Confused about IRS check after full tax offset notice - only got $9

What likely happened is that your refund was processed for offset, but only part of it was needed to satisfy the debt. The $9 is the remainder after the debt was paid. The offset notice is often generated automatically with standard language about taking your "full refund" even when they might only need part of it. You can call the Treasury Offset Program at 1-800-304-3107 to get details about exactly what was offset and why. You'll need to verify your identity with your Social Security Number. They can tell you which agency received the funds and the amount that was offset. Also check your tax transcript on irs.gov - it should show the original refund amount, the offset amount, and the remaining amount paid to you.

I was in the exact same boat last year. Got the letter saying all of my refund would be taken, ended up with a tiny check. I was totally confused until I used taxr.ai to analyze my transcript. It clearly showed exactly what happened - part of my refund went to an old student loan and the rest was sent to me. Saved me hours of trying to figure out what random transaction codes meant. I highly recommend it! https://taxr.ai

So I had the same problem last year and spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS with no luck. Finally tried the Claimyr app and actually got a live agent on the phone in like 30 minutes. They explained that my offset notice was processed before they adjusted my refund amount, so the numbers didn't match up. The agent fixed it right there and I got the rest of my refund two weeks later. claimyr.com saved me from tax refund limbo. Talking to a real person was the only way to get this fixed.

i think u got $9 cuz thats all that was left after they took the money for whatever offset it was for. those notices are confusing AF and make it sound like ur whole refund is gone, but sometimes they only take part of it.

I work in accounting (not a tax professional tho). Offsets are weird. They send notices that say they'll take everything but then only take what you actually owe. So if your total refund was like $3,000 and you owed $2,991 in back taxes/child support/student loans/whatever, they'd offset that amount and send you the remaining $9.

The IRS is so freaking incompetent it makes my blood boil. You literally can't trust anything they send you. I got a letter saying I owed $4,000 last year, then a week later got another letter saying I owed nothing. Then two weeks after that, they deposited $320 in my account with zero explanation. 🤡 system

Different situation but related - I had an offset notice for student loans, but I had already paid them off. Had to spend 5 hours on the phone with both Dept of Ed and IRS to prove it. Eventually got my full refund 3 months later. The system is broken and outdated. Check if there was an error in your case.

So let me get this straight...they took all your money except $9? And you got a letter saying they would take all of it? If that's the case, then the $9 is what was left after they took what you owed. Offsets can be for child support, student loans, old tax debts, etc.

$9 seems like such a weird amount. Is it possible there were other adjustments to your return that you weren't aware of? Sometimes they'll adjust your refund if there are discrepancies between what you reported and what was reported to them by employers, etc.

Check your transcripts!!!!! That'll tell you exactly what happened. The transcripts show all the math with the exact amounts and dates. Each transaction has a code that tells you what happened.

Are you sure the $9 is the full check? Maybe that's just a small portion and the rest is coming separately or via direct deposit? The IRS sometimes splits payments in weird ways.

The same exact thing happened to me! Got a notice saying my entire refund was offset but then received a check for $15. I was confused so I called the offset number (1-800-304-3107) and discovered only part of my refund was actually offset. The rest should have come to me but never did. I had to call the IRS directly and after 3 hours on hold they told me the rest was still being processed. Eventually got it 6 weeks later.

Why is everyone ignoring the update? OP said they figured out it was $7, not $9. Just goes to show that the offset program took all but $7, not the full amount like the letter said.

When did you file your return and when did you get the offset notice? Sometimes timing issues cause these weird situations. If your return was adjusted after the offset notice was generated, that could explain the discrepancy.

have u checked ur transcript? that wuld tell u exactly wat happened with ur refund

I used to work at a tax preparation office. This happens ALL THE TIME. The offset notice is often generated with standard language saying the full amount will be taken, but they only take what's needed for the specific debt. The remainder gets sent to you. If your refund was $2500 and you owed $2491 in back taxes, you'd get $9.

Last year I got a letter saying my entire $3400 refund was being offset, but then I got a check for $1700 a few weeks later. I called the offset hotline and apparently the debt I owed was only $1700, so they sent me the rest. The letters are pre-written and don't account for partial offsets.

What kinda debts can they offset for? I thought it was just other tax debts, child support and student loans... is there anything else?

Those offset notices are THE WORST. They give you a heart attack making you think they're taking everything, then you end up with some random small amount and no explanation. Classic government efficiency at work 🙄