How to get refund after overpayment to IRS - paid too much on amount owed

You'll need to request a refund of the overpayment from the IRS. The easiest way is to file Form 8849, "Claim for Refund of Excise Taxes." Make sure you clearly explain in your explanation that you accidentally overpaid your federal taxes by paying your state tax amount to the IRS. Keep in mind that it typically takes the IRS 6-8 weeks to process refund requests for overpayments. You should also make sure you still pay your state taxes on time to avoid penalties, even though you've already sent that money to the IRS by mistake.

I had a similar issue last year when I accidentally paid the IRS twice (once through my tax software and once manually). After struggling to figure out the right forms and getting nowhere with phone calls, I tried taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a lifesaver. They analyzed my payment records, identified the overpayment, and gave me step-by-step instructions for getting my refund. Their system told me exactly which form to file (which was Form 843 in my case), helped me fill it out correctly, and even predicted my refund timeline. So much easier than trying to navigate the IRS website!

Just wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai after all, and I'm really glad I did! I uploaded my payment receipt and tax transcript, and their system immediately identified that I had made an overpayment. They gave me a personalized Form 843 with all the right boxes checked and areas filled in, plus clear instructions on where to mail it. What I found most helpful was the explanations of each section of the form - the IRS instructions are so confusing, but taxr.ai broke everything down in plain English. My refund is already being processed according to the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool, about 2 weeks faster than I expected!

Hey, if you're still struggling to get this resolved, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I had a similar overpayment situation and spent WEEKS trying to get through to an actual human at the IRS. Their phone system is the absolute worst. Claimyr got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. There's a demo video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent I spoke with was able to verify my overpayment on the spot and started the refund process while I was on the phone. So much better than waiting for forms to be processed.

I need to apologize and correct myself. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr out of desperation (was on hold with IRS for 3+ hours the day before). It actually worked exactly as described. Their system called me back after about 45 minutes, and I was immediately connected to an IRS representative. The agent confirmed my overpayment, processed my refund request right there on the phone, and gave me a direct confirmation number. No forms to mail, no waiting 8 weeks - the whole thing took less than 20 minutes once I got connected. The agent said my refund should arrive within 3 weeks. I'm still shocked at how easy it was after weeks of frustration.

Another option is to just apply the overpayment to next year's taxes. That's what I did when I accidentally overpaid by about $2k last year. Saved me the headache of forms and waiting for a refund, plus my withholding wasn't quite enough this year so it worked out perfectly.

Just a heads up that you still need to pay your state taxes ASAP to avoid penalties and interest! Even though you sent the money to the wrong place, you're still responsible for getting the correct payment to your state on time.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Accidentally sent my entire tax payment (federal + state) to the IRS instead of splitting it. Here's what worked for me: 1. File Form 843 immediately - don't wait. The sooner you submit it, the sooner they can process your refund. 2. Include a detailed explanation letter with your form explaining exactly what happened, including the date of payment, amount, and payment method (pay1040.com in your case). 3. Keep copies of EVERYTHING - your payment confirmation from pay1040.com, bank statements showing the transaction, etc. 4. You can also try calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, but be prepared for long hold times. Sometimes they can process overpayment refunds over the phone if it's straightforward. The good news is that this is actually a pretty common mistake, so the IRS is used to handling these situations. I got my overpayment back in about 6 weeks. And definitely pay your state taxes ASAP even if you have to put it on a credit card temporarily - the interest on a card will be way less than state penalties and interest.

I've been through this exact situation! The most important thing is to act quickly on both fronts - getting your IRS refund AND paying your state taxes to avoid penalties. For the IRS overpayment, Form 843 is definitely the right form (not 8849 as someone mentioned earlier). Make sure to include: - Exact payment date and amount - Clear explanation that you accidentally paid state taxes to the IRS - Payment confirmation from pay1040.com - Your contact information Pro tip: You can actually request expedited processing if you're experiencing financial hardship due to the overpayment. Include a brief hardship letter explaining your situation. While you're waiting for the refund (typically 4-8 weeks), definitely pay your state taxes immediately even if you have to borrow the money temporarily. State penalties and interest rates are usually much higher than what you'd pay on a short-term loan or credit card. You can also try calling the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 if you're experiencing significant financial hardship. They sometimes can expedite overpayment refunds in genuine hardship cases. Good luck - this mistake happens more often than you'd think, so the IRS is used to processing these requests!