IRS payment going to wrong account due to tax preparer error - what to do?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle. My tax preparer messed up and put the wrong account number on my tax return. Now I've got a payment scheduled but it's going to the wrong account. Has anyone dealt with this before? What should I do when I talk to the IRS about it?
20 comments


Javier Cruz
Ugh, that sucks! I had a similar issue last year. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the IRS ASAP. Like, yesterday. 2. Explain the situation calmly. They deal with this stuff all the time. 3. Have your correct account info ready. 4. Ask them to update the account number before the payment goes through. 5. If the payment's already gone through, they can help you get it back and redirect it. Just be patient and polite. The person on the other end isn't the one who messed up. Good luck!
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Emma Wilson
•This is solid advice. I'd add: get the name and badge number of whoever you talk to, just in case you need to reference the call later.
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Malik Thomas
•Yep, documentation is key when dealing with the IRS. I always write down who I talked to and when.
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Natasha Orlova
•Thanks for the detailed advice! I'll definitely follow these steps. Fingers crossed it gets sorted quickly 🤞
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NeonNebula
man, tax preparers can be such clowns sometimes 🤡 hope you get this fixed without too much hassle
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Isabella Costa
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone at the IRS. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Ravi Malhotra
•Sounds too good to be true. Does it really work?
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Isabella Costa
•Yeah, it actually does! Saved me hours of hold time. Worth every penny imo.
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Freya Christensen
•20 bucks to skip the hold? Sign me up! 💯
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Omar Farouk
This is why I always double-check my tax returns before they're filed. Can't trust anyone these days smh
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Chloe Davis
•Easier said than done if you're not a tax expert. Some of us rely on preparers for a reason.
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Omar Farouk
•Fair point. I guess I'm just paranoid after getting burned before 😅
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AstroAlpha
Have you tried contacting your bank? They might be able to reject the payment if it hasn't gone through yet.
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Natasha Orlova
•That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. I'll give them a call too. Thanks!
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Diego Chavez
oof, been there done that. the irs eventually sorted it out for me but it took forever. hang in there!
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Anastasia Smirnova
Pro tip: Next time, use direct deposit for your refund and electronic withdrawal for payments. Way less room for error.
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Sean O'Brien
•This! 👆 Electronic everything is the way to go with taxes.
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Zara Shah
Plot twist: what if the 'wrong' account is actually a secret IRS slush fund? 🕵️♂️💰
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Luca Bianchi
•Lol, don't give them any ideas! 🤣
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Victoria Jones
Had this exact same thing happen to me a few years back. In addition to calling the IRS, I'd also recommend filing Form 8888 if you need to split your refund between multiple accounts in the future - it helps prevent these kinds of mix-ups. Also, make sure your tax preparer has professional liability insurance that covers these types of errors. Some will actually reimburse you for any fees or penalties that result from their mistakes. Document everything and don't let them brush it off as "no big deal" - this is their responsibility to fix.
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