Tax Question.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I was getting ready to file my tax return next week. It's a long story. I have not spoken with the IRS this year. My question. I got a letter from the IRS today asking for payment of my 2013 taxes in the amount my tax return came out to. Neither I nor my accountant sent them anything this year. Did the IRS do my income taxes for me? Or am I missing something here?

[flyfisher]

If you don't file an extension they can calculate your taxes for you and send you the bill but it will not be in your best interests of course to let them do it.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

If you don't file an extension they can calculate your taxes for you and send you the bill but it will not be in your best interests of course to let them do it.

They actually hit it dead on to the penny.

[flyfisher]

They actually hit it dead on to the penny.

I am no accountant but i think when they ask for payment, you are not getting a refund.  they just want the payment.  You have to file to get the refund assuming you are owed one that is.

 

I could be wrong though, happens rather frequently

[Nice_Bass]

They actually hit it dead on to the penny.

I hope you dont pay your accountant much in that case...did not file an extension for you, came up with standard deductions, etc. Etc....

[SirSnookalot]

I'd wait for Lund Explorer to chime in, he is the tax expert.

[Lund Explorer]

I was getting ready to file my tax return next week. It's a long story. I have not spoken with the IRS this year. My question. I got a letter from the IRS today asking for payment of my 2013 taxes in the amount my tax return came out to. Neither I nor my accountant sent them anything this year. Did the IRS do my income taxes for me? Or am I missing something here?

 

To begin with, let's clear up this "expert" tag SirSnookalot is trying to hang on me.  NOBODY knows exactly what the IRS is doing!

 

Without actually seeing the letter you got, I would only be assuming as to how they arrived at the figures they are sending to you, and we all know what assume means.  What I do know is that the IRS not only receives and processes tax returns sent in by individuals, but they also receive countless forms from employers and others that deal with other types of income or expenses.  You can almost rest assured that if you receive a W-2, W-2G, any kind of Form 1099, or other official forms, that the IRS will at some point, cross match your 1040 return with the copies of the above mentioned forms filed by those who paid those amounts. 

 

When they find a difference, they will contact you about the problem, and the letter will usually include a proposed increased amount due.  I just completed an amended return for 2012 because a client failed to turn in several W-2G's and a Form 1099Int.  This pattern of notices coming out a year after the fact is normal when it comes out of the Cincinnati Service Center.  Also, if IRS receives copies of these tax forms for an individual, but can't find any tax return, they will attempt to contact the taxpayer at their last known address.  In my experience, this process usually has a lag time of several years, but not the several months as in your case.  One last thing to consider. 

 

From my experience, the IRS is typically swamped with both extensions and paper returns sent in right at the filing deadline of April 15th.  It takes time for the Service Centers to process all of that paper.  Much longer than the six to seven weeks or so that we are looking at right now.  Once that work is done, they will start the process of cross matching information.  That they could have done all of that at this point seems highly doubtful.

 

I'm thinking that something else is going on here besides the IRS being that caught up on their discovery work, and almost sounds like the letter is dealing with a filed tax return without a payment.  Who knows, but it doesn't sound right somehow.  Take this letter into your tax preparer so that he/she can give you a knowledgeable opinion as they will actually be able to read it.  Whatever you decide on, make sure you file the tax return if none has been filed already.  Just paying the tax that IRS has billed you for doesn't stop your requirement to file a return.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

To begin with, let's clear up this "expert" tag SirSnookalot is trying to hang on me.  NOBODY knows exactly what the IRS is doing!

 

Without actually seeing the letter you got, I would only be assuming as to how they arrived at the figures they are sending to you, and we all know what assume means.  What I do know is that the IRS not only receives and processes tax returns sent in by individuals, but they also receive countless forms from employers and others that deal with other types of income or expenses.  You can almost rest assured that if you receive a W-2, W-2G, any kind of Form 1099, or other official forms, that the IRS will at some point, cross match your 1040 return with the copies of the above mentioned forms filed by those who paid those amounts. 

 

When they find a difference, they will contact you about the problem, and the letter will usually include a proposed increased amount due.  I just completed an amended return for 2012 because a client failed to turn in several W-2G's and a Form 1099Int.  This pattern of notices coming out a year after the fact is normal when it comes out of the Cincinnati Service Center.  Also, if IRS receives copies of these tax forms for an individual, but can't find any tax return, they will attempt to contact the taxpayer at their last known address.  In my experience, this process usually has a lag time of several years, but not the several months as in your case.  One last thing to consider. 

