Charged twice for tax payment - IRS double withdrawal issue
So I'm pretty frustrated right now. I finished my taxes back in mid-February and ended up owing $1,227 to the IRS. On 2/20, I saw a charge on my checking account for $1,227 labeled as "US TREASURY TAX PA 615-730-6367 TN" (which I found out is from payUSATax - apparently some official IRS payment processor). Then about 3 weeks later, I got hit AGAIN with another $1,227 charge, but this time it came out of my savings account and was labeled "IRS USATAXPYMT." I definitely didn't authorize two payments! I checked my Record of Account transcript from the IRS website and noticed two separate line items: 670 Payment -1,227.00 610 Payment with Return -1,227.00 From what I could find online, 670 means "Subsequent Payment" and 610 means "Remittance with Return." Does this mean the IRS knows they charged me twice? I called payUSATax and they told me it should be fixed and that I should get a check in the mail from the IRS for the overpayment. But it's been about 6 months now and still nothing! I did move in July 2024, but since I filed in February, I don't think they'd send it to my old address. Has anyone dealt with this before? Any advice on what I should do next? I'm out over $1,200 and can't seem to get through to anyone at the IRS.
19 comments

QuantumLeap
The IRS transcript codes definitely indicate you've made two payments for the same tax obligation. Code 610 represents the payment that was processed with your tax return, while code 670 represents an additional payment made separately - in your case, it looks like the second withdrawal. This is actually a common issue when people use third-party payment processors. What likely happened is that you authorized a payment when you e-filed your return, but then possibly also set up a direct payment through the payment processor. The good news is that the IRS does recognize both payments based on your transcript. For a refund of the overpayment, you generally have three options: 1) Continue waiting for the automatic refund check (though six months is excessive), 2) Call the IRS directly to inquire about the status of your refund, or 3) File Form 8379 (Injured Spouse Allocation) to specifically request the return of the duplicate payment. The most effective approach would be calling the IRS directly. Try early morning hours right when they open - usually around 7 AM Eastern time - as wait times are typically shortest then.
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Emma Wilson
AuthorThanks for explaining the codes! Would the IRS eventually catch this on their own, or will I have to keep pursuing it? And is Form 8379 really the right form? I thought that was for something completely different related to joint returns.
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QuantumLeap
The IRS should eventually catch this discrepancy on their own, but "eventually" can mean anywhere from a few weeks to over a year - especially with their current backlog. It's always better to be proactive in these situations. You're absolutely right about Form 8379 - my mistake! The correct form would be Form 843 (Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement), though in most duplicate payment cases, a simple phone call to the IRS is the most efficient approach. Form 843 would be more appropriate if the phone resolution fails.
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Malik Johnson
After dealing with a very similar situation last year (double charged $876), I finally got it resolved using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to help analyze my transcripts and generate the right documentation to send to the IRS. I uploaded my account transcript showing the duplicate charges, and their system immediately identified it as a double payment issue and helped me draft the perfect letter requesting a refund. What was super helpful is that they explained exactly what each of those transaction codes meant on my transcript and pinpointed where the error occurred. Their system extracted all the relevant dates and payment info, which made the whole process way easier than trying to figure it out myself.
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Isabella Santos
Did you have to upload your whole tax return to this taxr site? I'm a little nervous about sharing all my tax info with some random website. How do you know it's secure?
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Ravi Sharma
How long did it take for you to get your refund after using that service? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if I should try this or just keep calling the IRS.
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Malik Johnson
You don't need to upload your entire return - just the account transcript showing the payments, which doesn't contain sensitive info like your SSN. They use bank-level encryption, and they only analyze the document without storing your actual tax data after processing. I was hesitant at first too, but their privacy policy is pretty straightforward. For the timeline question, I got my refund check about 3 weeks after submitting the documentation they helped me prepare. Much faster than the months I spent trying to handle it on my own. It basically helped me skip past all the confusion and get straight to the solution.
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Ravi Sharma
I just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after reading about it here, and it actually worked great for my double payment issue! I uploaded my transcript and it immediately identified both payment codes (670 and 610). The system generated a letter explaining exactly what happened and cited the relevant IRS regulations about duplicate payments. I sent the letter to the IRS address they recommended along with the transcript evidence, and just got my refund check for the duplicate amount yesterday - took about 4 weeks total. Wish I'd known about this months ago instead of wasting time on hold with the IRS!
