Shame on me, I didn't file my 2012 Federal income tax

[manning]

Or so t hat's what the letter from the IRS says.

I remember filling it out and sending it.

The mystery is, how did they know to deposit my $27.00, correct amount, refund into my bank account.

 

[MomToOne]

First, verify it was actually the IRS that made the $27 deposit, not your state tax agency.

Then send a reply letter with a printout of your banking statement showing the deposit, and a copy of the return as you believe you sent it (you should have kept a copy). And wait. It's a rather slow game, having to do it all by mail, but if you are right, it should sort out in the end. Something like your SSN probably just got misentered.

 

[bumbershoot]

Are you sure the letter is from the IRS?

Having gone through issues with a FIL not filing (for 6 years) and finding that out after he died, I feel that I know there are NO refunds if you don't file. And even if you owe nothing for the taxes, you get to pay fabulous penalties and fees and interest on those penalities.

If you got a refund, remember filing, etc...I can't help but think it's a snail mail phishing scam.

 

[LadyBeBop]

If you got a refund, remember filing, etc...I can't help but think it's a snail mail phishing scam.

That's what I'm afraid of. And if you send them bank statements, etc, the phisher will have all of your bank information.

Normally, I'd advise you to call the IRS hotline at 800-829-1040 to verify filing. However, they're understaffed, and you'll be on the phone a very long time. (And the phishers know it too and hope you give up.)

Have you filed your return yet? If you efiled, you probably needed your adjusted gross income from last year. Unless you used your pin, if you efiled your return this year successfully, the IRS probably have your 2012 return information.

Where did the letter come from? Long shot, but that may be a clue if the letter is legit.

 

[pklein09]

Or so t hat's what the letter from the IRS says.

I remember filling it out and sending it.

The mystery is, how did they know to deposit my $27.00, correct amount, refund into my bank account.

I'm a small time tax preparer (I do it at my dining room table, have my PTIN, passed the exam, etc.) and in my experience, it takes the IRS just over a year to catch up to taxes that haven't been filed in which they think they're owed money. For example, if you really didn't file your 2012 taxes, you would get an IRS letter via snail mail in June/July 2014. It just takes that long to catch up in their system. (Again, this is my experience based on my clients and when they receive letters.) And the letter is generated because you owe them money, not because you're due a refund. Does the letter say you owe them money? Or does it just say you never filed your return? If it says the latter, I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that it's a scam.

As PP stated, make sure it's the US Treasury that deposited that refund and not the state. You should have kept a copy of your taxes, so double check the form to confirm numbers. Did you mail it in or did you efile it? If you efiled it, there should be some record of the IRS accepting/receiving the return.

Bottom line, do some research before responding to that letter.

 

[jmartinez1895]

I think that this time of year would be perfect timing for a scam of this nature. They send a scary official looking letter, you panic and send a copy of your tax filings ( complete with your DOB and SSN) and they now have everything they need to do what ever dirty deed they are up to.
On the other hand, if it is a legit IRS contact, you do not want to ignore it. I wold set aside some time in my day and call. I don't care how long I had to sit on hold. While I was holding I would go to the IRS web site and try searching this topic and also searching what addresses they use and see if it matches the one the letter want s you to send your info to.
Do not send anything until you have verified that this is legit.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you got your refund at about the correct time and for the correct amount, then chances are there is no pfisher or other identity thief involved.

If you did not keep a copy of your return (or lost it) you might actually, independently, write to the IRS requesting a copy of your return and seeing what happens. There is a fee.

Or you could redo your return and at least see if you come up with the same amount for a refund. I would wait for another request "for a missing return" from the IRS before sending this one in.

Meanwhile, file your 2013 return as if nothing unusual happened. You may have to redo your 2012 return if you lost that, if you had some of the 2012 tax overpayment applied to 2013 instead of having it all refunded.

If you are a year or even 2 years late filing, there is no penalty if you had made all the estimated tax payments (if any) on time and you would have gotten a refund.

 

[barbarabini]

(1) make sure its from the IRS. They usually have a call number for the region that is sending the letter. Check that against your region on the IRS website.
(2) Call them, from the IRS.gov number regarding the letter and your 2012 ta return.
(3) do not send out your bank statement right now, until you are sure it is the IRS.

A lot of scams out there.

 

[LadyBeBop]

A couple of other things that I've thought of.

