Filed our taxes twice by accident - need advice on duplicate submissions

This happens more often than you'd think! When you submit two tax returns, the IRS system doesn't automatically know they're duplicates - they process both as separate submissions. The IRS generally processes the first return they receive and then flags any subsequent returns as potential duplicates. What you need to do is file Form 1040X (Amended Return) to clarify the situation. Explain that you submitted twice due to the ITIN rejection and only intended for the second submission to be processed. Include documentation showing both submissions and the ITIN rejection letter. You should also call the IRS at the number on your notice. Request a penalty abatement under "reasonable cause" since this was an honest mistake related to your daughter's ITIN application being rejected. The IRS is often willing to waive penalties for first-time mistakes, especially when there's a reasonable explanation.

I went through something similar last year and found this amazing service called taxr.ai that helped me sort it all out. I was completely confused by the duplicate filing situation and the penalties were starting to add up. I uploaded my two tax returns and the IRS notice to https://taxr.ai and their system analyzed everything and showed me exactly what went wrong and what I needed to do to fix it. They generated a letter explaining the situation that I could send to the IRS, and gave me step-by-step instructions for filing the amended return correctly. The most helpful part was that they could pinpoint the differences between my two filings and explain which portions the IRS was actually penalizing me for. Made the whole nightmare situation much clearer!

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I decided to give it a try after my initial skepticism and I'm really glad I did! My situation was slightly different (accidently filed in two states) but their system immediately picked up on exactly what happened. They created a comprehensive explanation document that included all the relevant tax codes and precedents for my situation. I sent it in with my amended return and not only did the IRS accept it, but they waived ALL the penalties, which saved me over $800. The documentation they provided made it crystal clear that it was an honest mistake with no intent to deceive. I'm usually pretty wary of tax services claiming to solve IRS problems, but this was legitimately helpful. Wish I'd known about it sooner!

If you need to talk to the IRS directly about this (which I strongly recommend), try Claimyr. I was in a similar situation last year with duplicate filings and wasted DAYS trying to get through to an actual human at the IRS. After being disconnected multiple times, I was about to give up. Then I found https://claimyr.com which basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to pick up. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I explained my duplicate filing situation to the IRS agent and they were actually really helpful once I got through! They put a note on my account and guided me through the exact amendment process. Having a conversation with an actual IRS employee made all the difference in getting the penalties removed.

I need to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. After posting that comment, I decided to give it a shot because I was desperate to talk to someone about my tax situation. I've been trying to reach the IRS for WEEKS about a similar issue with multiple filings. I would call first thing in the morning and still get the "call volume too high" message. It was driving me insane. Claimyr actually worked exactly as promised. I got a call back in about 90 minutes, and when I picked up, there was an IRS agent already on the line ready to help. The agent pulled up both of my returns, confirmed which one was correct, and put notes in the system to abate the penalties since it was clearly a misunderstanding. I'm still in disbelief that I wasted so many hours trying to call when this service exists. Just wanted to share my experience in case anyone else is struggling to get through.

I work in tax preparation (not an accountant, just admin) and see this issue fairly regularly. One thing nobody has mentioned yet - make sure you get a detailed record of all payments you've already made toward either return. Sometimes when there are duplicate returns, payments get misapplied or aren't properly credited to your account. When you talk to the IRS, specifically ask them to confirm all payments received and how they were applied. I've seen cases where clients paid the correct amount but it was applied to the wrong tax year or wrong submission. Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING - both returns, the ITIN rejection, proof of payments, and any correspondence with the IRS. If you send anything by mail, use certified mail so you have proof of delivery.

I think you'll probably be able to get the penalties removed through First Time Penalty Abatement if you haven't had any issues in the past 3 years. The IRS has this program specifically for responsible taxpayers who make an occasional mistake. Just make sure to specifically ask for "First Time Penalty Abatement" when you call or write to them. I'd also recommend checking your wage and income transcript on the IRS website to make sure both returns are showing up correctly in their system. Sometimes when there are duplicate returns, weird things happen with how they record your information.