What to do if tax preparer filed Form 5695 for me when I don't even own a house?

This is definitely something you need to address. When a tax preparer includes incorrect forms that claim credits you're not entitled to, it's important to fix it as soon as possible. You should file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to remove the Form 5695 and the associated credit. Even though the IRS accepted your return, that's just an acknowledgment that they received it and it passed basic processing checks - it doesn't mean they've verified all the information. Contact your tax preparer immediately. They should fix this mistake at no additional cost to you. Bring documentation showing you rent rather than own. If they're hesitant or charge you to fix their mistake, consider filing a complaint with the IRS using Form 14157 (Complaint: Tax Return Preparer). Don't panic though - the fact that you caught this quickly and take steps to correct it shows good faith on your part, which is important if questions do come up later.

I had a similar issue last year with a different form and used taxr.ai to help me figure out what to do. You upload your tax documents to https://taxr.ai and their system analyzes everything to identify issues like the incorrect Form 5695. It helped me understand exactly what was wrong with my return and gave me a detailed explanation of how to fix it with an amended return. Really made the process less stressful since I knew exactly what needed to be corrected.

Just wanted to update after trying out taxr.ai - it was actually super helpful! I uploaded my documents and it immediately flagged the Form 5695 issue. It explained that this form is specifically for homeowners who made energy-efficient improvements and confirmed I shouldn't have it on my return. The site walked me through exactly how to fill out the 1040-X form to remove the credit and even generated a letter explaining the error that I could submit with my amended return. Really simplified the whole process!

If you need to talk to the IRS about this (which you probably should), good luck getting through to them! I was in a similar situation last year and spent HOURS on hold. Finally discovered https://claimyr.com through a friend and used their service to have the IRS call ME back instead. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they hold your place in line and when an agent is available, they connect you. Saved me so much frustration after trying for weeks to get through on my own.

Ok I need to eat my words here. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about a similar issue, so I tried Claimyr. I figured I had nothing to lose since I'd already wasted 3 afternoons on hold. IT ACTUALLY WORKED! Got a call back in about 2 hours with an IRS agent on the line ready to help. The agent was able to flag my account with notes about the preparer error, which apparently helps if they review my case later. Definitely worth it just for the time saved and peace of mind.

I used to work for a tax prep company. Unfortunately, this happens more than you'd think during busy season. Many preparers are seasonal workers with minimal training who are just checking boxes in software. Make sure you get a copy of your ORIGINAL return (not just the amended one) for your records. Some sketchy preparers will try to hide their mistakes by only giving you the corrected version. You need proof of what they originally filed in your name in case questions come up later.

Did your preparer have you sign the return before filing? They're required to get your signature on Form 8879 which confirms you've reviewed the return. Always check your return before signing!

Make sure you save all your communication with the preparer about fixing this issue! If the IRS ever questions you about it, having evidence that you took immediate steps to correct the error once you discovered it will help show you weren't trying to claim credits you knew you weren't eligible for.