TurboTax refund amount doesn't match what was deposited - $850 missing with no offsets

I work in tax preparation, and this is unfortunately something I've seen happen with several online tax services, not just TurboTax. Here's what's likely happening: - When you file through a third-party service and choose to have your fees taken out of your refund, they create a temporary bank account to receive your refund from the IRS - They're supposed to deduct only their fees and then forward the remainder to your personal account - Sometimes there's a glitch in their system where fees are deducted twice or incorrect amounts are transferred What you need to do: 1. Request a complete accounting from TurboTax showing exactly how your refund was processed 2. Ask for documentation showing the amounts received from IRS and transferred to you 3. If they don't resolve it within 7 business days, escalate by asking for a supervisor 4. Document everything - call times, representative names, case numbers I've found that using a transcript analysis tool like taxr.ai can help pinpoint exactly where the money went and provide documentation you can use when dealing with TurboTax. Much better than trying to decipher the transcript codes yourself.

I was in the EXACT same situation last year with TurboTax! I was missing around $780 from my refund, which was suspiciously close to the fees I paid. I spent weeks getting the runaround between TurboTax and IRS before I discovered taxr.ai which helped me understand exactly what happened with my refund and gave me the documentation I needed. I was able to prove to TurboTax they had essentially double-charged me. They eventually refunded the extra amount but it took about 3 weeks and multiple escalations. Don't give up! https://taxr.ai was a game changer for me - it showed me exactly where my money went and gave me the confidence to push back against TurboTax.

After 6 weeks of trying to reach the IRS about a similar issue, I finally found a way to get through and resolve it. I used Claimyr.com to get a callback from the IRS instead of waiting on hold for hours. Got connected to an agent within 20 minutes who actually helped me trace where my missing refund went. Turned out TaxSlayer had processed it incorrectly. The IRS agent was able to provide documentation I needed to get TaxSlayer to fix the issue. Worth every penny considering I was missing over $1200.

Call TurboTax and demand to speak to a supervisor immediately. Don't accept them putting you on with a frontline rep. Tell them you want someone from their refund research department. I was in customer service for years and the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Be persistent but calm. If you paid with a credit card, you can also threaten to dispute the charge. That usually lights a fire under them. The tax prep services are notorious for "holding" extra money and hoping people don't notice.

This is why I switched to doing my own taxes with FreeTaxUSA. No surprise fees, no middleman holding my refund, and it's usually faster too. These big tax prep companies make billions off people and then pull shady stuff like this.

I had this exact problem with H&R Block last year. It took me 3 months to get my money back. What worked for me: 1. Filed a complaint with the BBB 2. Contacted my state's attorney general's consumer protection division 3. Posted about it on Twitter and tagged their official account Magically, my missing $690 appeared in my account a week later with an apology email saying it was an "unfortunate processing error." Yeah right. The tax prep industry is barely regulated and they count on people not noticing these "errors" that somehow always benefit them. 🙄

ive had this happen before. its because the bank they use as a middle man for processing takes additional fees. its in the fine print of their terms and conditions but they dont make it obvious. check page 8 of the agreement you probably electronically signed, there's usually language about "processing fees" or "handling charges" that are separate from the preperation fee.

This is why I always check my transcript before and after filing! The IRS website lets you view your transcript online and it shows exactly what was processed and when. I use taxr.ai to help me understand my transcript because it explains everything in plain English. If there are any issues, you know exactly who to blame - either the IRS or your tax preparer.

UPDATE: I had the same issue with Jackson Hewitt (missing $650) and just got it resolved! Here's what worked: 1. I got my IRS transcript which proved they sent the full amount 2. Called JH corporate (not my local office) and requested their "Research Dept" 3. Sent them proof from my transcript using screenshots from taxr.ai that clearly showed what happened 4. Got my missing money within 5 days Don't give up! These companies hope people will just accept the lower amount and move on.

Y'all still using these predatory tax companies? 😭 The IRS literally has free filing options now, no middleman needed. TurboTax and HR Block spend millions lobbying to keep taxes complicated so they can charge you to "simplify" it, then pull stuff like this.

I'm with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, and we see this issue frequently. Tax preparation companies often use third-party banks (like Republic Bank or Santa Barbara Tax Products Group) to process refunds when you opt to have fees taken out of your refund. These bank accounts have various fees that may not be clearly disclosed. If TurboTax doesn't resolve this within 7 days: 1. File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) 2. Contact your state's department of revenue or taxation 3. Consider reaching out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 You can also use tools like taxr.ai to analyze your transcript and provide clear documentation of what happened with your refund.

After trying for WEEKS to reach the IRS to figure out why my refund was short, I finally tried Claimyr.com to get through to an agent. Took less than 30 minutes to get a callback and they explained exactly what happened - in my case, TaxAct had received the full amount but only forwarded part of it to me. Having that information from the IRS directly gave me the leverage I needed to get TaxAct to fix it. it was the only way I could talk to a live agent after spending hours on hold getting nowhere.

i really dont understand why ppl keep using these corporate tax prep services. they literaly make billions of dollars by making taxes seem more complicated then they are and then charging you for it. and now they stealing your money too smh

I'm a CPA, and I see this ALL THE TIME with clients who previously used consumer tax software. Here's what's happening: When you choose to have your prep fees taken out of your refund (rather than paying upfront), you're actually taking out a short-term loan. The tax prep company partners with a bank that creates a temporary account to receive your refund, deducts fees, then forwards the remainder to you. The problem is these temporary accounts often have additional fees that aren't clearly disclosed: - "Technology fees" - "Processing fees" - "Service fees" - "Transmission fees" These can range from $40 to over $100 per return, ON TOP OF the tax preparation fees. The best way to avoid this is always pay for tax preparation upfront and have your refund direct deposited directly from the IRS to your personal account.

If TurboTax doesn't resolve this, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). I had almost the exact same situation last year with a different tax company, and nothing happened until I filed with the CFPB. Suddenly they "found" my missing $590 and returned it within a week.

So funny seeing all these comments about how terrible tax prep companies are when the REAL villain is the IRS and Congress. The IRS could easily create pre-filled tax returns for most people but Intuit (TurboTax) and H&R Block lobby against it. They spend millions every year to keep the tax system complicated so they can profit. Meanwhile other countries have simple tax filing systems where the government just sends you what they think you owe and you can approve or make changes. The whole system is corrupt af.

just checked my direct deposit amount after seeing this post and realized i'm missing $380 from what TT told me i'd get!! wtf?? calling them tomorrow 😡

Pro tip: In the future, NEVER have your fees taken out of your refund! Always pay upfront with a credit card. When you choose to have fees deducted from your refund, your money goes through a third-party bank that charges additional fees and creates opportunities for "errors" like this. If you pay the tax prep fee directly, your refund comes straight from the IRS to your bank account with no middleman.

This is exactly why I switched to filing directly through the IRS Free File program last year. No middleman, no hidden fees, and your refund goes straight from the IRS to your bank account. I was tired of these tax prep companies finding creative ways to skim extra money. For your situation, definitely get your IRS transcript and document everything. The transcript will show exactly what the IRS sent and when. If there's a discrepancy between what they sent and what you received, you have TurboTax dead to rights. Don't let them drag this out - escalate immediately and threaten to file complaints with the CFPB and your state's attorney general if they don't resolve it within a week. These companies count on people not checking their math or giving up when they encounter resistance. Stay persistent!