IRS just told me it's double-checking EVERYONE's return if the refund exceeds $2500.00

The Infernal Revenue Service ^ | Feb 17, 2005 | Self

[dead]

This is not physically possible. The IRS does not have the manpower.

"Double check" is not an audit.

It means some low level government knucklehead glances at it, looks away, then glances at it again.

[tx_eggman]

I agree, a guy I know got $7,000 back a week after he filed electronically.

Nothing like giving your uncle an interest free $7000 loan for a year.

[1Old Pro]

a guy I know got $7,000 back a week after he filed electronically.

He's either over withheld or had an unusual year.

[1rudeboy]

I understand that . . . I simply find it more likely that some government knucklehead picked-up the phone when Salgak rang.

[WindOracle]

The IRS currently emloys half again more people than the entire US Army.

[dead]

Yes, that's likely too. He probably answered it twice, just to be sure.

[TommyDale]

You could ask 100 people at the IRS a question, and get 100 different answers. The person who told you that sounds like a
"quota hire".

[antivenom]

Double checked means it is shuffled to another desk before it is mailed.

[Conservative Goddess]

Ping!

[Bikers4Bush]

That's what I told him too.

[bkwells]

I'm getting back $2694 and I didn't get any such notice. My refund should post tomorrow (according to their website) - I e-filed on the 9th of Feb.

[Bikers4Bush]

He's got two kids and a stay at home wife and claims nada.

I told him he could do himself a favor by having them deduct less and increasing his cash flow but he's one of those that likes the big check.

You can lead a horse to water.

[stlnative]

I always go to

http://www.irs.gov

I never knew there was a another url for the IRS like the one you have linked. I guess both are legit url's?
http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/

[AdamSelene235]

I agree, a guy I know got $7,000 back a week after he filed electronically.

Dont file electronically, it simplifies their job.

[ny demimonde]

if you get a refund, you've paid too much.

[Ditto]

Won't be the first time that the IRS has given-out bum information over the phone.

The thing I have noticed is that if you don't like the first answer they give you, just call back and you'll get a different answer. Call ten times and you will get ten different answers.

They don't seem to know anymore about the tax code than I do --- they just seem to make it up as they go.

[reelfoot]

Support the Fair Tax. Bury the income tax.

[VeniVidiVici]

You probably talked to one of their Bangalore employees.

[USNA74]

Actually, I think this means they use the computer to compare what items you reported versus what items were reported to them. For example, they check to see that your W-2 reported income exactly matches the W-2 provided to them. Same thing with other "information returns" provided to the IRS, like 1099's, Interest and Dividends, etc.

I had one of these computer checks last year that caught a difference between what I reported on my return and one of the 1099's that was in my return. Turns out I had an explanation, but that didn't stop the computer from reporting my return as "faulty".

[steve-b]

My guesses:

1. The IRS drone told you the first explanation that popped into his head so he could get back to his coffee break.

2. The IRS does extra checks (i.e. see if the bank account is the same one as last year's return) on large refunds to detect scam artists who file bogus returns for refunds to be deposited in a one-shot dropbox account, on the theory that nobody is going to risk a term in the federal pen for less than $X.