Comments on: IRS Update for Form 8863: Education Tax Credits

By: yvette

yvette — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 06:23:27 +0000

H&R block was aware of the delays for the education credit, and should have informed their clients. I decided to wait to file my taxes to avoid all the confusion, whatever bill I had or whoever I owed just had to wait

By: KiraMone

KiraMone — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:07:50 +0000

I filed March 21st. It was accepted March 22nd. I reviewed a letter the 29th that if I haven’t received my refund within 60 days to contact them with the number provided on the letter. I am entirely TOO upset with this process. My expected return date was the 11th of April, but due to this stupid letter, I may not see my refund until the 28th of MAY. I am a student and this tax credit seems too troublesome for its worth if ALL of the students using the 8863 form is getting hit with extended processing times.

By: Jarrett

Jarrett — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 05:07:18 +0000

The same thing happened to me, give or take. I never received a letter stating 8863 was not completed. They had just processed my return after 4 weeks and reduced my refund. When I spoke with the IRS, and being told it was my fault and I was deducting too much and where did I get my information from, and crash coursed myself on these forms, 8863 especially, she finally said oh yes, 25 &26 were not answered. I was bounced back and forth from H&R to IRS, told to do an amendment because that was “all that could be done”. I gave it one more shot with the IRS and whoever the angel was on the line, she said yes those questions are not answered, what are the correct answers, fixed it on their end, and bam… told me 1-3 weeks for a check since they cannot direct deposit twice. I would push, and this goes for everyone having this problem, to get the IRS to simply fix it on their end and save themselves time and money, but more importantly, getting it corrected faster on your end. I am still waiting on mine, so I can’t say it’s all said and done, but I finally got some results. Good luck to all!

By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:33:23 +0000

I tried calling H&R Block to get my fees waved as well.. They said “It’s not our fault” so when I explained to them how it was and how everyone knows it is.. they still said “You’re not getting your money back” and hung up. Nice people. Still no refund and it’s been over 2 months since I filed, 6 weeks since I’ve been accepted.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:28:12 +0000

I filed on January 26th, IRS accepted on February 14th. I also received an email on March 15th saying it will take an additional 4-6 weeks. I filed in-store at H&R block. So I’m in the same boat. VERY frustrating!

By: Bertie

Bertie — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:28:13 +0000

HI, Just to let you and others know, this is what happened to me and I think will be happening to everyone else eventually as this IRS glitch gets cleared out. I filed my taxes on 2/5 and of course got no refund due to delay. On 3/16 I got an IRS letter but I was so busy and in a hurry that forgot to read it! Then on 3/19 I checked on my refund status and saw the deposit would be made on 3/20 and sure enough it was, so I was happy to get the refund. Then I dug up the letter and read that the IRS was asking I send them ONLY my answers for questions 25 & 26 of the 8863 form. ( I too had done my taxes online on H&R block and like many others I saw the answers were indeed checked off.) Since I received the letter first it didn’t make sense that I would get the refund without responding, but I did! So I assumed the IRS somehow discovered that my answers were indeed submitted. I decided to check with the accountant I used last year and he told me I could ignore it now that I got the refund and wait to see if the IRS requests it again or go ahead and respond anyway. He didn’t know why the IRS would request my answers and then pay the refund but he too thought they must have figured out the mistake. He told me not to worry about it. I told him I was now afraid to respond and have the IRS take the refund back and he told me they would not try to withdraw it but would instead send me a bill if the refund or part of it was in error. But he said it was not anything to worry about. He didn’t think it was a big issue to be afraid of the IRS, not responding at this point, and to just wait and see, or go ahead and respond, but that it seemed to be an IRS error. I now agree, given that I’ve discovered that this seems to have been the glitch the IRS had with all who claimed the college credit. Then on 3/22 I received a letter from H&R Block informing me of the issue. So I’m just going to take my accountant’s advice and wait and see if I hear from the IRS again, but I don’t think I will, given that they sent my refund and its now obvious the error was theirs. I too was informed by the letter that the refund would take 4-8 weeks, but it came a week later. So there’s hope you might be getting yours sooner.

