How to Get My $2,112 IRS Refund Check Sent to Wrong Address (CP21B Notice)
I just received a CP21B notice from the IRS about changes to my 2022 Form 1040. They're saying I'm due a refund of $3,112.00, which is broken down in the notice as follows: Summary Increase in credit for tax withheld $-110.00 Increase in credit -3,002.00 earned income credit Refund due $3,112.00 The notice states "We made the changes you requested to your 2022 Form 1040 to adjust your total federal income tax withheld income from wages, salaries tips, etc." I filed back in April, and this notice just arrived today in October. The big problem is they're sending the refund check to my old address! The notice says "If you haven't already received a refund for $3,112.00 you should receive a refund check within 2-3 weeks as long as you don't owe other tax or debts we're required to collect." It also mentions "Your refund amount may include interest. Keep in mind that any interest you receive on tax refunds is considered taxable income during the year you receive it." How can I track if someone has already cashed this check? And if it hasn't been cashed yet, how long will it take them to send a new one? I tried looking at www.irs.gov/cp21b as the notice suggests, but I still need help with this specific situation. The notice says "If you don't agree with the changes, call 800-829-0922 to review your account with a representative. Be sure you have your account information available when you call." I know I can call that number to speak with a representative, but has anyone dealt with this specific situation before? The notice also states "Visit www.irs.gov and search 'Form 8888'. See 'Changes in Refund due to Math Errors and Refund Offsets' under General Instructions for deposit rules." Would this help in my situation? I want to make sure I get my $3,112.00 refund and don't lose it because of an old address issue. Any advice from someone who's dealt with this before would be greatly appreciated!
20 comments


Sean Murphy
The IRS notice shows two key adjustments to your 2022 tax return: a $110 increase in credit for tax withheld and a $2,002 increase in earned income credit, resulting in a total refund of $2,112. These changes appear to be based on corrections you requested to your reported wages and withholding amounts. The notice provides important timing information - you should receive the refund check within 2-3 weeks unless you have other outstanding tax debts. Any interest included with your refund will be taxable income for 2023. Since the check is being sent to an outdated address, you should: 1. Call the IRS immediately at 800-829-0922 (their dedicated line for these notices) to stop the check 2. Request a trace to confirm if it's been cashed 3. Have them reissue to your current address (expect 6-8 weeks for processing) To prevent future issues, submit Form 8822 to update your address with the IRS. You can review additional details about your notice at www.irs.gov/cp21b. The notice also confirms that if you have a power of attorney on file, they've been automatically notified of these changes. If you disagree with any of these adjustments, contact the IRS at the number above with your account information ready for review.
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Anastasia Ivanova
•ugh 6-8 MORE weeks? 😫 this is getting ridiculous
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StarStrider
•same boat rn... been waiting since march its like they want us to suffer fr 🤡
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Zara Malik
Instead of trying to piece together whats happening, you should try taxr.ai - it's only $1 and it'll tell you exactly what's going on with your refund and next steps. Been using it weekly to track my amendments https://taxr.ai
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Luca Marino
•Does it actually work? Seems too good to be true tbh
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Zara Malik
•It's legit! Just upload your transcript and it breaks everything down. Saved me hours of googling and stressing
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Luca Marino
•Just tried it and WOW 🤯 it literally told me exactly why my refund was delayed and when to expect it. Best dollar I ever spent fr fr
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Nia Davis
call irs early morning like 7am EST. thats the only time u can get thru without waiting 2 hrs
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Mateo Perez
Your gonna need to file form 3911 for a trace. took me like 3 months to get my replacement check fyi
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Anastasia Ivanova
•3 MONTHS??? 😭 i cant wait that long
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Aisha Rahman
make sure u got direct deposit set up for next time. checks are always a headache with irs
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CosmicCrusader
•facts 💯 haven't gotten a paper check since 2019
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Ethan Brown
this happened to me last year! If nobody cashed it they'll send a new one but u gotta be patient. IRS moves slower than a turtle walking backwards 🐢
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Yuki Yamamoto
•slower than a turtle walking backwards im dead 💀
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Haley Stokes
I went through this exact same situation last year with a CP21B notice! The key thing is to act fast before someone potentially cashes that check. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call 800-829-0922 first thing Monday morning (like 7am EST as someone mentioned) and tell them you need to stop payment on a refund check going to the wrong address 2. They'll put a stop payment on it and start a trace - this is automatic, you don't need to file Form 3911 separately 3. Once they confirm it wasn't cashed, they'll reissue to your current address The whole process took about 5 weeks for me, not 3 months. Make sure you have your SSN, the exact refund amount ($3,112), and your current address ready when you call. Also definitely file Form 8822 to update your address permanently - you can do this online through your IRS account. This will prevent future refunds and notices from going to the old address. The good news is your refund is legitimate based on those EIC and withholding adjustments, so you will get your money! Just gotta jump through the hoops unfortunately.
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Fiona Sand
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! This is exactly what I needed to hear. 5 weeks sounds way more manageable than 3 months 😅 I'm definitely calling first thing Monday morning with all that info ready. Really appreciate you taking the time to break down the whole process step by step!
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Diego Rojas
Just want to add that when you call the IRS, also ask them to put a "correspondence hold" on your account while they're processing the address change and reissuing the check. This prevents them from sending any other notices or correspondence to the old address during this period. Also, if you have access to your online IRS account, you can check the "Get My Payment" tool to see the status of your refund - it should show if the check was issued and potentially if it's been cashed. This can give you some peace of mind while you're waiting for the phone call to go through. One more tip: if the 800-829-0922 line is too busy, you can also try calling your local Taxpayer Assistance Center. They can help with the same issues and sometimes have shorter wait times than the main line.
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Khalil Urso
•This is super helpful info! I didn't know about the correspondence hold option - that's definitely something I'll ask for when I call. The "Get My Payment" tool is a great idea too, I'll check that tonight to see if I can get any status updates. Thanks for the tip about the local Taxpayer Assistance Center as a backup option if the main line is swamped!
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Evelyn Martinez
Quick heads up - if you've moved recently, the IRS might still be processing your address change even if you filed Form 8822. I had this exact issue where my CP21B went to my old apartment. When you call Monday, also ask them to verify what address they have on file for you currently. Sometimes there's a lag between when you submit the address change and when it actually updates in their system, especially if you filed it close to when they processed your return. If they still show your old address, you can update it over the phone during the same call where you request the stop payment. Just have both your old and new addresses ready to confirm. This saved me from having to file another form and waiting weeks for it to process. Also, once you get this sorted out, consider setting up direct deposit for future refunds if you haven't already. Even if you move, your bank account usually stays the same and it's much faster than waiting for checks to be reissued.
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GamerGirl99
•This is such good advice about the address verification! I actually did move about 2 months ago and filed the 8822 form online, but you're right that there might be a processing lag. I'll definitely ask them to confirm what address they have on file when I call Monday. The direct deposit tip is spot on too - I've been meaning to set that up but kept putting it off. After this whole ordeal, I'm definitely switching to direct deposit so I never have to deal with lost checks again! Thanks for the practical tips 🙏
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