IRS Keeps Sending Me Refund Checks I Don't Think I'm Owed
So I'm in this weird situation right now. About three months ago, I received a check from the IRS for around $18,500. I was completely shocked because I wasn't expecting anything like this. I talked to my sister who suggested I contact a tax professional, so we managed to get on a call with someone at the IRS to dispute the check since I knew it couldn't be right. After some back and forth, I finally got a letter saying my dispute was successful and that no further action was needed on my part. Great, problem solved, right? Nope. Just a week after getting that letter, ANOTHER check showed up for almost the same amount ($18,300). It's been sitting on my desk for like five weeks now because I have no idea what to do with it. Some friends are telling me I should put the money in a high-yield savings account until the IRS inevitably asks for it back, that way I could at least make some interest. Others are saying I should just continue disputing it and not "mess with the IRS" because they're not an agency you want problems with. I'm completely confused about what to do here. Making some extra money from interest sounds nice since I definitely wouldn't spend any of it, but I'm worried about potential fines or other issues if I deposit it. Anyone dealt with anything similar or have good advice? EDIT: Thanks for all the responses! I'm going to call the IRS again tomorrow to dispute this second check. Not worth the stress of keeping money that isn't mine, plus I just want my actual refund (which is probably nowhere near $18k). If more checks come after this, I'll look into potential identity theft too.
18 comments


Carmen Ortiz
This is actually more common than you'd think. The IRS has been dealing with significant processing backlogs and system issues that sometimes cause duplicate refunds to be issued. When you disputed the first check, the dispute was likely recorded in one system but not synchronized with the payment processing system. Here's what you should do: Call the IRS directly at their main taxpayer assistance line (800-829-1040) and explain the situation. Tell them you've received a second check after already disputing the first one, and you need guidance on how to return it. Make sure to get the name and ID number of the representative you speak with and take detailed notes of the conversation. Do NOT cash the check or deposit it, even into a savings account. While it might seem tempting to earn interest until they ask for it back, it could potentially lead to complications if the IRS applies penalties and interest for funds they determine you knowingly retained improperly. Also request a written confirmation of the conversation and ask them to place a note on your account about the return of the second check. This will help protect you if questions arise later.
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Andre Rousseau
•Thanks for the advice! Just curious - have you dealt with this kind of situation before? And if I do call them, do you think they'll be able to tell me what caused this error in the first place? I've been wondering if this is happening to other people too or if there's something weird going on with my specific tax return.
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Carmen Ortiz
•I've worked with several clients who had similar issues, especially in the past few years as the IRS has been modernizing their systems. In most cases, it was simply a processing error that caused duplicate payments. When you call, they should be able to review your account and explain what triggered the duplicate refund. It could be anything from a system glitch to a manual processing error. This is definitely happening to others - the IRS processes millions of returns and sometimes their different systems don't communicate properly. Just be patient on the call, as representatives are often dealing with complex systems and might need time to fully research your situation.
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Zoe Papadakis
After getting frustrated with constantly getting different answers from IRS reps on the phone about a similar situation, I found a tool called taxr.ai that actually helped me figure out what was going on. I was getting bounced between departments for weeks until someone recommended https://taxr.ai to me. Basically it analyzed my tax notices and transcripts and showed me exactly why the IRS was sending me multiple refunds. In my case, they had applied an adjustment to my account twice because of a processing error in their system. The tool helped me understand what was happening so I could explain it clearly when I called them back. It saved me so much time and stress trying to figure out what was going on by myself.
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Jamal Carter
•Did you have to upload your tax documents to this site? I'm always hesitant about putting sensitive financial info on websites I'm not familiar with. How secure is it?
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AstroAdventurer
•How long did it take to get results back after uploading your docs? I'm dealing with a similar issue where the IRS sent me money twice but then sent a letter saying I actually owe them money. Makes zero sense.
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Zoe Papadakis
•The site uses bank-level encryption for uploading documents, and they don't store your actual tax forms after analysis, just the results. I felt pretty comfortable with it after reading their security details. It took about 10 minutes to get my results after uploading my documents. The system is automated so it analyzes everything right away. In your case with the conflicting refunds and balance due notices, it would probably help identify which notice is correct and why they're contradicting each other. Their analysis showed me exactly which transaction codes on my account were duplicated and causing my issue.
