Tax season is upon us and as we know, it is not uncommon to be anxiously awaiting a tax refund, especially during potential economic turmoil. If your life changed quite a bit in 2020 — you got married, bought a house, had a baby, retired, sold a home — and you’re unsure of how that affects your tax situation, you may want to consult with a tax professional for advice.
Below are important tips to consider when filing 2020 taxes
- Direct deposit is a convenient and safe option to receive a tax refund quickly, rather than waiting for a check to be mailed. However, if a you choose direct deposit, providing the IRS with the correct account information is important.
- Always double-check the WCU routing number and your account number before filing your return. If you provide only the account holder name on your tax return, your refund will not be deposited into your account.
- Members should never authorize the deposit of a tax refund into an account on which they are not listed as an owner.
- You cannot be given access to funds in an account that is not in your name, which can lead to delays and/or loss of funds if the owner of the account will not reimburse you, or the funds are no longer available. This includes any tax preparer used.
- If you receive someone else’s tax refund in error, please contact us immediately and follow these IRS instructions.
- In an effort to combat fraud and identity theft, the IRS limits the number of direct deposits into a single financial account or prepaid debit card to three refunds per year. Taxpayers who exceed this limit will receive a notice and a refund check instead, which may take up to 10 weeks.
Steps to Ensure Your Tax Refund Goes to YOUR Account
- Locate the refund section of your tax return.
- Enter the Wauna Credit Union Routing Number: 323274209
- Enter your Wauna Credit Union Account Number. There should be no dashes, symbols, or letters in your Account Number.
- Before filing your taxes, double check that you typed the Routing Number and Account Number correctly.
- Never direct your tax refund to someone else’s account.
- File your return on time — this year’s deadline is: April 15, 2021.
- To check the status of your refund, go to www.irs.gov/refunds and select “Where’s My Refund?” You can also check the IRS2Go mobile app or call 800.829.1040.
Lost or Stolen Checks
If a member believes their tax refund check has been lost or stolen, please click to visit the IRS “Where’s My Refund” tool or call 800.829.1954. The tool provides the status of the refund and, in some cases, instructions on how to resolve delivery problems. It will typically have information about the member’s tax refund 72 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of the member’s e-filed return, or three to four weeks after the member mails a paper return.
Members in Delinquency
In some cases, a portion or all of a member’s tax return will not be delivered to the member, but rather allocated toward a delinquent amount owed by the member for such things as state income tax, back child support, or delinquent non-tax federal debts, such as a student loan. The Treasury Department’s Financial Management Service (FMS), which disburses IRS refunds, will deduct the delinquent amount from the member’s refund before any monies are disbursed by check or direct deposit. In such cases, the FMS provides a letter to the member explaining any offset amount, the agency receiving the payment, the address and telephone number of the agency, and amount of refund offset. Member’s wishing to dispute the debt, will have to do so with the agency listed on the notice, not the IRS.
IRS Errors
The IRS maintains a customer service line that members may call to speak to a representative regarding tax return errors. If the IRS has made an error that resulted in the member receiving the incorrect amount returned or no return at all, the member should contact the IRS directly to resolve the issue (800.829.1040). WCU is not responsible for resolving any errors made by the IRS.
Member Errors
The IRS warns members to be very careful when entering their account and routing numbers when they choose direct deposit on their paper or electronic return. In most cases, an error will result in a delay of payment since the IRS issues a paper check instead of the direct deposit. But an error may result in the direct deposit going into an account belonging to someone else. The IRS will automatically issue a paper check if the account and routing numbers do not pass the IRS’ validation check, or if WCU rejects and returns the deposit to the IRS. However, if the member enters the incorrect account and/or routing numbers, and the deposit is accepted, the member will have to work directly with WCU to recover the funds.
The information here is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting advisors for further guidance.