Whatever you do, DON'T ignore this notice! I made that mistake thinking it was an error that would fix itself, and ended up with wage garnishment. Even if you're disputing the amount, make sure to respond to the CP22A within the timeframe listed on the notice.

This situation is really concerning, especially since you never filed any carryback forms. I went through something similar last year when the IRS claimed I owed money for amendments I never made. A few things to prepare for your Monday call: 1. Have your 2019 tax return copy ready, along with proof of your original $19,500 payment 2. Get that account transcript @Lena mentioned - it's crucial for understanding the timeline 3. Ask the IRS rep to provide the exact date and method of how this carryback claim was supposedly filed 4. Request they mail you a complete copy of whatever carryback form they have on file The fact that they "lost" your original return and now this mysterious claim appeared is a major red flag. Document everything during your call - date, time, representative ID, and exactly what they tell you. If they can't provide concrete proof of when and how you filed this carryback claim, you have grounds to dispute it. Don't let them pressure you into paying immediately. You have rights as a taxpayer, and if this is their error (which it sounds like it is), they need to fix it.

Oh my goodness, please be careful when your check arrives! Last year my neighbor had their refund check stolen right out of their mailbox! 😱 I'd recommend checking your mail daily and setting up informed delivery if possible. The IRS takes FOREVER to reissue stolen checks - my poor neighbor waited almost 3 months for a replacement. The whole process was so stressful for them. I always use direct deposit to avoid this exact situation.

I'm still waiting for mine too! Also dated 03/03/2025 and getting nervous since it's been over a week now. Reading through these comments is really helpful though - sounds like we're still within the normal timeframe. I'm in California and wondering if location makes a difference in delivery times. Has anyone else from the West Coast received theirs yet? I might try that informed delivery signup that was mentioned earlier.

my transcript had this last month. ended up getting an extra $800 i wasnt expecting. dont stress OP!

Looking at your transcript, the code 291 with -$2,176.00 is actually reducing your tax liability, which means MORE refund money for you! 🎉 The negative amount is confusing but it's working in your favor. The IRS basically said "oops, you don't owe as much tax as we thought" and adjusted it down. Combined with all those credits, you should be getting a nice chunk of change once that freeze gets lifted!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - filed in early February, got the 570/971 combo on my transcript with an April date, and still waiting. It's incredibly frustrating when you're counting on that money for bills. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like this is unfortunately pretty common for early filers. The IRS seems to put more scrutiny on returns filed in January/February while they're testing their fraud detection systems. I'm going to give it another week or two before trying to call them directly or using one of those callback services people mentioned. At least it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this mess - misery loves company I guess! Hang in there Carmen, sounds like most people eventually get their refunds even if it takes way longer than it should.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed February 8th, got the 570 code with a 04-01-2025 date, and I'm going crazy waiting. What's really getting to me is that I specifically chose direct deposit thinking it would be faster, but here I am almost 7 weeks later with nothing. I've been checking my transcript daily (probably not healthy lol) and the "as of" date keeps updating but the codes stay the same. No 971 code yet though, so maybe that's a good sign? The worst part is I budgeted around getting this refund by mid-March for some car repairs that I really can't put off much longer. It's so frustrating that they make this process so opaque - like just tell us what's going on instead of making us decode these random numbers! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying. Sounds like some people wait 8+ weeks while others get lucky and it resolves quickly. I think I'm going to try that claimyr service someone mentioned if nothing changes in the next week. At this point I just want to talk to a human who can tell me SOMETHING about what's actually happening with my return. Thanks for posting this Carmen - at least we know we're not alone in this mess!

I should note that there are specific procedures when a check doesn't arrive. If it's been less than 14 business days since the mail date, the IRS won't consider it missing yet. Between 14-28 business days, they can place a trace on it. After 28 business days, they'll officially declare it lost and reissue. However, if you initiate a trace too early, it can actually delay things further as they'll make you wait until the full waiting period has elapsed before taking action.

Same situation here! May 15th mail date and still nothing in my mailbox as of today. I'm in Texas and starting to wonder if there's some regional delay happening. The waiting is definitely stressful, especially when you're counting on that money for bills. I've been using the USPS Informed Delivery that someone mentioned earlier, but still no preview of the check coming. At least it's good to know I'm not the only one - makes me feel a bit better that this seems to be a widespread issue with the May 15th batch rather than just my check getting lost somewhere.