How to understand Balance Due/Overpayment when TP FIG differs from "per computer" amount?

The "TP FIG" on your notice stands for "Taxpayer Figure," which is what you (or Jackson Hewitt) calculated and reported on your return. The "per computer" amount is what the IRS calculated based on the information they have in their system. When these two figures differ, it usually means the IRS found a discrepancy between what you reported and what was reported to them by employers, banks, etc. The "Balance Due/Overpayment" section is showing you the comparison between your calculation and theirs. In most cases, you'll need to pay attention to the "per computer" amount, as that's what the IRS believes is correct. However, you should carefully review the notice to understand why there's a discrepancy. The notice should include an explanation section that details the specific adjustments they made to your return.

I went through something similar last year with a CP2000 notice showing different figures. After weeks of trying to call the IRS, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it saved me so much stress. You upload your tax documents and the notice, and they analyze everything to explain exactly what's going on with the discrepancy. The system identified that my issue was related to a 1099 that was reported twice - once as self-employment income and once as miscellaneous income. The analysis showed me exactly where the double-counting happened and generated a response letter I could send to the IRS explaining the error. Definitely worth checking out especially since you mentioned unreported income on your notice.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for my notice confusion. I was skeptical at first about using an online service for something as important as an IRS notice, but I'm glad I did. The analysis pinpointed exactly where the discrepancy in my Bal Due amount was coming from. Turns out the IRS was counting a stock sale but not including my basis, so it looked like I had way more income than I actually did. The system generated a clear explanation letter that I sent to the IRS with my documentation, and they adjusted the balance back to what I originally reported. Saved me from paying over $3,000 I didn't actually owe! Definitely worth it for anyone dealing with those confusing TP FIG vs "per computer" differences.

I had a similar issue with a balance due notice last year. After trying to call the IRS for weeks without getting through, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and finally got to speak with an actual IRS agent who walked me through my notice line by line. The agent explained that the "per computer" amount is what their system calculated based on information reported to them, while my "TP FIG" was what I reported. In my case, there was a W-2 that had been submitted with a different SSN (typo by my employer) so it looked like unreported income. You can check out how the service works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Instead of waiting on hold forever, they call you when an agent is ready.

I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it because I've been getting nowhere with the IRS for a month about my Bal Due/Overpayment notice. Got a call back in about 90 minutes and was connected to an IRS representative who was surprisingly helpful. The agent explained my entire notice, including the TP FIG vs per computer differences. In my case, the "per computer" amount was correct because I had forgotten to include some dividend income. But she also helped me set up a payment plan right then and there instead of paying the full amount at once. Saved me from more penalties by getting it resolved quickly instead of ignoring it. Kind of amazed this actually worked.

Quick tip from someone who deals with these notices regularly: Always check Line 16 of the notice explanations for the specific adjustment reason codes. For Bal Due/Overpayment comparisons, code CP2000 usually means unreported income, while CP11/12 usually indicates math errors or incorrect calculations. The "per computer" amount is considered the IRS's official calculation, and if you're going to dispute it, you need to show documentation proving why your "TP FIG" is correct. Don't ignore these notices hoping they'll go away - the discrepancy will only grow with penalties and interest!

Has anyone else noticed that Jackson Hewitt seems to make a lot of these kinds of mistakes? I switched from them to doing my own taxes with FreeTaxUSA after getting a similar notice about TP FIG differences 2 years in a row. Never had the problem since.

I went through this exact same situation with a CP2000 notice showing different TP FIG and "per computer" amounts. The key thing to understand is that the IRS isn't necessarily right just because they have computers - they're working with the information that was reported to them by third parties (employers, banks, etc.). In my case, the discrepancy was because my employer had submitted a corrected W-2 that the IRS processed, but I had filed my return before receiving the correction. The "per computer" amount reflected the corrected information while my "TP FIG" was based on the original W-2. Don't panic about the $1,200 difference - these notices are designed to look scary but they're often resolvable. Since you mentioned the 1099 contract work, double-check if you reported it on the correct line of your return. Sometimes income gets reported in the wrong section (like Schedule C vs Schedule C-EZ) and the IRS computer flags it as missing even though you included it. My advice: gather all your tax documents, compare them line by line with what's on your filed return, and if you find the error is on the IRS side, respond with documentation. Most of these discrepancies get resolved in your favor once you provide the missing context.

I've been dealing with tax notices for years as a bookkeeper, and the confusion between "TP FIG" and "per computer" amounts is incredibly common. Here's what's happening in simple terms: Your "TP FIG" (Taxpayer Figure) is what you calculated and reported on your return - basically what you or Jackson Hewitt put down as your tax liability or refund amount. The "per computer" figure is what the IRS calculated based on all the tax documents they received about you (W-2s, 1099s, etc.). When these don't match, it usually means they have information that wasn't included on your return, or there's a reporting error somewhere. The $1,200 difference suggests this isn't just a small math error - it's likely a substantial piece of missing income or an incorrect deduction. Since you mentioned a 1099 from contract work, I'd bet that's the culprit. Even if you think you included it, double-check exactly how and where it was reported on your return. The "per computer" amount is generally what you'll need to address, but don't just assume the IRS is right. They make mistakes too, especially when employers or clients submit incorrect or duplicate forms. Take the time to verify their calculations before paying.