I filed 2016 return applied $126 to 2017 ES. Just received $750 IRS refund. What to do about refund that is not mine?

[ChristinaS · Accepted solution]

Wait a week. You should have a notice from the IRS explaining the adjustment to your return. You'll have the refund before you'll have the notice.

The IRS does adjust returns for the better and not just for the worse. It would appear that the payments to the IRS on your return (withholding or estimated tax payments) were $750 more than you reported. Its also possible that something else was corrected (like a tax credit), though that is less likely.

If you were able to efile your return, the adjustment is unlikely to be related to ID theft or anything nefarious like that. You can call the IRS to ask, but you could have your letter in a few days.

Once you know what the reasoning is, you can address it.

[ChristinaS]

Also, of course, make sure that your filed return doesn't indicate a $876 refund with $126 applied to 2017