Estimated Payment for 2023 incorrectly assigned to 2022

[Stephen R1]

Hello and thank you for reading and any help you can give.

I use EFTPS to schedule my estimated tax payments. While setting up my 2023 tax payments I incorrectly entered the year on one of them and mistakenly assigned it to 2022.

Seeing this was incorrect, the IRS sent me a refund check with interest. I called them, and the IRS agent I spoke with told me to return it to the Refund Inquiry Unit, explain what happened, and request that the amount be applied to my 2023 taxes.

I followed the instructions. I'm waiting to hear back from Refund Inquiry.

My question is this: I'd like to finish and file my 2023 taxes next week. Should I assume that the Refund Inquiry Unit will properly apply my payment and report it as estimated taxes paid, or should I report the amount as not having been paid and pay any "uncovered" taxes, or is there another option? Regarding refund, I expect to get one, but I don't yet have an estimate of its size.

[Cynthiad66 · Accepted solution]

You should not assume that the funds will be applied timely.  However, you can file and not include that payment in your computations as having been paid.  It will look like you owe more or your refund will be less but when the refund is properly applied you should not owe anything or be refunded the difference.  Be patient, this could take weeks.

[Stephen R1]

Thanks for your prompt and very helpful advice. I’ll follow your guidance.