I screwed up and filed off my last pay stub and it was different from W2. HELP

[Anne]

So I am also under a 45 day review. I have EIC and CTC. My dilemma is I got antsy and filed early using my last pay stub. Only problem is when I finally got my W2 much to my dismay, my income was different than what I claimed. I don’t know why it was different but it was a few thousand lower on my W2 than what I thought it was and what I reported. So technically I think my refund should be a little higher. I did research on filing an amendment but it said I have to wait until the IRS processes it and I get my refund before I can file an amendment. I am thinking this may be one of the reasons that they are holding up my refund – because my numbers didn’t match my W2. My question I guess is will the IRS fix a mathematical error like that and adjust my refund or will they go off of what I reported? I haven’t received a letter or anything so I have no idea what is going on!

[jemar707]

The idea that the IRS does not check wages is false. See this information regarding wage verification.

https://igotmyrefund.com/irs-wage-verification/

[Bibi]

@Monique

I have alot of questions

[Monique]

@mia The IRS cares more about whether or not enough federal taxes were withheld based on the amount of wages you report to them. If you were to send them your W-2 with a copy of the return then they obviously would look at that to make sure things match up. But ultimately, most people efile and a W-2 is not sent with the efiled forms. The IRS just wants to make sure you are paying them. If you reported that you made more than what you did it does not hurt the IRS. It will potentially hurt you if you don’t catch it. If you under-report what you made that hurts the IRS because that means you may be trying to commit fraud and not pay the taxes that are due based upon the amount of wages you REALLY made.

Now, if the IRS sees something on your return that looks suspicious or you are randomly chosen for an audit EVERYTHING is up to scrutiny and then, the IRS does care. As long as you are not trying to commit fraud, there is nothing to worry about. If you make a mistake and the IRS doesn’t find and fix it you need to fix it yourself.

[Anne]

Thank you @monique, I am praying it arrives soon. This has been so stressful.

[mia]

@Monique, thanks for all that info! I thought some of us were getting flagged because what we input on our returns didn’t match up to what our employer reported. But you are saying that is not the case?

[Monique]

Anne, I did the EXACT same thing!! I filed my taxes early because I have an earning and leave statement which provides the appropriate numbers I need and where it doesn’t I have figured out the math (for example, calculating the amount in healthcare premium my Agency paid out). I did everything right except, I told the IRS I made about $3.5 to $4k more than I did. *palm meet face*

Once I realized what I did, the IRS had already accepted my return. I filed on the 10th of January and it was accepted on the 19th. I did not get any news on the status until around the 22nd of February because I claimed ACTC.

In your case, the following applies:
1. You should not file the 1040X until the IRS has completely finished processing your return and issued your refund because they may make mathematical changes (they will not fix your income but if the software you used uses a wrong% they will correct it and update your refund-like they did with me). The IRS found me $200+ more and that’s not including the extra money I will get because I used a higher wages amount initially.
2. Once you see that your refund is on the way, order a copy of your IRS refund transcript.
3. If changes were made to your return by the IRS you need to use the data/numbers generated by the IRS in your transcript in order to fill out your 1040X appropriately.
4. I recommend paying someone to do the 1040X for you if the IRS makes changes. I did not but I quadruple checked my 1040x before I was finally comfortable enough to send it out.
5. If the IRS doesn’t make changes to your return you can use the same software or online company for your 1040x and then mail it. H&R block will do the work for you. You just change the area where you messed up and they will calculate all the numbers. I am not sure about TurboTax or other companies.
6. 1040X can only be mailed and I would do so via certified mail so that you can track it.

Again, the IRS does not check your wages. They check calculations ONLY. If they make changes they will send you a letter and they will also note it via the Where’s My Refund? app. That’s how I first learned that my refund was increasing due to a calculation error made by the H&R Block software. Basically the system multiplied an amount ny 10% (for 60+ year olds) instead of 7.5%. Thus, forcing me to miss out on $200. Luckily the IRS caught it.

Feel free to ask me any questions. Try not to worry too much. Just think of it this way: you get a portion now and a portion later which means it won’t get spent too fast.

Mo

[Author]

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