for you, your tax dollars at work. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
The $7 is how they test you. Next time? The sky’s the limit.
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