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AstroAdventurer
Just wanted to update - I ended up trying taxr.ai after asking about it yesterday. I was skeptical but desperate to figure out what was happening with my tax account. After uploading my notices and transcript, it immediately pointed out that the IRS had accidentally processed an amended return I never filed, which was causing the system to think I was owed additional refunds. The breakdown was super clear and even highlighted the specific transaction codes on my account that were showing the error. Took my printout from the site when I called the IRS this morning, and the representative was actually impressed with how clearly I could explain the issue. Got it resolved in one call instead of being transferred between departments like last time. Definitely worth checking out if you're still confused about why these checks keep coming!
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Mei Liu
I've been in a similar situation but on the other side - the IRS claimed I owed them money that I didn't actually owe. Tried calling for WEEKS and could never get through. Finally found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. Before that I was spending hours listening to hold music or getting disconnected. You can check it out at https://claimyr.com - they basically wait on hold for you and call you back when an actual human at the IRS is ready to talk. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Saved me so much time and frustration, and I finally got my issue resolved after just one call. With something like multiple checks being sent to you, you really need to talk to someone who can look at your full account history and see what's happening.
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Liam O'Sullivan
•How does this actually work? Do they have some special line to the IRS or something? I've been trying to get through for months about my 2023 return that's still "processing"...
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Amara Chukwu
•Sounds like a scam to me. No way anyone can magically get through to the IRS faster than their normal queue. They probably just take your money and you still end up waiting or having to call yourself.
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Mei Liu
•They don't have a special line - they use technology that automatically goes through the IRS phone tree and waits on hold so you don't have to. It calls you when a human agent is actually on the line. No magic, just automation that saves you time. I was totally in your shoes with my 2023 return too - "still processing" for months with no explanation. After using Claimyr to get through to an agent, I found out there was a simple discrepancy they needed to verify but nobody had contacted me about it. Got it cleared up in that one call and my refund was issued the next week.
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Amara Chukwu
I need to apologize and eat my words from yesterday. After calling the IRS for the 20th time this morning and getting nowhere, I decided to try that Claimyr service out of desperation. I was 100% convinced it was going to be a waste of money, but I was at my wit's end. To my complete shock, I got a call back in about 45 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. They connected me directly - no more phone tree, no more waiting. The agent was able to pull up my account and solve an issue I've been trying to fix for THREE MONTHS. If you're still dealing with those mystery checks, definitely worth using this to get straight to someone who can help rather than wasting hours on hold. Sorry for being so cynical before!
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Giovanni Conti
Whatever you do, DO NOT CASH THOSE CHECKS!! My cousin did this with an extra refund they sent him, spent it, and ended up owing the original amount plus penalties and interest. The IRS will eventually figure out their mistake. When they sent you the second check after you already disputed the first one, that's a red flag that their systems aren't communicating internally. Keep detailed records of every interaction - dates, times, who you talked to, what was said. You might need this paper trail later.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Thanks for the warning! Did your cousin have to pay back a lot in penalties? That's exactly what I'm worried about - even if I don't spend the money, I'm concerned they might still hit me with fees just for depositing it.
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Giovanni Conti
•He ended up paying about 8% more than the original amount because of the penalties and interest that accrued during the 7 months before they discovered the error. The worst part was they froze his next year's refund until everything was paid back. Even if you just deposit it without spending, they might still consider that as you "accepting" the refund, which could potentially trigger penalties. The IRS doesn't care much about intent - they care about whether you received funds you weren't entitled to. Better to be proactive and get written documentation showing you've tried to return it.
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
You might want to check if someone filed a fraudulent return in your name. If the amount is way more than you'd normally expect as a refund, it could be identity theft where someone filed a return with inflated deductions or credits. The fact that you're getting multiple checks even after disputing is concerning.
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NeonNova
•This happened to my brother last year. Someone filed a fake return with his SSN claiming a huge refund, and he got similar letters and checks. The IRS fraud department was actually pretty helpful once he reported it.
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