topic Accidentally claiming recovery rebate in After you file

Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

el3sha — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:07:03 GMT

What to do if you accidentally claimed this credit? We thought we didn't receive the 3rd stimulus but AFTER having filed over 2 weeks ago, I got the letter from IRS stating we did. I checked the status of refund, and it now says delayed.

Anyone else do this?

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:31:59 GMT

Yes----lots of people are making this mistake and that is going to result in a delay in processing for those folks. The IRS will cross check the amount of the 3rd EIP you received, and they will take it away from your refund. But it will delay your refund--we do not know for how long.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

el3sha — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:33:47 GMT

Thank you..This sucks but mistakes happen. Uggg...

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

el3sha — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:34:51 GMT

If this happened to anyone last year, how long did it take? I know there are no guarantees, but I am just trying to get an idea, even if it is a rough idea.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:46:44 GMT

@el3sha Some 2020 refunds were delayed for months. Sorry we cannot give you a better prediction of the delay. There is going to be a lot of confusion for the understaffed, underfunded, already backlogged IRS because people are making all kinds of mistakes with the recovery rebate credit and the child tax credit. We do not know how long it will delay your refund. All you can do is check the IRS refund site to track it.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

ndvanus8503 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 02:12:37 GMT

I accidentally claimed I didn’t receive my 3rd stimulus as well. I just received the letter stating I did. What can I do to fix this? I filled on 1-31-22

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

DavidD66 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 02:29:18 GMT

The only thing you can do now, is wait on the IRS. More than likely, the IRS will catch the error, and then propose an adjustment to your tax return. They will send you a letter of proposed changes. If you agree, you won't have to do anything. If you don't agree with their changes, you will have to respond to them. Because your return won't agree with IRS data on file, it will probably result in a delay to your return being processed. If the IRS does no initially catch your mistake, you should file an amended return. The Amend function for 2021 is not yet available in TurboTax.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

ndvanus8503 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 02:42:03 GMT

@DavidD66 thank you, so much! That was very helpful:)

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

Crys060680 — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 23:30:21 GMT

I entered exactly the amounts of what was on the letters from the IRS. I also verified what was received on my bank statement. Turbo Tax determined that I was eligible for the recovery rebate of $2,100, but then the IRS deducted that amount from my refund and now it is delayed. The math is not making sense to me either, but it is what it is. I have been using turbo tax for years with no issue. I trusted it when it said that I could claim the recovery rebate and it ended up screwing me. I hope that I get my refund soon and that it's not held up for months.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

Lsteffey — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 02:11:38 GMT

This is exactly what happened to me. And now I have a code 570 and 971 for 3-7-22. Tomorrow will be a month theyve had my return. this is a big mess

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

Dso97 — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:11:51 GMT

Will the IRS fix this mistake or do I have to call them and let them know?

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

LeonardS — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:26:20 GMT

No, generally the IRS will correct any mistakes claiming the recovery rebate without you needing to contact them. They will use your recovery rebate amount in the IRS database to adjust your tax return if the amount you reported does not match the database records.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

foldsk — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 15:24:42 GMT

I just was given the option to refile so I did that but now it expects me to pay back 1400 dollars even though I haven’t received my original refund. I’m not really sure what to do.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

JamesG1 — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:10:22 GMT

Are you saying that you attempted to electronically file your 2021 Federal tax return and the IRS rejected your tax return? If so, what was the reason for the rejection?

Who is saying that you owe $1,400? The rejected tax return? The rejected tax return now re-filed and accepted? Please clarify.

If the tax return has not been re-filed and accepted, correct the rejected information. Also review the third stimulus check information.

In TurboTax Online, you are prompted to input the third stimulus check information under Review down the left hand side of the screen. You can also access your stimulus check choices by following these steps:

Down the left side of the screen, click on Federal.
Across the top of the screen, click on Other Tax Situations.
At the screen We're almost there… or the screen That's all we need…, click on Let’s keep going.
At the screen Let’s double-check the amount you received, answer the questions and click Continue.

If you have not received the third stimulus check, you will receive your payment in the form of a Recovery Rebate Credit on line 30 of your 2021 Federal tax return when you file.

TurboTax will compare your stimulus payment amount to the computations within TurboTax. The computations within TurboTax are based upon the information that you have entered into the tax software. If you are due an additional amount, it will be issued as a Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on line 30 of the 2021 1040 tax return.

@foldsk

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

Dcoop3865 — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 17:55:46 GMT

I am in the same boat. Started amending the return and I have to put a date of when I pay the $1400 back to them, although I have not received my return and cannot send them $1400 right now. Very confused I was hoping the amend would just change the amount I received in my return.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 17:59:57 GMT

@Dcoop3865 NO do not amend for this. STOP. The IRS is cross checking returns with amounts on line 30. The IRS will correct the mistake. If you made a mistake and said you did not get the $1400 it is on line 30. The IRS will reduce your refund by the $1400. This will delay processing for your return but you do not have to do anything. Sit tight and stop trying to mess with your return.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

foldsk — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 20:07:08 GMT

yeah it’s really frustrating. i’m not sure if i should refile or if they will catch it.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

Sillyme1 — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 20:46:10 GMT

This is what I'm going through currently. I accidentally claimed the recovery and so far what I have read said, the IRS will correct it and continue to process the return. I hope this happens because and amended return can take about 8wks

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

fanfare — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 22:10:19 GMT

@Sillyme1

amended returns currently take about nine to twelve months or longer.

IRS has a big backlog of unprocessed returrns.

Re: Accidentally claiming recovery rebate

Palmera11906 — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 16:26:15 GMT

I accidently put on my taxes that I did not receive the third stimulus but I did. I haven't received a letter from the IRS yet so how do I amend it on my return? What section am I supposed to click on to amend? Thank you in advance