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Hiroshi Nakamura

Accidentally paid IRS taxes for 2025 instead of 2024 - How to fix?

Hey everyone, I messed up big time and accidentally paid my taxes for 2025 instead of 2024. Has anyone else done this before? I'm freaking out a little and wondering if there's a way to fix it without too much hassle. Any advice on how to approach this with the IRS would be super helpful!

Oof, that's a tough one. I'd suggest calling the IRS directly and explaining the situation. They should be able to transfer the payment to the correct year. Just be prepared for a long wait time on the phone!

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Long wait time is an understatement 😂 I once spent 3 hours on hold with them!

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Pro tip: call early in the morning right when they open. You'll have a better chance of getting through quickly.

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Thanks for the advice! I'm dreading the wait, but I guess there's no way around it.

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I actually found a way to get someone on the phone without the crazy wait times. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's the link: https://www.claimyr.com

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Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?

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I was skeptical at first too, but I tried it and it actually worked. Saved me hours of frustration.

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How long did it take for them to call you back?

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It took about 45 minutes in my case, but I've heard it can vary depending on how busy the IRS lines are.

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Here's what you need to do: 1. Don't panic! This is a common mistake and the IRS deals with it all the time. 2. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (for individual taxpayers). 3. Explain that you made a payment for the wrong tax year. 4. Ask them to transfer the payment to the correct year (2024). 5. Request confirmation of the transfer in writing. 6. Keep all documentation related to this issue. Remember to be patient and polite with the IRS agent. They're usually pretty helpful with these kinds of mix-ups. Good luck!

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Thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! It's really helpful to have a step-by-step guide. I'll definitely follow these instructions.

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This is solid advice. I'd add: make sure you have all your tax info handy before you call. They'll probably ask for your SSN, filing status, and maybe even the exact amount you paid.

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lol how do you even pay taxes for 2025? I'm still tryna figure out 2023 🤣

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I had a similar issue last year, but with state taxes. Turns out their system automatically applied it to the current year. Might be worth checking if the IRS does the same thing before you spend hours on the phone.

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That's interesting, I hadn't thought of that. I'll definitely look into it. Thanks for the tip!

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Ugh, the IRS is such a mess. Why can't they make this stuff easier? It's like they want us to mess up 🙄

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Preach! 🙌 The whole system needs an overhaul.

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To be fair, they're understaffed and working with outdated technology. But yeah, it could definitely be more user-friendly.

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Have you tried checking your online account on the IRS website? You might be able to see the payment there and request a transfer without calling.

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I didn't even know I could do that! I'll check it out right now. Thanks for the suggestion!

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This happened to my brother last year! He called the IRS and they were actually pretty understanding about it. The agent told him it's more common than you'd think, especially around tax season when people are rushing to file. They transferred his payment to the correct year within about 2 weeks. Just make sure you have your confirmation number from the original payment handy when you call - it'll speed up the process significantly. Also, consider setting up an online account if you haven't already - it makes tracking these kinds of issues much easier in the future.

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That's really reassuring to hear! I was worried I'd be the only person who made this mistake. Two weeks doesn't sound too bad for getting it sorted out. I definitely have my confirmation number saved, so that should help speed things up. Thanks for sharing your brother's experience - it makes me feel a lot less anxious about the whole situation!

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Just wanted to add another perspective - if you paid electronically, you might also want to check your bank statement to confirm the exact date and amount of the payment. The IRS agent will likely ask for these details to locate your payment in their system. Also, don't be surprised if they ask you to verify your identity with some personal information before they can discuss your account. It's standard procedure but can catch people off guard if they're not expecting it. Hope you get this sorted out quickly!

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Great point about having the bank statement ready! I made a similar mistake a few years ago and the agent was able to find my payment much faster when I had the exact transaction details. Also, yes - definitely be prepared for the identity verification questions. They asked me for my previous year's AGI and a few other details from my return. It felt a bit intimidating at first, but it's just their way of protecting your account information. The whole process was actually smoother than I expected once I had everything ready!

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Don't stress too much about this - I work as a tax preparer and see this mistake happen more often than you'd think! The IRS has a pretty straightforward process for handling misdirected payments. When you call, make sure to have your Social Security number, the exact payment amount, the date you made the payment, and your confirmation number ready. The agent will be able to see the payment in their system and can usually transfer it to the correct tax year on the same call. Just keep in mind that while they can make the transfer immediately on their end, it might take a few business days to show up correctly on your account. Also, if you haven't filed your 2024 return yet, this might actually work in your favor since they can apply the payment directly when you do file. Good luck!

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This is so helpful to hear from a professional! I really appreciate the reassurance that this happens frequently - it makes me feel way less embarrassed about the whole thing. I haven't filed my 2024 return yet, so you're right that this might actually work out better than I initially thought. I'll make sure to gather all those details you mentioned before calling. Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise - it's exactly what I needed to hear!

