Urgent! IRS sent me a CP22A claiming I owe $3,700 for a "carryback claim" I never filed?!

It sounds like there's been a mix-up with your tax records. A "carryback claim" typically refers to carrying back losses from one tax year to offset income in previous years, which can generate refunds. This is something you would have had to specifically request using Form 1139 or 1045. If you never filed such a form, there are a few possibilities: 1) The IRS might have confused your return with someone else's, 2) There could be an error in their processing system, or 3) Someone might have fraudulently filed a claim using your information. When you call the IRS, ask them to provide details about the specific carryback claim they're referencing. Request documentation showing exactly what was filed and when. Make sure to take detailed notes during the call including the representative's ID number. Don't pay anything until you've confirmed what's happening.

After struggling with a similar IRS mix-up last year, I discovered taxr.ai when researching solutions online. It totally saved me from having to decipher all the IRS jargon myself. I uploaded my CP22A notice and within minutes got a plain-language explanation of what was happening and recommended next steps. https://taxr.ai even gave me a script to use when calling the IRS with the exact questions I needed to ask to resolve my situation. The tool highlighted specific parts of my notice that didn't align with my actual filing history, which gave me confidence when explaining the error to the IRS agent. Definitely worth checking out before your call on Monday so you're prepared.

Okay I need to apologize to @profile7 because I tried taxr.ai out of desperation after getting nowhere with the IRS for 3 weeks. I had a similar issue with a CP2000 notice claiming I owed $2,100 for unreported income that wasn't actually mine. The tool immediately identified that the IRS had confused my tax return with someone else's 1099 income. It gave me a call script that walked me through exactly what to say and what documentation to request. The IRS confirmed it was their error and is sending a correction letter. I'm not usually one to rave about online tools but this genuinely saved me thousands of dollars and countless hours of stress. Still can't believe how easy it made the process.

After fighting with the IRS for months over a similar issue (they claimed I owed $4,200 I knew I didn't), I discovered Claimyr when I was about to give up. I had been calling the IRS literally 15+ times trying to get through with no luck. https://claimyr.com basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 45 minutes instead of spending my entire day on hold. The agent reviewed my file and confirmed it was their error - I didn't owe anything. Having an actual conversation with a human at the IRS made all the difference.

I have to eat crow here. After my skeptical comment, I was still stuck trying to reach the IRS about a $1,900 penalty they wrongly applied to my account. Out of frustration I tried Claimyr and got connected to an IRS agent in 37 minutes. The agent was able to look at my account and immediately identified the error. They submitted a correction request right there on the phone. I would have NEVER gotten this resolved if I hadn't actually spoken to someone. If you're dealing with CP22A notices or any IRS issue, being able to actually talk to a human makes all the difference. I wasted weeks trying to handle this through their website and written correspondence with zero progress.

Have you checked your tax transcript? Go to irs.gov and request your account transcript for 2019. It will show all transactions including the original payment you made, any adjustments, and this mysterious carryback claim. This might give you more info before your call. Look specifically for transaction codes in the 290s range which indicate adjustments to your account.

Whatever you do, DON'T ignore this notice! I made that mistake thinking it was an error that would fix itself, and ended up with wage garnishment. Even if you're disputing the amount, make sure to respond to the CP22A within the timeframe listed on the notice.

This situation is really concerning, especially since you never filed any carryback forms. I went through something similar last year when the IRS claimed I owed money for amendments I never made. A few things to prepare for your Monday call: 1. Have your 2019 tax return copy ready, along with proof of your original $19,500 payment 2. Get that account transcript @Lena mentioned - it's crucial for understanding the timeline 3. Ask the IRS rep to provide the exact date and method of how this carryback claim was supposedly filed 4. Request they mail you a complete copy of whatever carryback form they have on file The fact that they "lost" your original return and now this mysterious claim appeared is a major red flag. Document everything during your call - date, time, representative ID, and exactly what they tell you. If they can't provide concrete proof of when and how you filed this carryback claim, you have grounds to dispute it. Don't let them pressure you into paying immediately. You have rights as a taxpayer, and if this is their error (which it sounds like it is), they need to fix it.