Spontaneous IRS refund?

[Pleonast]

Yesterday I was surprised to find two letters from the government. The first was from the IRS. They said they found an error in my Social Security withholding from 2003. So they owed me the difference plus +14.96% interest. The second was from the Treasury: a check for that amount. Yay! Free money!

But wait a minute. Since when does the IRS check old returns to see if they owe citizens money? Am I being paranoid if I’m nervous they’re checking my old returns? They gave a phone number I could call if I had questions, but I don’t have the guts to ask the IRS “why are you combing through my old returns?”.

Anyone have any insight or comments?

(This may be better suited to IMHO, but I think there’s a factual question in here.)

[JerH]

Just a guess, but maybe your employer had to refile/amend their '03 paperwork and that triggered a review of all associated '03 returns? If you’re still working in the same place, ask some of your coworkers if the same thing happened to them.

[Chefguy]

@Pleonast

Yesterday I was surprised to find two letters from the government. The first was from the IRS. They said they found an error in my Social Security withholding from 2003. So they owed me the difference plus +14.96% interest. The second was from the Treasury: a check for that amount. Yay! Free money!

But wait a minute. Since when does the IRS check old returns to see if they owe citizens money? Am I being paranoid if I’m nervous they’re checking my old returns? They gave a phone number I could call if I had questions, but I don’t have the guts to ask the IRS “why are you combing through my old returns?”.

Anyone have any insight or comments?

(This may be better suited to IMHO, but I think there’s a factual question in here.)

Not unusual at all. The IRS has to undergo audits just like anyone else, both internal and external. After twice taking money out of our bank account without an explanation or chance to present our side of things, the IRS refunded the money a year later. No explanation or apology. Sorry bunch of bastards.

[elfkin477]

@Pleonast

But wait a minute. Since when does the IRS check old returns to see if they owe citizens money? Am I being paranoid if I’m nervous they’re checking my old returns? They gave a phone number I could call if I had questions, but I don’t have the guts to ask the IRS “why are you combing through my old returns?”.

Anyone have any insight or comments?

This happened to my parents about five years ago - they were informed that it was discovered that they hadn’t taken a deduction they were entitled to, and sent a check. A few months later they were informed that it was a mistake, so they wanted the money back :eek: Frankly, I’d be cautious about spending the check since it’s clear not everyone doing the audits has a clue…

[Pleonast]

@JerH

Just a guess, but maybe your employer had to refile/amend their '03 paperwork and that triggered a review of all associated '03 returns?

Of course! I should have thought of this myself. The company I work for was recently acquired. There’ve been auditors all over the place. I hadn’t considered that the audits might affect me personally. It makes sense that some withholdings had to be amended.

@elfkin477

Frankly, I’d be cautious about spending the check since it’s clear not everyone doing the audits has a clue…

It’s going to the “saving for a house” account, so no worries there.

@Chefguy

Not unusual at all. The IRS has to undergo audits just like anyone else, both internal and external. After twice taking money out of our bank account without an explanation or chance to present our side of things, the IRS refunded the money a year later. No explanation or apology. Sorry bunch of bastards.

Uncle Sam needed a quick loan; you’re so generous. Since they gave me almost 15% interest, I don’t mind at all. I just worry about them focusing on me.