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I actually had this exact same thing happen to me two years ago! I was rushing to make my payment before the deadline and somehow selected 2025 instead of 2023 in the dropdown menu. I was mortified when I realized what I'd done. I called the IRS customer service line and after about an hour on hold (definitely call first thing in the morning like others mentioned), I got through to a really helpful agent. She was super understanding and said it happens all the time, especially during busy tax season. The whole transfer process took maybe 10 minutes once I got through, and I had confirmation within a week that the payment had been moved to the correct year. The key is having your payment confirmation number ready when you call - it makes their job so much easier. Don't beat yourself up about it, these things happen to the best of us!

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This is exactly the kind of reassurance I needed to hear! It's so comforting to know that other people have made the same mistake and gotten it resolved without major issues. An hour on hold doesn't sound too bad considering some of the horror stories I've heard about IRS wait times. I'm definitely going to call first thing tomorrow morning with my confirmation number ready. Thank you for sharing your experience - it really helps to know that the agents are understanding about these kinds of mix-ups!

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I made this exact mistake about 6 months ago! Accidentally paid my quarterly estimated taxes for the wrong year and was panicking just like you are now. Here's what worked for me: I called the IRS early on a Tuesday morning (around 7 AM when they first open) and got through in about 20 minutes. The agent was incredibly patient and walked me through the whole process. She explained that they see this error constantly and have a simple procedure to fix it. Make sure you have your payment confirmation number, the exact amount, and the date you made the payment ready before you call. They were able to transfer it immediately and sent me a letter confirming the change within 10 days. The relief I felt when it was all sorted out was amazing! You've got this - it's really not as big of a deal as it feels right now.

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's incredibly reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation. I'm definitely going to take your advice and call early Tuesday morning - 7 AM sounds like the perfect time to avoid the crazy wait times everyone talks about. Having all those details ready beforehand makes total sense too. It's amazing how something that feels like such a disaster at first can actually be resolved so easily. Your story gives me hope that this will all work out just fine!

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I've dealt with this exact situation before! The good news is that the IRS has a standard procedure for this type of payment error. Here's what I recommend: First, gather all your documentation - payment confirmation number, exact amount, date of payment, and your SSN. Then call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 early in the morning (around 7-8 AM) to minimize wait times. When you get through, explain that you need to transfer a payment from 2025 to 2024. The agent will verify your identity and locate the payment in their system. They can usually process the transfer during the same call, though it may take a few business days to reflect properly in your account. I've found the agents are generally very understanding about this mistake since it happens frequently during tax season. Don't stress too much - this is definitely fixable!

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This is such great advice! I really appreciate you laying out the exact steps and phone number. It's so helpful to know that calling between 7-8 AM is the sweet spot for shorter wait times. I'm feeling much more confident about handling this now that I have a clear game plan. It's reassuring to hear that the agents are understanding about this mistake - I was worried they'd think I was completely incompetent! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and advice.

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I feel your pain on this one! I actually did something similar last year - paid my state taxes for the wrong year and was absolutely mortified. The good news is that tax agencies deal with these kinds of mix-ups all the time, so you're definitely not alone. Here's what I'd suggest based on my experience: Call the IRS first thing in the morning (like 7 AM sharp) to avoid the brutal hold times. Have your payment confirmation number, exact amount, date of payment, and SSN ready before you dial. The agents I've dealt with have always been surprisingly patient about these mistakes. Also, if you haven't filed your 2024 return yet, this might actually work out perfectly since they can apply the payment directly when you do file. Sometimes these "mistakes" end up being happy accidents! Don't beat yourself up about it - we've all been there with the tax stress. You'll get this sorted out! 💪

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Thank you so much for the encouragement and practical advice! It really helps to know I'm not the first person to make this kind of mistake. You're absolutely right about calling at 7 AM sharp - I've seen that tip mentioned several times now so I'm definitely going to set my alarm early tomorrow. I actually haven't filed my 2024 return yet, so you might be right that this could work out as a happy accident! I'm trying to shift my mindset from "disaster" to "minor hiccup that will get resolved." Your reassurance means a lot - sometimes you just need to hear from people who've been through the same thing! 🙏

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Hey there! I totally understand the panic you're feeling right now - I made this exact same mistake about 18 months ago and felt like I'd completely ruined everything. But honestly, it turned out to be way less of a big deal than I thought it would be. Here's what worked for me: I called the IRS customer service line (1-800-829-1040) on a Wednesday morning right at 7 AM when they opened. I only waited about 15 minutes, which was amazing compared to what I was expecting! The agent was super professional and said this happens "more than you'd think" - apparently it's especially common during tax season when everyone's rushing to get their payments in. Make sure you have these ready before you call: - Your payment confirmation number - Exact payment amount - Date you made the payment - Your Social Security Number - Maybe even pull up your bank statement showing the transaction The agent was able to transfer my payment to the correct tax year during that same phone call. She explained that while the transfer happens immediately on their end, it can take 3-5 business days to show up properly in your online account. I got a confirmation letter in the mail about a week later. Don't stress too much about this - you're going to get it sorted out! The IRS deals with payment mix-ups like this constantly, and they have a pretty streamlined process for fixing it. You've got this! 👍

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