Friend's Return Had Error - IRS Fixed It & Resumed Processing on 15th - What's Next?
Friend filed 2/2. Accepted 2/3. She called IRS today. Found error on return. IRS fixed it themselves. Back to normal processing on the 15th. Anyone experience this? What happens next? Timeframe? She's getting anxious. I told her to relax. IRS is just slow this year.
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NebulaNomad
According to IRS Internal Revenue Manual Section 21.5.3.4.6.1, this is what's called a 'math error correction' or 'error resolution procedure.' When the IRS identifies certain errors they can correct themselves without requiring an amended return. Per Publication 17, this triggers a 21-day processing timeline from the correction date. Your friend should expect processing to complete by April 5th, assuming no additional issues are identified during subsequent verification processes.
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Freya Thomsen
•So they just... fix it themselves? I'm guessing this is probably for simple math errors, right? Not like if someone put down the wrong filing status or something major?
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Omar Fawaz
•Does this correction trigger any kind of notice to the taxpayer? Wouldn't they want to know exactly what was changed on their return?
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Chloe Martin
•This happened to me last year! It's like having a teacher correct your math homework. The IRS found I added wrong on one of my 1099 forms and just fixed it. My refund was about $43 less than I expected, but they included a notice explaining the correction. The whole process was like watching paint dry, but at least they didn't reject the whole return!
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Diego Rojas
Did your friend receive any specific error code or explanation about what was fixed? On February 17th, I had a similar situation where they fixed a calculation error on my Schedule C. On February 28th, I received a notice explaining the correction. By March 4th, my refund was approved. The specific error type can impact how quickly they process after corrections.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•Not everyone gets a clear explanation. My brother had a correction but the IRS agent couldn't tell him exactly what was fixed - just that it was 'resolved.
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StarSeeker
•When the IRS fixes errors themselves, they typically follow this process: • Identify and correct the mathematical or clerical error • Send Notice CP11 or CP12 explaining the change • Allow 60 days for the taxpayer to dispute the correction • Process the return with the correction if no dispute Has your friend checked her mailbox for any notices? Sometimes they arrive after the phone call.
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Sean O'Donnell
•Back in 2022, the IRS fixed an error on my return where I miscalculated my student loan interest deduction. They never actually told me what they fixed until I received my refund, which was $120 less than expected. I had to call to find out why. I'd suggest your friend request a tax transcript once processing completes to see exactly what changed.
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Zara Ahmed
•Could you ask your friend to check if her expected refund amount has changed? Here's how to tell: 1. Look at the original refund amount from her tax software 2. Check the current amount on Where's My Refund 3. If they're different, the IRS definitely made a calculation adjustment 4. If they're the same, it might have been a data entry error they fixed
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Luca Esposito
OMG THANK YOU ALL! I'm the friend! So frustrating waiting! Called them myself today! They said something about a math error! Fixed it without me doing anything! Back in processing now! Do I need to do ANYTHING?? Or just keep waiting??? This is stressing me out!!
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Nia Thompson
It seems like you might be in for a bit more waiting, unfortunately. While the IRS has corrected the error, you may possibly experience additional delays as they work through their backlog. If you need to speak with an actual IRS agent again to get more specific information about your situation, you might want to try Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). I've found it to be quite helpful for getting through to an agent without spending hours on hold. They essentially navigate the IRS phone system for you and call when an agent is available, which could potentially save you considerable time and frustration.
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Luca Esposito
•Is this legit?? Never heard of it! Don't want to give info to scammers! Already stressed enough!
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Nia Thompson
•I completely understand your concern about potential scams. Claimyr is a legitimate service that many tax professionals recommend. They don't actually access your tax information - they simply help you navigate the IRS phone system and get connected to an agent. You still speak directly with the IRS yourself. Given that you've already successfully reached the IRS once, you might not need it, but it's an option if you need to call again and want to avoid long hold times.
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Mateo Rodriguez
Has anyone received a letter explaining what was corrected? I had this happen last year and got a notice about three weeks after they fixed it. Did they tell you how much the correction changed your refund amount?
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Luca Esposito
•No letter yet! They didn't say amount changed! Just said they fixed math error! Should I be worried???
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Mateo Rodriguez
•No need to worry! This happens more often than you'd think. Back in 2022, I had the exact same situation. The IRS fixed a small addition error on my Schedule A without telling me what specifically changed. I received a letter about 2 weeks later explaining they adjusted my itemized deductions by $340, which changed my refund by about $75. The return finished processing just 8 days after the correction.
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GalaxyGuardian
I went through this exact scenario in February! According to the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc652, when they make math error corrections, they'll send a notice explaining the changes. Mine took 16 days from correction to deposit. The IRS2Go app showed my status change to approved exactly 12 days after the correction date. Hang in there - you're in the normal process now!
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Aisha Abdullah
The math error correction process is actually faster than many other IRS reviews. Compared to an actual audit or identity verification, this is the best possible outcome. I'd expect your refund within 2-3 weeks from the correction date. In my experience helping clients with similar situations, these self-corrected returns typically process without further issues. Just keep checking WMR every few days rather than multiple times daily.
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