I just filed an amended fed/state return because the federal government had withheld nearly $2000 too much in social security taxes, yet I didn't get a refund. Why not??

[lisaverzella1]

Why am I not receiving a refund if an amended W2 showed too much social security tax withheld?

[VolvoGirl]

Did your employer give you a W2C to correct the Social Security tax?  Did they reduce box 4?   You don't get it back on your tax return.   The Social Security tax doesn't affect your income tax return unless you had more than 1 employer and those employers took out more than the max of  $8,853.60 (for 2021).  Did you have more than 1 employer?

If your employer reduced the Social Security tax in box 4 you have to get it back from the employer.  Or maybe they originally reported the wrong amount but didn't actually take it out of your paychecks.

Please explain more what was changed. You don't need to amend for changes in the Social Security tax and especially not for state.  SS is only for federal.  

[Critter-3]

Did you have more than one employer ?  You can only have an excess SS withheld if you had more than one employer per person.  What is the total of all W-2 box 4 for just you ? 

https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/social-security/articles/what-is-the-social-security-tax-l....

Here is the IRS topic for more information.

And did you complete the 1040X correctly ? 

Look at the form 1040X …

Column A should have the figures from the original return, Column C the corrected figures and Column B the differences between the other 2 which needs an explanation on page 2 of the form 1040X.

If you completed it correctly you will see an entry on either line 16 OR 18:

On line 16 should be the amount you paid with your original return. If you paid nothing already then this line should be zero.

On line 18 should be the amount of your original refund you received.  If you have not received your refund yet then you need to wait for it.  If the refund changes from what you expected then this line must reflect that change.

Then you will see your extra refund on line 22 OR  the new balance due you need to pay on line 20.

[NCperson]

if the employer overwithheld, it's upto the employer to refund the excess social security.  Is that what occured? 

how many W-2s are part of the return?  is each a unique EIN? check both your W-2s and what you entered into TT - maybe you entered an incorrect EIN?

do two W-2's have the same EIN and the sum of the social security tax exceed $8853.60? 

[Mike9241]

if you only had one employer and more than 6.2% was withheld on the social security wages, you got to get the excess back from the employer. the IRS will not refund this type of excess.