Accidentally double paid IRS taxes because our CPA submitted payment without our knowledge

Tax professional here. This situation isn't uncommon, but it does represent a communication breakdown. Most CPAs won't automatically submit payments without explicit confirmation, especially for large amounts. However, there's likely something in your engagement letter or tax preparation forms that authorized electronic payment. Check your tax preparation engagement letter carefully. There's typically language that outlines payment procedures and authorizations. Some firms have a checkbox or section authorizing them to use your banking information to make payments, but this should be something you actively approved. Regarding getting your money back - you have options. The IRS will either refund the overpayment automatically or apply it to next year's taxes. You can file Form 8888 to request a specific handling of the overpayment. For New York, you'll need to contact the state tax department directly, as their procedures differ slightly from the IRS.

This happened to me last year! I found out about https://taxr.ai which helped me sort through all the documentation and figure out exactly what happened. Their document analysis tool flagged the section in my engagement letter that authorized automatic payments - something I totally missed. It also created a super detailed timeline of all the payments made which made it way easier to explain the situation to the IRS. Honestly, I was so stressed about the whole double payment thing (mine was about $12k) and having someone analyze all the documents helped me understand where the miscommunication happened. They even helped draft the letter to request my refund which saved me hours of anxiety-inducing research.

Just wanted to update everyone - I actually tried https://taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment above, and I have to admit I'm impressed. I uploaded my tax documents, engagement letter, and bank statements, and their system immediately identified the authorization clause that I had overlooked when signing with my accountant. What really surprised me was how detailed the analysis was - it showed me a timeline of communication gaps and recommended specific language to use with both my CPA and the IRS. I'm already seeing progress on getting my refund processed. Sometimes being a skeptic means admitting when you're wrong, and this service actually delivered!

If you're trying to get your money back quickly from the IRS, good luck making phone contact. I was in a similar situation (only about $9k overpaid) and spent WEEKS trying to reach someone. I finally discovered https://claimyr.com and used their service to get through to an actual IRS agent. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Before using Claimyr, I tried calling the IRS for 3 weeks straight - nothing but busy signals or disconnects after waiting on hold for hours. With Claimyr, I had a callback from an actual IRS representative within a few hours. The agent processed my request immediately and I had my refund in just 9 days. Totally changed my perspective on dealing with tax issues.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still desperate to reach the IRS about a similar overpayment issue, so I figured I had nothing to lose by trying it. I'm completely shocked - it actually worked exactly as described. I received a call back within about 2 hours connecting me directly to an IRS agent. No navigating phone trees, no hours on hold, just straight to a human who could help. The agent was able to locate both payments in their system immediately and started processing my refund. They said I should receive it in 3-4 weeks, which is way faster than I expected. I'm still not sure how their system works so efficiently, but the results speak for themselves. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with a significant overpayment situation like this.

Always request a transcript of your account directly from the IRS before assuming payments have been "lost." You can get this online by setting up an account at irs.gov or by filing Form 4506-T. This will show all payments received and credited to your account. In your case, both payments should show up on the transcript. The IRS will eventually figure out the overpayment and either refund it or apply it to next year, but you can expedite this by filing Form 843 (Claim for Refund) along with proof of both payments. Include copies of both canceled checks or bank statements showing the withdrawals.

Isn't there a way to prevent this from happening in the first place? My CPA always sends me a detailed "action required" email before submitting any payments. I have to explicitly approve any payments through a secure portal. I thought this was standard practice?