IRS Notice CP11 says I owe Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) Back!

[NCperson]

@Yelloweggbasket - on the id.me - are you trying to do the video call? I simply uploaded the front and back of my driver's license - it was pretty simple and easy.   it does take either a smart phone or a PC with a camera, though.  

best to figure out a review of the transcript.  I just think you are going to be 'stuck' in 9 months and have to start over. 

[Yelloweggbasket]

1,530.20 is the exact amount they reduced our 2,800 credit by.  And no they did not change any other line items .

As I mentioned the IRS page is giving me an error code of 2004 and then dumping me back to the sign on page with no suggestion of how to resolve the issue.  So I cannot access the records.  

I will keep trying to call, but am going to send the records , it’s just a copy of the 1040sr, 3 pages.  At least we will have a record of having responded.  

I find it interesting that you think we made a mistake, that we need to check our records, that is not the case here, it’s a very simple return, and our bank account is simple to, so no I would not miss it.

[Yelloweggbasket]

Did the video call and  is complete, but the irs website gives me the error I mentioned.  No reason for the code or how to resolve.  Way to go IRS

[NCperson]

<<I find it interesting that you think we made a mistake, that we need to check our records, that is not the case here, it’s a very simple return, and our bank account is simple to, so no I would not miss it.>>

I completed over 200 tax returns this past winter (volunteer basis) and I was amazed at the number of times that people believed they did NOT receive the 3rd stimulus only to find out when we required them to look at their bank statements that they indeed did receive it. 

Memories fail people but the facts lie in those bank statements.

you do come across as rather "anal" in your detailed knowledge of your financial well-being; most I meet are not that attentive. 

I would encourage figuring out how to get into those transcripts - a) start over with your spouse logging in, b) get some family member who is tech savvy to help out - as again, you may be barking up the wrong tree and won't find out for a good 9 months that you have to start over..... 

[fanfare]

@Yelloweggbasket 

"wondering if these notices are generated by a computer program or a human, who maybe did not have a good day?"

Of course the letter is computer generated.

The problem with the IRS letter is it is confusing and lists only some possible reasons for an adjustment.

Not the actual reason in your situation.

[Critter-3]

So... if you never received a stimulus deposit or check—and the IRS records show  they paid you—then you should ask the IRS to trace your payment.  Many payments were sent and not cashed so a trace is the only option available to you.  Some were sent on debit cards that looked like junk mail and many folks thru them  in the trash.    If the payment was never cashed ONLY THEN can you send in an amended return to claim the credit and attach the findings letter with the 1040X form. 

The fastest way to initiate a trace is to contact the IRS by calling us at 800-919-9835.

You can also complete Form 3911:

• Write "EIP3" on the top of the form to identify the payment you want to trace.
• Complete the form answering all refund questions as they relate to your Economic Impact Payment.
• When completing item 7 under Section 1:
• Check the box for "Individual" as the Type of return
• Enter "2021" as the Tax Period
• Do not write anything for the Date Filed
• Sign the form. If you file married filing jointly, both spouses must sign the form.

You will generally receive a response 6 weeks after we receive your request for a payment trace, but there may be delays due to limited staffing. 

[Yelloweggbasket]

Yes I am a retired accountant and business analyst, so yes I am anal and have always been proud of it.

good for you for volunteering, but your thinking the majority of people are that ignorant of their finances is a sad observation.

having helped people with IRS issues in the past, this one really baffles me, as the facts are so clearly wrong.  So yes I will send in my paper and attempt to get a response from IRS and ID me as to why I can’t get in.

I was interested in finding out if someone else had this experience or suspected fraud.

regards

[Critter-3]

My tax office completes thousands of  returns and it is surprising how many folks did not get a 6419 letter from the IRS  AND  could not remember if or how much they actually got in the stimulus advance.  If they could not access their bank account to check we adopted the $1 rule ... we would indicate they got all of the stimulus they are entitled to EXCEPT $1 ... this puts $1 on line 30 of the form 1040 and requires the IRS to check it out.   If they did get the $1400 then their refund would be $1 less (or they would owe $1 more which the IRS would probably never bill them for)   but if they didn't then it would be $1399 more ... either way the clients were not mad about it since we educated them as to what we were doing.  

[NCperson]

@Yelloweggbasket - let me suggest one other last plausible scenario - 

the refund 'haircut' is quite an odd number.  that occurs with AGIs between $150,000 and $160,000

let's say this occured:

1) your 2020 AGI (or 2019) was $155,465.  The IRS used that to calculate the 3rd stimulus as a $1530.20 payment.  The check was lost in the mail and never cashed. 

2) your 2021 AGI was less than $150,000 so you were eligible for the entire $2800.  But the IRS thinks it already sent you the $1530.20! The transcript will prove that theory out! 

[Yelloweggbasket]

Someone inputs parameters for a computer to generate notices.  If incorrect reason codes are being generated, then a human miscoded those parameters.  The reason codes generated for us are clearly not applicable.  For that reason I will send the papers to the IRS, since it is impossible to get through to them on the phone.

I will keep trying to call but send the information of why I do not agree to cover ourselves.

[Critter-3]

@Yelloweggbasket 

Initiate the trace ... just writing back saying they were wrong will fall on deaf ears.

So... if you never received a stimulus deposit or check—and the IRS records show  they paid you—then you should ask the IRS to trace your payment.  Many payments were sent and not cashed so a trace is the only option available to you.  Some were sent on debit cards that looked like junk mail and many folks thru them  in the trash.    If the payment was never cashed ONLY THEN can you send in an amended return to claim the credit and attach the findings letter with the 1040X form. 

The fastest way to initiate a trace is to contact the IRS by calling us at 800-919-9835.

You can also complete Form 3911:

• Write "EIP3" on the top of the form to identify the payment you want to trace.
• Complete the form answering all refund questions as they relate to your Economic Impact Payment.
• When completing item 7 under Section 1:
• Check the box for "Individual" as the Type of return
• Enter "2021" as the Tax Period
• Do not write anything for the Date Filed
• Sign the form. If you file married filing jointly, both spouses must sign the form.

You will generally receive a response 6 weeks after we receive your request for a payment trace, but there may be delays due to limited staffing. 

[Yelloweggbasket]

Thanks I tried using your suggested phone number yesterday and got transferred back to the line that basically says to much call volume, and hangs up on you.

my previous stimulus payments in 2020 were direct deposited to the accounts I get refunds sent to.  There would be no reason to send a debit card or check, unless it was fraudulently obtained.

I am continuing to try to get through to the irs to see if they indicate a payment was made.  I am hoping it is not fraud.

[NCperson]

@Yelloweggbasket - here is my bet: 

if you submit the tracer form today, you will get a response to the tracer request quicker than getting a live person at the IRS to answer your call! that is how bad the service levels at the IRS are! 

[Yelloweggbasket]

Thanks for your comment. That was what I meant by saying it was possibly being based on earlier years or a change in filing status.  Neither should have happened and my AGI less than 150 in 2021.

To put it simply, we received prorated stimulus amounts direct deposited for 2019 and 2020 in 2020.   We got no direct deposits from the IRS in 2021 at all.

are you saying the IRS would have changed their method of payment to us to be a check?  That sounds unlikely, unless someone fraudulently changed it.

meanwhile it is impossible to get anyone at the IRS or ID me to tell me why the IRS website is giving me the error code 2004 or what it means.  

[NCperson]

<<meanwhile it is impossible to get anyone at the IRS>>

and that is why I bet if you fill out the tracer form you'll get a response quicker than getting someone at the IRS to pick up the phone 😎