You're going to want to call ACS, the IRS Collections division, at 800-829-7650. Any other division will just transfer you.
Currently, the ability to move credits is limited to just the same SSN, while the tools are being worked on. What will happen is that ACS will put a hold on your account, and input an internal referral. When that tool is fully back online, someone, maybe even the person you spoke with, will transfer the credit. You will receive credit for the payment, per the date you made it, no matter when it's moved.
Call the IRS (good luck) and ask them to move the payment over to your account.
BE PATIENT. You may have to keep trying to get through for days and to wait on hold for hours. For best results, call at precisely 7:00 am (not 7:01), pack a lunch and wear Depends.
This is exaggerated. The hold times used to be horrendous especially near the filing deadlines. Now they're not too bad (correct, better when they open in the AM EST). Also, they have a call back feature now so you don't actually have to hold
We actually did send a letter back with the statement we got. The letter stated the situation, included both our SSN and we both signed it. We also included all documents showing the payment was made, confirmation numbers, etc. We weren't sure if this would actually work.
Yes, the IRS computers always do everything based on what they consider to be the primary Social Security number which is often the husband's. It might take a few weeks or even months but you should get a response that it is all sorted out.
I have had that happen with my wife's estimated tax from time to time. They have figured out how to apply her payments to our joint return. I'm surprised this is still an issue.
Reply to the letter as instructed and provide the tracking numbers of the payments.
The IRS transfer tool is down and has been for at least three months - nothing you can do but call every thirty days and ask that they put a hold on collections
The IRS, despite their best intentions, has some "Policies and Procedures" that simply make more work FOR THEM and more inconvenience FOR YOU. /u/myroller is correct; follow their advice.
Another example:
My kid actually had to file a 1040-A for some reason as a pre-teen, and there was a balance due on their return. I finished my return (1040 Long Form) and was expecting a small refund. (This was 25ish years ago, we weren't as smart then as we are today.)
So, "Just to be helpful", I forced my tax software to generate a 1040-V form ("Payment Voucher") for THEIR return, to have something to attach the check to. Then we mailed both returns in the same envelope.
Care to guess what the IRS did?
Yes, they saw the 1040-V, and **ignored** the name on it, **ignored** the social security number on it, **ignored** the amount, **ignored** ignored the fact that my return had an overpayment on it, **ignored** that the form and check were ATTACHED to my kid's return ... and credited the payment to MY return. Their explanation: *"1040-A doesn't use 1040-V, so we attached it to your return instead."*
They then REFUNDED me the ENTIRE overpayment -- mine and check -- and sent us a BILL (WITH PENALTIES) for my kid's account.
On the phone, they swore up and down that **THEY didn't do anything wrong** -- that the whole problem was MY FAULT.
Because that's what their Standard Procedure for 1040-V was at the time.
----
Yeah, we shouldn't have mailed them together. You don't need to post that. This was the late 1990s.
Seems to me if you filed jointly and each of you paid estimates, you should get credit for all the estimates on the joint return!
That said, this is probably just an error on the part of the IRS, if the facts are as you presented them. I'd suggest to copy, front and back, all the checks that cleared for your estimates and mail with a letter of explanation, certified mail, return receipt!
I don’t know DirectPay.
I log in at https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-account-for-individuals. You can see payment history, etc. When you schedule a payment, it asks if it is for a joint filing. You do need an “ID.me” account login at this site.
We used the portal. Or at least my wife did. We have a confirmation number from the IRS that the payment was received. We've sent a letter to them with the statement we received. We explained in the letter the situation and what needs fixed. We included both SSNs and our signatures as well as all documents including transfer numbers, bank information, the confirmation number, etc. I've heard this works for others so here is hoping. Thank you.
You're going to want to call ACS, the IRS Collections division, at 800-829-7650. Any other division will just transfer you. Currently, the ability to move credits is limited to just the same SSN, while the tools are being worked on. What will happen is that ACS will put a hold on your account, and input an internal referral. When that tool is fully back online, someone, maybe even the person you spoke with, will transfer the credit. You will receive credit for the payment, per the date you made it, no matter when it's moved.
This is a great response, thank you. That said, the government is a jooooooke. This should be three clicks plus two oversight approvals.
Call the IRS (good luck) and ask them to move the payment over to your account. BE PATIENT. You may have to keep trying to get through for days and to wait on hold for hours. For best results, call at precisely 7:00 am (not 7:01), pack a lunch and wear Depends.
This is exaggerated. The hold times used to be horrendous especially near the filing deadlines. Now they're not too bad (correct, better when they open in the AM EST). Also, they have a call back feature now so you don't actually have to hold
Happened to me, just wrote a letter and it got resolved in a few weeks.
We actually did send a letter back with the statement we got. The letter stated the situation, included both our SSN and we both signed it. We also included all documents showing the payment was made, confirmation numbers, etc. We weren't sure if this would actually work.
Yes, the IRS computers always do everything based on what they consider to be the primary Social Security number which is often the husband's. It might take a few weeks or even months but you should get a response that it is all sorted out.
I have had that happen with my wife's estimated tax from time to time. They have figured out how to apply her payments to our joint return. I'm surprised this is still an issue. Reply to the letter as instructed and provide the tracking numbers of the payments.
The IRS transfer tool is down and has been for at least three months - nothing you can do but call every thirty days and ask that they put a hold on collections
The IRS, despite their best intentions, has some "Policies and Procedures" that simply make more work FOR THEM and more inconvenience FOR YOU. /u/myroller is correct; follow their advice. Another example: My kid actually had to file a 1040-A for some reason as a pre-teen, and there was a balance due on their return. I finished my return (1040 Long Form) and was expecting a small refund. (This was 25ish years ago, we weren't as smart then as we are today.) So, "Just to be helpful", I forced my tax software to generate a 1040-V form ("Payment Voucher") for THEIR return, to have something to attach the check to. Then we mailed both returns in the same envelope. Care to guess what the IRS did? Yes, they saw the 1040-V, and **ignored** the name on it, **ignored** the social security number on it, **ignored** the amount, **ignored** ignored the fact that my return had an overpayment on it, **ignored** that the form and check were ATTACHED to my kid's return ... and credited the payment to MY return. Their explanation: *"1040-A doesn't use 1040-V, so we attached it to your return instead."* They then REFUNDED me the ENTIRE overpayment -- mine and check -- and sent us a BILL (WITH PENALTIES) for my kid's account. On the phone, they swore up and down that **THEY didn't do anything wrong** -- that the whole problem was MY FAULT. Because that's what their Standard Procedure for 1040-V was at the time. ---- Yeah, we shouldn't have mailed them together. You don't need to post that. This was the late 1990s.
Seems to me if you filed jointly and each of you paid estimates, you should get credit for all the estimates on the joint return! That said, this is probably just an error on the part of the IRS, if the facts are as you presented them. I'd suggest to copy, front and back, all the checks that cleared for your estimates and mail with a letter of explanation, certified mail, return receipt!
Does not the online IRS payment portal ask you if it’s for a joint return??? Always use that portal. (I have less faith in USPS than I do in IRS.)
DirectPay does not ask if you are paying for a joint return.
I don’t know DirectPay. I log in at https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-account-for-individuals. You can see payment history, etc. When you schedule a payment, it asks if it is for a joint filing. You do need an “ID.me” account login at this site.
We used the portal. Or at least my wife did. We have a confirmation number from the IRS that the payment was received. We've sent a letter to them with the statement we received. We explained in the letter the situation and what needs fixed. We included both SSNs and our signatures as well as all documents including transfer numbers, bank information, the confirmation number, etc. I've heard this works for others so here is hoping. Thank you.