 

From my experience, the IRS is typically swamped with both extensions and paper returns sent in right at the filing deadline of April 15th.  It takes time for the Service Centers to process all of that paper.  Much longer than the six to seven weeks or so that we are looking at right now.  Once that work is done, they will start the process of cross matching information.  That they could have done all of that at this point seems highly doubtful.

 

I'm thinking that something else is going on here besides the IRS being that caught up on their discovery work, and almost sounds like the letter is dealing with a filed tax return without a payment.  Who knows, but it doesn't sound right somehow.  Take this letter into your tax preparer so that he/she can give you a knowledgeable opinion as they will actually be able to read it.  Whatever you decide on, make sure you file the tax return if none has been filed already.  Just paying the tax that IRS has billed you for doesn't stop your requirement to file a return.

I'm glad you said that about filing the tax return.

The whole thing seems odd to me too. Unless my accountant sent them something. I know I never signed and returned anything. I will let you know what I find out.

[Lund Explorer]

I'm glad you said that about filing the tax return.

The whole thing seems odd to me too. Unless my accountant sent them something. I know I never signed and returned anything. I will let you know what I find out.

 

Starting with tax year 2010/2011(I can't remember which), all paid preparers were required by the IRS to file all tax returns electronically. 

 

If your tax preparer is following this regulation, then your return has to be E-Filed.  If this is the same preparer you have used for the previous year then there is no need for you to sign a return.  The preparer either uses your PIN or other data to electronically sign the return on your behalf.  You should receive a copy of these returns.  In the case where you owed money, there were two options.  You could have paid when the return was filed using an EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) from your bank account to the government, or you should have received a 1040-V Voucher Form along with an envelope to mail in your check by April 15th.

 

To confirm that your returns have been filed, ask the preparer for a copy of the confirmation they would have gotten from the IRS and State that your returns were received and accepted as filed.  If the preparer cannot provide you with this confirmation, I would suggest filing a signed paper return via snail-mail.

[Scott F]

I must be missing something. You say you have an accountant that I assume you are paying, but you come to a fishing web site for tax advise? Your accountant not returning your calls?

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I must be missing something. You say you have an accountant that I assume you are paying, but you come to a fishing web site for tax advise? Your accountant not returning your calls?

Hard to call my accountant when I can't hear over the noise at work. Now ain't it? Or should I call him at 4AM when I leave the house in the morning. Oh I know I'll call him at 5 PM when I get in my truck to head home. And don't say, then go outside. Im working in a power house. Its loud outside too. I intend to call him tomorrow since Im only working 4days a week right now. You would assume correctly. I do pay them for their services. They do quite a good job too.

I was just seeing if anyone had had a similar experience. Seeing as I haven't been able to contact them today. So stop belittling what I choose to post. Do you honestly think I was not going to contact my accountant at the first available opportunity? I mean obviously I'm curious enough about what's going on to ask the question. You act like I'm seeking sound financial advice from the internet. I may be a lot of things, but I'm not that ignorant.

I was gonna use my telepathy to try an contact him. However the electrical field at work messes that up. Ohhhh I know. I'll use my Ouija board to get in touch with them. Maybe I can borrow a pigeon from Mike Tyson to send them a message. Along those lines. Maybe Harry Potter will lend me his owl and some parchment to fly a letter to them. Uhmmmm. I could try sending a telegraph to them, assuming the magnetic flux field doesn't interfere with the telegraph lines.

Okay, I'm finished now.

[Marty]

 

I was just seeing if anyone had had a similar experience. Seeing as I haven't been able to contact them today. So stop belittling what I choose to post.

 

I don't see where he was belittling you at all. It's perfectly normal to wonder why a person who has an accountant is posting on a fishing forum with the subject line "Tax question." And I didn't see in your post a question about others having a similar experience. No need to be so defensive.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I don't see where he was belittling you at all. It's perfectly normal to wonder why a person who has an accountant is posting on a fishing forum with the subject line "Tax question." And I didn't see in your post a question about others having a similar experience. No need to be so defensive.

You are correct. The wording just rubbed me the wrong way. Looking back on it now you are right.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I must be missing something. You say you have an accountant that I assume you are paying, but you come to a fishing web site for tax advise? Your accountant not returning your calls?

I apologize for my previous post. It was out of line and I'm sorry. The wording just rubbed me wrong. Again I apologize for being an ass.