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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 5:43:26 PM

I accidentally paid my taxes twice. What do i do to get a refund?

Paid once by etc and once by check.

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24 Replies
Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:43:28 PM

You probably don't have to do anything. The IRS will detect the duplicate payment and send you a refund. Just wait a few weeks to let them take care of it.

Returning Member
May 31, 2019 5:43:31 PM

Same problem here. I was charged on my credit card and I sent in a check that was cashed. I tried calling them but was unable to get thru the automated machine voice questions. The questions did not pertain to my problem. If they don't send me a refund, can I deduct it from next years federal taxes?

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:43:33 PM

@julieracicot - No, you cannot deduct the duplicate payment from next year's tax. You will get a refund of the extra payment, one way or another. If you don't get it in a month or so, call again. Select the option for personal income tax, then select the options for questions about payment.

Returning Member
May 31, 2019 5:43:35 PM

I called them and got in touch.  They said they have one of the duplicate payments as an estimated tax payment for 2018 which can be deducted in next year's taxes.  I need to verify that this is even possible with turbo tax.  Otherwise I will have to call them back to request a refund.  Please let me know if I can deduct as an the estimated tax payment in the turbo tax system for 2018.  In your previous email you said I could not.  This is opposite of what the irs said to me, please elaborate or confirm your previous response.  Thanks.

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:43:35 PM

Did you send the check in with a 1040ES slip?  Thatis an estimated payment for next year 2018.  A 2017 tax due would be on a 1040V voucher.  Sounds like you sent in the wrong slip.  So you will need to remember it and enter it into next year’s return.  Don’t forget.

Or when you paid with a credit card or EFT did you select the wrong type of payment?  Maybe you picked to apply it to 2018 because you were paying it now in 2018?  Were they for the same amount?  If not be sure to enter the right amount next year for the estimated payment.

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:43:37 PM

Yes, you will be able to enter it as an estimated tax payment in TurboTax for 2018.

I told you earlier that you could not deduct it for 2018 because you said it was an additional payment for 2017. If the IRS had recorded it as a payment of 2017 tax, you would not be able to deduct it on your 2018 tax return. But now that you know the IRS has recorded it as an estimated tax payment for 2018, you will be able to enter that payment in TurboTax and it will be applied to your 2018 tax.

It doesn't matter how it got to be recorded as a 2018 estimated tax payment. If that's what's in the IRS records, that's what you will enter on your 2018 tax return. As VolvoGirl said, you have to remember to enter it yourself. You won't get any form showing it, and the only way for TurboTax to know about it is for you to enter it.

Returning Member
May 31, 2019 5:43:40 PM

Thanks.  Check and credit card amount differed by $3.00 for some reason.  Credit card payment had no slip that I'm aware of.  Most likely both submitted under 2017 payments.  Check I sent in with voucher/ slip provided by turbo tax and mailed with check.   Not sure which amount applies or form.  I'll enter in the greater amount I guess?  I was told the greater amount, which is the check, was the 2018 estimated tax payment entered by irs.  I need a form to do this?

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:43:41 PM

No form needed.  You sent the form with the check.  Just remember to enter it into next year and get credit for it.  If it was a lot you can reduce any withholding you have to get more back now instead of a big refund next year.  Post back next year if you need help entering it.

Returning Member
May 31, 2019 5:43:43 PM

Yes, I sent in check with three different 540-ES voucher slips.  Credit card payment was for 2017 I assume.

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:43:45 PM

Do you still have questions?  Next year enter the total you sent in for the 540ES and any 1040ES slips. ES slips were optional estimates for 2018.  So you will get credit for them on your tax return.  You might get them back or they will reduce any tax you owe.

Returning Member
May 31, 2019 5:43:47 PM

Sorry, that was franchise tax board.  It was 4 different vouchers to federal of same amount. I'm assuming they were 540-ES voucher slip like the three I sent into the franchise tax board, but not sure.  The credit card payment was for 2017.

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:43:47 PM

Federal slips are 1040ES.

Level 2
Apr 13, 2020 7:49:36 AM

Hello, same here. I have paid once online, one-time automatic. I would like to know did you get the return from  IRS? Thank you

Intuit Alumni
Apr 13, 2020 8:47:35 AM

@Adelawu Please clarify your question so that we may best assist you. If you are concerned that you paid for your taxes twice, you will need to reach out to the IRS once they re-open their phone lines so that they can look into this matter for you. 

New Member
Jul 14, 2020 7:07:45 PM

Currently out of country cannot call, how else can i reach irs?

Expert Alumni
Jul 14, 2020 7:17:28 PM

In most cases, the IRS will automatically refund the extra payment as long as both payments were clearly marked for the same tax year and the taxpayer does not owe any additional funds for other years. 

 

It may take a bit of time, especially under current conditions, to see the refund.  

 

You can also write to the IRS - but at this time I do not recommend this as their backlog of mail is reported to exceed ten million pieces at the moment.  

 

If possible, you may wish to see if your bank can cancel one of the payments in the mean time.  

Level 1
Jul 15, 2020 12:32:58 PM

I just did the same thing  :(    I mistakenly submitted a payment while e-filing my taxes.
I then checked my status the next day and it looked like the payment didn't go through so I arranged for the debit from my checking account again.

 

Yesterday, I saw two debits from my checking account by the IRS, for the same amount.

Bank had already moved the money, so I can't cancel it.

Some responses here have said that IRS will refund the money, once they see the duplicate.

Other responses say the IRS will keep  it as an estimated payment for next year.

 

Does anyone know which answer is correct?   Thank you!

 

 

New Member
Jul 17, 2020 12:21:48 PM

Is there anything I can do if I paid twice on this year's tax return to get my a payment back ASAP?

Level 15
Jul 17, 2020 2:00:05 PM

@boblamary  There is nothing you can do to get the duplicate payment back faster, and it will probably take longer than normal. The IRS is just starting to reopen their processing centers after being closed for several months because of the Covid-19 pandemic. They have limited staff and a huge backlog, so everything is going to take a long time.

 

New Member
Jul 24, 2020 10:19:14 AM

how do i get arefund

Level 2
Mar 29, 2021 7:51:44 AM

I did the same thing with my state tax and they said it can take up to 6 weeks for the computer to spit out a refund and it will be in the form of a check. Its been 5 weeks for me and Im still waiting.

Level 2
Mar 29, 2021 7:52:58 AM

I did the same thing with my state taxes and they said it can take up to 6 weeks for a refund and it will be in the form of a check once the computer realizes you overpaid.

Level 2
Mar 29, 2021 7:55:56 AM

I did the same thing and they said it can take up to 6 weeks to get a refund. Ive been waiting 5 weeks so far. Evidently the computer has to recognize the overpayment before it sends you a refund in the form of a check in the mail.

Level 1
Apr 21, 2021 12:14:12 PM

Do you have to request it or will they automatically send it ?