How can I reclaim a refund of Yr 2021 taxes left with the federal government? I did not have to pay a 2022 estimated tax .

[Cholly4]

Not much more.  Already called Federal Tax IRS. The contact thought I was stupid or putting him on and hung up on me, really!  I truly thought I would need more taxes but do not.  Do I file an amended 2021 Federal Return for only  the refund?

[Bsch4477]

Do I understand that you paid estimated tax payments in 2021 for tax year 2022 but now find that you will not owe tax for 2022?  In that case you will get it back by filing a 2022 return. 

[VolvoGirl]

Did you apply all or part of your 2021 refund to 2022?  Yes file a 2022 return.

If it didn't transfer over from last year then enter a refund from last year that you applied to this year here.   BUT first make sure it's not already there.  You don't want to apply it twice.

Federal on left

Deductions and Credits at top

Then scroll way down to Estimates and Other Taxes Paid

Other Income Taxes - Click the Start or Revisit

Next page scroll down to 2021 Refund Applied to 2022

Click Start or Update by the tax you applied

[rjs]

If you applied your 2021 refund to 2022 estimated tax, there is no way to change that choice. The 2021 refund has been applied to your 2022 tax. You cannot get it back by filing a 2021 amended return. As the others have said, you will get it back when you file your 2022 tax return. VolvoGirl gave you instructions to make sure that the amount is included in your 2022 tax return.

[Mike9241]

see if you qualify for a refund. this is from the IRS own manual (IRM)

I do not know how fast the IRS will issue the refund this way if you qualify. It might be just as fast by e-filing the 2022 return,

21.4.1.5.6 (06-10-2022)

Credit Elect Problems

1. A taxpayer may elect to have all, or a portion of an overpayment credited to the next year's estimated tax (ES). The "credit elect" can be recognized by TC 836 on the current year's module and TC 716 on the following year's module. Access CC REINF or CC IMFOL if there is no data on CC TXMOD.

   Note:

    

   The IRS will apply the credit elect to the next year’s estimated tax periods in the order necessary to avoid the addition to tax for underpayment of estimated tax. Taxpayers may request to have an overpayment credited to another year/period other than the immediately succeeding tax year or period. See IRM 20.2.4.6.2, Rules for Applying Offsets Under Section 6402, at (2) for guidance.

2. When a taxpayer inquires about a refund and research shows the overpayment was applied as a credit elect for the following year, the overpayment is only refundable if any of the following apply:

   1. It was applied as a credit elect to the following year due to a processing error.

   2. The taxpayer is not liable for ES, and he/she erred in entering the overpayment as a credit elect.

   3. The taxpayer files a balance due superseding return and requests a credit elect reversal to satisfy the balance due. See IRM 21.4.1.5.6.1, Credit Elect Reversals, for additional information.

   4. For an individual taxpayer, the taxpayer is liable for ES payments, but proof of hardship is provided. See IRM 21.4.4.3, Why Would A Manual Refund Be Needed?

      Reminder:

       

      Refer to IRM 20.2.4.8.5, Credit Elect, for instructions on payment or nonpayment of credit interest on credit elect reversals.

      Caution:

       

      If none of the instances in (2) above apply, the election to have the overpayment applied as a credit elect is binding and the credit cannot be reversed.