Checks from Uncle Sam

June --

A couple times in the past 5 years I have gotten checks from the IRS after I thought I was square with them.They never send any information about where i made my mistake. How does one go about finding out that information?

-- Lisa


Lisa --

Call the IRS at 800.829.1040. Have the tax return for the year of the payment right there in front of you when you call. Also call early in the morning. That's when the IRS is least busy. Have a cup of coffee, too, because you may be on hold a while.

Usually there is a year noted in the upper right corner of the check, for instance December 2007 lets you know it was for something that happened in 2007. If you cashed the check and don't know what year, have your three back years' returns by the phone.

-- June