What to Do When Your Refund Status Error Information Does Not Match?

It’s tax season, and you’re eagerly awaiting your refund. You file your tax return, and after a few days, you log onto the IRS website to check your refund status. There’s a message that says, “Information does not match. Please try again later or contact us for assistance.” What do you do now?

First, don’t panic. This is a common issue that many taxpayers face. There are several reasons why your refund status may not match the information you entered.

One reason is a typographical error. It’s easy to enter an incorrect Social Security number or other identifying information by mistake. Double-check the information you entered and try again. If you continue to see the same error message, move on to the next step.

Another reason is that the IRS is still processing your return. The IRS updates the refund status website once a day, usually overnight. It may take up to 24 hours for your status to change. Try checking your status again the next day.

If your refund status still doesn’t match after 24 hours, it’s time to contact the IRS for assistance. You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or use their website’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool to request additional information.

When you contact the IRS, be prepared to provide your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount. The IRS representative will ask you a series of questions to verify your identity and help you resolve the issue.

If the problem is a typo or other minor issue, the representative may be able to correct it over the phone. In more complex cases, the representative may need to escalate your case to a specialized team for further review.

In summary, if your refund status error information does not match, don’t panic. Double-check your information, wait 24 hours, and then contact the IRS for assistance. By following these steps, you can resolve the issue and get your refund as quickly as possible.