EDD took my federal tax refund but never returned it after winning appeal - what now?

Unfortunately, this is a common issue with EDD tax intercepts after successful appeals. The state refund comes directly from California, so that's why it was returned faster. For federal returns, EDD has to notify the IRS to release the funds, and that process has a ton of bureaucratic red tape. In my experience working with others on this, you need to specifically request an "overpayment balance adjustment letter" from EDD. This document officially confirms your appeal was approved and your balance is zero. Once you have that, contact the IRS directly with this documentation. The EDD won't advocate for you with the IRS - you have to do it yourself. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and explain the situation, providing your overpayment balance adjustment letter as proof.

omg SAME THING happened to my boyfriend last year!!! took like 8 months to get federal refund back after his appeal win. EDD is such a mess!! he kept calling and calling and finally got someone who actually helped. good luck!!!

Have you tried using Claimyr to reach an EDD representative? I was in a similar situation with my appeal and refund issues, and I was going CRAZY trying to get through on the phone. Someone here recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com), and it actually worked - they got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending days redialing. The rep I spoke with was able to process my refund request directly after I explained my situation. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Honestly, for an issue like yours where you need to speak to someone with authority, it might be worth trying.

This is EXACTLY why I always tell people to NEVER certify for benefits if there's ANY question about eligibility!!! Once EDD decides you're ineligible, they unleash hell on your financial life - tax refund intercepts, wage garnishments, bank levys, etc. Even when you win your appeal, getting your money back is another nightmare entirely. The system is DESIGNED to be this difficult!!!

I went through this last year and finally got my federal refund back after about 10 months. Here's exactly what worked for me: 1. Request a formal "Notice of Overpayment Cancellation" from EDD (different than a balance adjustment letter) 2. Contact the EDD Collections Division directly at 916-464-2669 (not the regular UI number) 3. Ask them specifically about the "Treasury Offset Reversal Status" 4. Get the name of the person you speak with and a confirmation number 5. Follow up with the IRS after EDD confirms they've sent the reversal notice The key is getting to someone in Collections rather than regular UI representatives. They're the ones who handle the communication with the Treasury Offset Program.

i had a similar problem but with state refund not federal. took 5 months to get back. edd is just super slow with everything lol. have u checked ur account balance in UI Online? sometimes it shows as a credit there before they actually send it.

To add some clarification to this discussion - what you're experiencing is a gap in the process between EDD and the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). When EDD intercepts your tax refund, they do it through the TOP, which is managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, not directly with the IRS. After winning your appeal, EDD must: 1. Zero out your overpayment balance in their system 2. Generate a reversal file to the TOP 3. The TOP then has to process this reversal and issue a refund The delays often happen between steps 2 and 3. By law, they should process this within 90 days, but backlog issues often extend this timeline. I recommend filing a formal complaint with EDD through their website, specifically citing the excessive delay beyond the statutory period for refund returns. Additionally, contact your state assembly member's office - they often have EDD liaisons who can expedite these issues.

wait did u win ur appeal in the hearing with the judge?? or did edd just reverse their decision? cuz that makes a difference for how fast they process stuff

Since you mentioned visiting an office in person, I wanted to follow up on my earlier advice. The in-person offices (America's Job Centers) often don't have direct access to the tax intercept systems. You specifically need to reach the Benefit Overpayment Collection Section (BOCS). If you use the Claimyr service someone mentioned or manage to get through on your own, ask specifically to be transferred to BOCS. They're the only department that can expedite the Treasury Offset Program reversal. When you speak with them, request both the overpayment cancellation notice AND confirmation that they've submitted the reversal file to the federal TOP system.

Just wanted to update - I saw your responses to others and wanted to clarify that the Collections Division number I provided (916-464-2669) is actually the direct line for the BOCS department that the other commenter mentioned. So we're both referring to the same people! They're definitely the right ones to help with your situation.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - won my appeal in November but still waiting for my federal refund from EDD's tax intercept. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that there's actually a path forward! I had no idea about the BOCS department or the specific process with the Treasury Offset Program. I've been calling the regular EDD number like an idiot for months. One thing I wanted to add - when I spoke to someone at the IRS about this last month, they told me that even when EDD submits the reversal file, the IRS still needs 6-8 weeks to process it on their end. So even after EDD does their part, there's still more waiting. Just wanted to mention that so you don't get discouraged if it takes a bit longer even after you get confirmation from BOCS that they've submitted everything. Good luck with that Collections Division number tomorrow! I'm going to try calling them too based on everyone's advice here.