1) Do not call the number on the letter. Especially if it's not a 800-829 number. Granted, not all IRS phone numbers are 800-829 numbers, but a lot are.

2) Your best bet is calling 800-829-1040. But, as I previously mentioned, that number is probably swamped right now and will be up until April 15. I'm hoping you just got the letter in the past few days. If so, wait until after April 15 to call. The IRS always allows at least 30 days to respond to correspondence, so you should be OK.

3) If you still can't get help, refile your 2012 tax return. Make sure you attach all forms and schedules, and most importantly, sign your return in pen and ink. Mail it to the service center where you normally file your tax return (check irs.gov if you don't know). If you never filed your tax return, you'll receive your refund. But if you previously filed and received a refund, you'll get a notice from the IRS stating there is already a 2012 tax return in its database with your name and SSN. Call the number provided in that notice (chances are, it could be an idenity theft unit), and tell them your story. They'll be interested in another idenity theft scam.

Good luck. The IRS may contact some people this time of year if they had a lot of income and might not have filed. You may have received your state refund and your federal return might not have been processed. Returns do get lost, and people do forget to send returns in. Don't worry if you legitimately forgot to file, especially if you're due a refund. As long as you file your 2012 refund return by April 15, 2016, you'll receive you refund, no questions asked. And with interest.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you got your refund at about the correct time and for the correct amount, then chances are there is no pfisher or other identity thief involved.

First, love your sig line.

Are you sure you mean "no pfisher"? Because it seems the opposite to me. If they got the refund, doesn't that mean they filed? And if they filed, it means this isn't the IRS.

 

[wiigirl]

(1) make sure its from the IRS. They usually have a call number for the region that is sending the letter. Check that against your region on the IRS website.
(2) Call them, from the IRS.gov number regarding the letter and your 2012 ta return.
(3) do not send out your bank statement right now, until you are sure it is the IRS.

A lot of scams out there.

 

[tloveswdw]

Go to the Irs page under transcripts. You can view your past transcripts. It will show you exactly what they sent you etc.

 

[kymom99]

If you go to irs.gov, there is a link at the bottom "responding to a notice". The link describes what a notice from the IRS should look like and how to procede if you get one.

 

[sweetdana]

http://www.irs.gov/Refunds


click on box 3 with what you think it was/should have been.. to verify if the IRS has them


If not yup fraud

 

[Judique]

Are you sure the letter is from the IRS?

Having gone through issues with a FIL not filing (for 6 years) and finding that out after he died, I feel that I know there are NO refunds if you don't file. And even if you owe nothing for the taxes, you get to pay fabulous penalties and fees and interest on those penalities.

If you got a refund, remember filing, etc...I can't help but think it's a snail mail phishing scam.

If you owe nothing in taxes, there are no penalties or fees or interest on the taxes.

The penalties, fees and interest only kick in when money is owed to the IRS.

IRS will refund any money you file for within a three year period and they will keep the refund after three years, but will still require you to file.

 

[manning]

If you owe nothing in taxes, there are no penalties or fees or interest on the taxes.

The penalties, fees and interest only kick in when money is owed to the IRS.

IRS will refund any money you file for within a three year period and they will keep the refund after three years, but will still require you to file.

The exposer you have is the IRS will file the return for you. They will not apply all the deductions and that refund could end up as taxes owed. Then comes the headache of straightening it all out.

 

[Judique]

The exposer you have is the IRS will file the return for you. They will not apply all the deductions and that refund could end up as taxes owed. Then comes the headache of straightening it all out.

No, they won't actually file for you. They will calculate what they think you owe at the highest possible rate and send you a bill for it. The ball is then in your court to file, or otherwise come to terms with them. At some point an audit will be initiated.

 

[penn19]

Am I the only one that reads sarcasm in the OP post?

 

[manning]

No, they won't actually file for you. They will calculate what they think you owe at the highest possible rate and send you a bill for it. The ball is then in your court to file, or otherwise come to terms with them. At some point an audit will be initiated.

Just repeating what the agent said. In a way I guess you could say it is a forced filing.

Talked to my CPA the other day. He said this is something like a paper audit. They detected you did not file and sent you a notice. When you file the audit will be closed.

 

[manning]

Am I the only one that reads sarcasm in the OP post?

Hmm, I thought so too. Wait a minute, I'm the OP.