Used FreeTaxUSA and entered wrong bank account number for tax payment - how to fix this mistake?

I feel so stupid right now. I just filed my taxes using FreeTaxUSA and realized I made a huge mistake with the bank account info for my tax payment. I was rushing through the payment section and somehow managed to enter the wrong account number. I was supposed to pay around $4,300 for my 2024 taxes. I just noticed this error when I was going through my confirmation email and all the payment details. The routing number is correct, but the account number is definitely wrong (transposed some digits). I'm freaking out because the payment is scheduled to process in 3 days. Has anyone dealt with this before? Will the payment just get rejected, or could it potentially go to someone else's account? Do I need to contact FreeTaxUSA directly or the IRS? Really need some guidance here because I'm worried about penalties if this payment doesn't go through properly.

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18 comments

QuantumQuest

•8M

I'm a tax preparer and see this issue more often than you'd think! Don't panic - this is fixable. When you enter an incorrect account number, typically what happens is the payment will simply be rejected by the banking system since the account number and name won't match. First, call FreeTaxUSA customer service immediately (before the payment processes). They can help cancel the scheduled payment. Then contact the IRS directly at 1-888-353-4537 to explain the situation. They'll guide you through making a new payment with the correct account information. Keep records of all your communications. If the payment does get rejected, the IRS will send you a notice, but it's better to be proactive now rather than waiting. The key is to make sure you initiate a correct payment before your tax deadline to avoid any penalties or interest.

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QuantumQuest

•8M

The bank would typically reject the payment within 1-3 business days, but you won't be automatically notified when this happens. The IRS will eventually send you a notice by mail, which could take 2-3 weeks. You can check your payment status through the IRS Direct Pay site or your IRS online account. Just go to IRS.gov and look for "View Your Account." You'll need to create an account if you don't already have one. This is the fastest way to confirm if your payment was processed or rejected.

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Yara Haddad

•8M

I went through almost the exact same nightmare last year! After hours of stressing and calling around, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me figure out my options and what forms I needed. Their system analyzed my situation and gave me step-by-step instructions for fixing the payment issue. Their document analyzer caught something I missed - that I could make an immediate electronic payment through the IRS Direct Pay system while my incorrect payment was being rejected. This saved me from penalties! The tool walked me through exactly what to say when I called the IRS and what documentation to keep. Seriously worth checking out if you're dealing with payment issues.

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Yara Haddad

•8M

It doesn't connect to IRS systems or make payments for you - it's more like an intelligent guide. You upload any notices or documents you have, and it analyzes them to give you specific instructions based on your situation. The real value is that it breaks down exactly what steps to take, what forms you need, and gives you the exact wording to use when talking to the IRS. For my banking error, it helped me understand that I needed to make an immediate alternate payment while also explaining to the IRS what happened with the first attempt. It saved me hours of researching and stressing over whether I was doing the right thing.

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Paolo Conti

•8M

Had to come back and say I was totally wrong about taxr.ai! After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since I was desperate with a similar bank payment issue. It immediately identified that I needed to use Form 9465 for my situation and gave me the exact steps to correct my banking info mix-up. The tool even generated a script for my call with the IRS that worked perfectly - the agent actually commented that I was more prepared than most people! Saved me from penalties and gave me documentation for my records in case anything comes up during a review. Definitely worth using if you're dealing with payment problems.

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Amina Sow

•8M

If you're struggling to reach the IRS (like I was when this happened to me), you might want to check out Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to get through the IRS phone system about a wrong account number payment. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. I was super skeptical but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to try it. They somehow got me a callback from the IRS in about 25 minutes! The IRS agent was able to cancel my incorrect bank payment and help me set up a correct one before any penalties hit. Saved me so much frustration with their phone system.

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Amina Sow

•8M

It doesn't call the IRS for you - they use some kind of technology that holds your place in the IRS phone queue. You just enter your phone number on their site, and when they reach an IRS agent, you get an immediate callback to connect with that agent. It's like having someone wait on hold for you. I was just as skeptical as you are! But it legitimately works. I think they use multiple lines or something to increase the chances of getting through. All I know is I spent 3 days trying to reach someone without success, then got a callback in under 30 minutes using their service. Saved me from late payment penalties which would have cost way more than using their service.

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Oliver Wagner

•8M

Well I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, my curiosity got the better of me since I was also dealing with a payment issue from my amended return. Decided to try it this morning as a last resort before taking time off work to visit an IRS office in person. Got a callback from the IRS in 18 minutes! The agent was super helpful and fixed my payment issue on the spot. I've literally NEVER been able to reach the IRS by phone before despite trying dozens of times. No idea how their system works, but it delivered exactly what they promised. If you need to reach the IRS quickly about your payment issue, this is definitely the way to go.

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Natasha Kuznetsova

•8M

Something similar happened to my brother. His payment got rejected after about 4 days because of the wrong account number, and he just made a new payment through IRS Direct Pay (https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay). The important thing is making sure you get a correct payment submitted before any penalties kick in. Also, I'd recommend printing out confirmation of your attempt to fix the issue in case the IRS tries to charge you penalties later. Having documentation that you tried to correct it right away can help get penalties removed.

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Natasha Kuznetsova

•8M

No fees at all when using IRS Direct Pay! That's why I always recommend it over credit card payments which charge processing fees (usually around 2%). Direct Pay connects directly to your bank account for free. You'll get an immediate confirmation number when the payment is processed, which is super helpful for your records. Just make sure you select the correct tax year and payment type (in this case, probably "tax return" or "amount owed on return"). The system is actually pretty straightforward compared to most IRS stuff.

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