Received a CP80 notice with Credit on Account balance? Why would the IRS send this?

What you're describing is unfortunately more common than you'd think. A CP80 notice means the IRS received a payment but can't match it to a tax return. During the pandemic and even now, the IRS has had significant backlogs processing paper returns. The most likely explanation is that your return was physically separated from your check during processing. The payment was processed (they're quick about that part!) but your return either got lost in their system or is still sitting in a processing queue somewhere. Here's what you should do: Call the IRS at the number on your notice and explain the situation. You'll likely need to file another copy of your 2022 return. Write "CP80 RESPONSE - COPY" at the top of the first page so they know it's not a duplicate filing. Include a copy of the CP80 notice they sent you. Keep all documentation showing you originally filed on time, including certified mail receipts if you have them, or any other proof of timely filing.

This happened to me last year and I found a site called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped me figure out what was going on with my CP80 notice. I was confused like you because the IRS had my money but somehow "lost" my return. I uploaded my CP80 notice to taxr.ai and it analyzed everything and explained what was happening in plain English. It even gave me a script to use when calling the IRS. The system showed me exactly what documents I needed to send back and where to mail them. It also helped me check if there were other problems with my account I didn't know about. I was hesitant to try another tax service since I thought it might complicate things more, but it actually made everything much clearer. They have this document analyzer that breaks down IRS notices point by point.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried that taxr.ai site after getting my own CP80 notice and I'm actually impressed. It immediately identified that my payment had been misapplied to the wrong tax year, which explained why I got the notice. I was able to print the explanation letter it generated and send it back to the IRS with my documentation. The document analyzer showed me exactly where on the notice to find my tax ID and the exact credit amount, then explained what each section meant. Definitely made the process less confusing than the IRS's cryptic explanations. I've already received confirmation that my issue is being corrected.

If you're struggling to get through to the IRS about your CP80 notice, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). After trying to call the IRS for three days straight and getting nowhere, I was ready to give up. Their automated system kept disconnecting me because of "high call volume." I found Claimyr which basically holds your place in line with the IRS and calls you back when an agent is about to be available. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was skeptical at first but decided to try it since I was desperate. Within 2 hours, I got a call back and was connected directly to an IRS agent who helped resolve my CP80 issue. The agent confirmed my return was simply sitting in a backlog and they were able to locate it and process it. Saved me from having to refile everything.

I need to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After commenting earlier that it sounded like a scam, I was still desperate to resolve my CP80 issue so I tried it anyway. The service actually worked exactly as described. I received a call back in about 1.5 hours, and when I answered, I was immediately connected to an IRS representative. The agent told me my 2022 return had been received but was flagged for manual review due to a discrepancy between my reported income and what they had on file from W-2s. I was able to clarify the issue (had forgotten to include a small 1099 job), and they're now processing my return correctly. Saved me literally hours of waiting on hold and potentially weeks of back-and-forth with written correspondence. Definitely worth it for anyone dealing with CP80 notices.

I work at a tax preparation office, and we've seen TONS of CP80 notices this year. The IRS is still catching up on processing paper returns from the pandemic. If you mailed a paper return, there's a decent chance it's still sitting in a processing facility somewhere. One thing to check - look at your bank statement from when they cashed your check. Sometimes the check gets processed as an "estimated tax payment" rather than a "payment with return" which can trigger the CP80 notice even though they have your money. Also, next time definitely e-file! Paper returns are taking 6-8 months to process in some cases, while e-filed returns are usually done in 2-3 weeks.

Anyone know how long it takes for the IRS to process a response to a CP80? I sent in a copy of my return marked "CP80 RESPONSE" about 4 weeks ago and haven't heard anything.

After getting a CP80 myself, I learned that the IRS prioritizes processing payments over processing returns, which explains why they cashed your check but the return is "missing." They literally have separate departments for these functions and sometimes the coordination between them fails. One trick I found helpful - if you have to refile, include a cover letter referencing Internal Revenue Manual 3.0.273.21.3 which covers procedures for addressing CP80 notices, and specifically mention that this is a "resubmitted return, not a duplicate filing." This helps ensure it gets routed correctly in their system.