Posted on 01/17/2012 2:35:05 AM PST by Little Pig
So I live overseas, and due to the vagaries of my employer, I wasn't able to file my taxes until late last year. I filed the 1040A, and due to a brief period of work in the US before moving here, I did have some taxes withheld. I completed my form, ignoring the "other credits", including the so-called "Making Work Pay" credit (which I figured I didn't qualify for, and didn't really want anyway), and mailed it in. I was expecting a refund of about $1400 for the taxes I had had withheld, since I was withholding for a high salary.
However, the IRS decided to be "helpful", and gave me the "Making Work Pay" credit anyway. But true to government agency fashion, when they did it, they transferred my return over to the 1040, and for some reason they didn't transfer the amount of tax I had already had withheld, so they gave me a "refund" consisting of only the MWP credit minus the actual tax I owed (about $140), instead of the real refund which should have included the amount of tax I overpaid through withholding. So as things stand now, the IRS has managed to retain about $1600 more than they should have from me (they really owe me, if I get the MWP, around $2200). Without the MWP credit, I would have had a net of -$141 to the IRS, but with the credit I actually am supposed to get back way more than I gave to them to begin with.
Also, I don't really like that they are forcing me to take this money; it's not mine, and they're already in deep enough as it is.
Send the money to me.
I can live with a guilty conscience. I might drink a bit more because of it.
That’s ok. With the extra money, I can afford to drink more.
I would call them and explain. They are caring people with the IRS and they are there to help. ;-)
I can’t. What complicates all this is that, due to the cratering economy and the greed of my ex (she had the child support amount raised without my being able to do anything about it), I’m behind on the support payments. This means that my refund gets grabbed by the system to pay down the debt. They currently think they’re getting the “small” refund (the corrected one), and now I have to change all that and it has to get processed again.
That does complicate things.
I’m glad I don’t have ex’s and kids. My life is simple.
I hope that you can fix this.
I will do just that and I’m sure things will be fine.
Talk to you again in 5 to 10 years.
I’ve had my fun with them as well. And that was a few years ago before they staffed up.
Did you include your foreign earned income on your taxes?
I did, however it’s not relevant since the issue was the amount I overpaid. In any event, my foreign income is subject to exemption, so it doesn’t actually get included, even though I have to list it.
Don’t be so sure it’s not relevant, even if it seems that way! Be sure that your FICA is taken care of, or you’ll have problems sooner or later - just sayin (I’ve filing like this for over 20 years ....) Good Luck!!
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