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Freya Larsen
If you're still struggling to get through to the IRS after all this time, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in the exact same situation with a double payment of $1,440 and couldn't get anyone on the phone for months. I was super skeptical at first, but their service actually calls the IRS for you and then connects you once they get a human on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c After struggling for weeks trying to call myself, I got connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes. The agent confirmed my double payment immediately when I explained the situation and initiated my refund while I was on the call. Honestly was shocked at how simple it was once I actually got to speak to someone.
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Omar Hassan
Wait, how does this actually work? Do they have some special connection to the IRS or something? I've been trying to get through for weeks about a similar issue.
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Isabella Santos
This sounds like BS honestly. If it was that easy to get through to the IRS everyone would be doing it. They probably just take your money and leave you hanging.
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Freya Larsen
They basically use an automated system that waits on hold for you instead of you having to do it personally. They don't have any special connection - they just handle the frustrating wait time part. When an agent picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to that person. No magic, just technology saving you from hours of hold music. As for the skepticism, I get it - I felt exactly the same way. But I was desperate after months of trying. They don't actually resolve your tax issue - they just get you through to someone who can. The IRS agent is the one who fixed my double payment problem once I explained what happened.
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Isabella Santos
I have to publicly eat my words here. After being completely skeptical about Claimyr, I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate about my double payment issue. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes yesterday! The agent confirmed they could see both payments in their system (just like the transcript codes showed). She processed my refund request right there on the phone and said I should receive a check in 4-6 weeks. She even gave me a direct reference number for the case if I need to follow up. I've been trying to resolve this for months with no luck. Literally one phone call fixed it. I'm still shocked it worked.
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Chloe Taylor
A similar thing happened to me last year using TurboTax. The issue was that I authorized a direct debit payment when filing, but then also made a separate payment through the IRS Direct Pay system because I wasn't sure if the first one went through. So basically my fault, but still frustrating. What worked for me was writing a letter to the IRS explaining the situation and including copies of both bank statements showing the two withdrawals. I sent it certified mail to the address listed on the IRS website for tax inquiries, and about 2 months later got a refund check. If you can't get through on the phone, try the written approach. Just make sure to include all your info (SSN, tax year, copies of payment proof) and be super clear about what happened.
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ShadowHunter
Do you happen to remember which specific address you sent your letter to? There are so many different IRS addresses for different purposes, and I want to make sure my request goes to the right place.
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Chloe Taylor
I sent it to the same IRS address where you'd normally mail a tax return for your region. For me that was the Fresno, CA location, but it varies depending on where you live. The IRS website has a lookup tool where you can find the correct mailing address based on your state and the type of document you're sending. Just make sure to write "DUPLICATE PAYMENT REFUND REQUEST" in big letters at the top of your letter so it gets routed correctly. Also include your phone number in case they need to contact you for verification.
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Diego Ramirez
Has anyone noticed that the IRS seems to be super quick to take your money twice but incredibly slow to give it back? This happens way more often than they admit. My brother had something similar happen and it took almost a full year to get his money back.
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Anastasia Sokolov
True that! I work in accounting and see this kind of thing all the time with clients. What's interesting is that the IRS will charge you interest and penalties if you're late paying them, but they rarely pay interest when they owe you money unless you specifically request it and it's been a really long time.
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Natasha Volkova
This is unfortunately more common than it should be. I had a similar double payment issue two years ago - the IRS processed both my electronic payment and a check I mailed (thinking the electronic one didn't go through). One thing that helped speed up my case was calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778. They're specifically designed to help when normal IRS channels aren't working. Since you've been waiting 6 months with no resolution, your case definitely qualifies for their assistance. Also, make sure you've updated your address with the IRS if you moved after filing. You can do this online through your IRS account or by filing Form 8822. If they're trying to send your refund to your old address, that could explain the delay. The transcript codes you mentioned (670 and 610) do confirm you made two payments, so the IRS definitely has record of the overpayment. Don't give up - you're entitled to that money back!
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