Success Story: TAS Untangles Complex Refund Issue 

Every year the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) helps thousands of people with tax problems. This story is only one of many examples of how TAS helps resolve taxpayer issues. All personal details are removed to protect the privacy of the taxpayer. 

A taxpayer came to TAS after her bank returned her refund to the IRS via a cashier’s check because the bank account number on her tax return was off by one digit. Although the taxpayer provided a copy of the cashier’s check showing the full refund had been returned, the IRS would only issue a replacement refund for $20. The assigned Case Advocate sent several requests to the IRS to correct this error, but the IRS continued to assert it was a bank issue and not an IRS issue. That’s when the Case Advocate got the Local Taxpayer Advocate (LTA) involved. The LTA issued a Taxpayer Assistance Order (TAO), ordering the IRS to reconsider the decision to not correct the error. The IRS eventually realized they had posted the cashier’s check to another taxpayer’s account and that other taxpayer’s payment to the TAS taxpayer’s account. After further negotiation with the IRS, TAS was able to get the payments applied to the correct accounts, and the taxpayer received the full refund to which she was entitled.   

 When working with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, each taxpayer is assigned to an advocate who listens to the problem and helps the taxpayer understand what needs to be done to resolve their tax issue. TAS advocates will do everything they can to help taxpayers and work with them every step of the way. Occasionally TAS features stories of taxpayers and advocates who work together to resolve complex tax issues. Read more TAS success stories. 

Learn more about whether TAS can help you: Can TAS help me with my tax issue?