Adjusted gross income, form 1040 line 11 - increase in the gross income - 2024

[moyersbeagles]

I received a letter from the IRS. They adjusted my 2024 gross income which increased my income and reduced my return. How can I find out why.  

Do I have to refile or file an amendment?

[SharonD007]

No, you don't have to file an amendment unless the IRS made a mistake.  The letter should tell you the reason why they made the adjustment.  You can also call the number that is on the top of letter from the IRS for clarification.

[VolvoGirl]

Did you enter any Social Security?

Is there an amount on 1040 line 6b or is it 0?  If you entered Social Security……

What usually happens is the IRS changed some other income on your return.  Like the taxable amount of a 1099R you got or you missed entering some income.  Like if a  1099R got entered on the wrong line 1040 line 4 or 5, the IRS would miss it and think you didn’t report it.

By increasing your other income it made more of your SS taxable.

Or There is a new question this year asking if you lived in a foreign place.  People have been answering it wrong or skipping it.  Go back through the Social Security entries.  

[moyersbeagles]

The letter states there was an error in the amount of Social Security benefits on my return.  And references to see publication 915.  However, when I read publication 915, there was nothing that helped to explain why they increased the Social Security benefits.  I have no other documentation with the amount the IRS increased my adjusted gross income.

I've tried several times to contact the number on the letter; with no luck at speaking with anyone.  I just get hung up on.

[VolvoGirl]

Yes that’s what I posted.  There have been many questions for this.  There is a new question this year asking if you lived in a foreign place.  People have been answering it wrong or skipping it.  Go back through the Social Security entries.  

You can go back into your tax return but be very careful not to change anything.  Click on Add a State to let you back into your return.  You should see this screen after you enter your Social Security and hit Continue.  What is checked Yes or No?  

[moyersbeagles]

1040 line 6b or is 0.

[moyersbeagles]

OK, so the question - U.S. citizen living abroad in one of these countries is answered incorrectly, "yes".  How do I get this fixed?

[VolvoGirl]

Nothing you can do.  The IRS corrected your return.  Sorry your refund is less.   

[moyersbeagles]

But it's wrong.  We've never traveled out of the US.  Can I file an amendment?

[VolvoGirl]

No.  The IRS fixed it for you.  Some of your Social Security is now taxable .   So your refund is less.   The IRS is right.

[moyersbeagles]

How are they right.  I don't have any extra income in my pocket because of a yes or no question that was incorrectly answered.  

[VolvoGirl]

If you had answered No your tax return would have shown the smaller refund.  You can change your answer in the program and see if the new refund matches the IRS.  Sorry that wrong answer can affect many things in your tax return.   

How to contact Turbo Tax
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-contact-turbotax/00/26991

[DawnC]

You don't need to do anything other than whatever the IRS notice tells you to do.   The IRS already fixed it on your return.   Because you marked it yes, that caused a zero to be entered on Line 6 when there should have been an amount.   You can prepare the amendment in TurboTax, but you don't need to file it as your return was already adjusted.  The IRS adjusted line 6b from zero to the correct amount, which increased your taxable income and therefore, reduced the amount of your refund.