The IRS announced that they will begin sending letters to taxpayers who claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on their 2020 tax return and may be getting a different amount than expected.
When the IRS processes a 2020 tax return claiming the credit, the IRS determines the eligibility and amount of the taxpayer’s credit based on the 2020 tax return information and the amounts of any EIP previously issued. If a taxpayer is eligible to claim the RRC, it will be reduced by the amount of any EIPs already issued to them.
If there’s a mistake with the credit amount on Line 30 of the 1040 or 1040-SR, the IRS will calculate the correct amount, make the correction, and continue processing the return. If a correction is needed, there may be a slight delay in processing the return and the IRS will send the taxpayer a letter or notice explaining any change.
IRS.gov has a special section - Correcting Recovery Rebate Credit issues after the 2020 tax return is filed – that provides additional information to explain what errors may have occurred. Taxpayers who disagree with the IRS calculation should review their letter as well as the questions and answers for what information they should have available when contacting the IRS.
For more information, visit IRS.gov/RRC and the frequently asked questions by topic.