By: KIM612

KIM612 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:40:03 +0000

DID YOU GET YOUR REFUND?

By: KIM612

KIM612 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:36:58 +0000

UPDATED INFORMATION!!

So I just got off the phone with the IRS and I ask how long could this take the rep told me it could take 4-8 weeks counting from march 15th so mid april or the begining of may smh!!!

By: KIM612

KIM612 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:36:16 +0000

UPDATED INFORMATION!!

So I just got off the phone with the IRS and I ask how long could this take the rep told me it could take 4-8 weeks counting from march 15th so mid april or the begining of may smh!!!

I am soooo upset i am not going to even express it..

By: GG

GG — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:33:36 +0000

I had the exact same issue and H&R block told me as well to just ignore the letter – but this is not correct. I listened to IRS, printed out the entire 8863 form and refilled it out and faxed to the fax number on the letter. I did this on Friday, March 8. My correspondance was received the same day and my return was put back into regular processing by Monday, March 11. I now have a deposit date for March 20. If you ignore this letter and the 20 days pass, you could lose your education credit. I would not listen to H & R block and I would take matters into my own hands and fax in the form, Just a suggestion. The IRS told me you have to respond. I don’t know why H & R Block is saying not to respond but I have definitely decided not to use them again.

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 03:51:46 +0000

I called HR block and screamed several times. Even threatened to take them to small claims court to get my fees credited back. They still keep saying it wasn’t there fault and they dont care.

By: Byrd.

Byrd. — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:30:04 +0000

Treecy

By: Byrd.

Byrd. — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:28:54 +0000

Do anyone have any new updates…if so could you please post please.

By: Byrd.

Byrd. — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:02:45 +0000

So we aren’t goin to receive letter now..ughhh

By: Byrd.

Byrd. — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:00:37 +0000

I so agree…

By: Zheni

Zheni — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:05:22 +0000

I filed with h&r block as well ….my refund was accepted on Feb 15….but due to error because of the 8863, my refund was delayed..Now they told me that i have to wait additional 21 days, which i am definitely unwilling to accept. i have contacted the IRS, than i have contatcted the TAx Advocate, who is supposed to help speed up the process of getting my money back, and I have also contacted the congressman in my state who then send a request for my case to be processed faster… I would suggest everyone to try this… The problem is i really need my money …have bills that are due tomorrow and was really couting on my refund….which doen’t seem to be comming soon.
Last year…because of an error on my address and numerous calls to the IRS and congressman…it took the IRS 6 months to fix this simple issue …..I AM NOT LETTING THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!!!!!!!
One thing that bugs me the most is when we owe them money ….they take it so fast…no questions asked ….and we have to meet the deadline or there are penalties….What HAPPENED TO OUR DEADLINE, WHY CAN’T WE PENALIZE THEM FOR NOT PAYING IN TIME !!!!???????

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:32:36 +0000

I filed with H&R Block on 01/25/2013 and my return was accepted on 02/14/2013. I contacted the IRS last night and they reviewed my return and told me that I would not receive a letter. When I checked WMR this morning my return was approved and scheduled for 03/18/2013. Hopefully, they are getting everything corrected.

By: KIM612

KIM612 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:18:43 +0000

yes & I guess i should be receveing a letter but havent got anything yet

By: BP83

BP83 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 03:59:47 +0000

I filed my taxes through H&R Block on 1/21/13, I was accepted 1/30/13. I checked for updates through the month of February on WMR. After several weeks with no update I contacted HR block reps – 3 who told me refund was processing fine, there were no errors and to expect my refund on 2/21 which never happened. I reached out to the IRS who informed me that I was in error resolution and to wait on a letter. I received the letter 3/4 and was informed that lines 25 & 26 on my form 8863 was not populated. I checked back on the HR block at my PDF which shows that it was filled out. I find out later by speaking to another IRS rep that this is a huge issue this year w/ HR block they did not populate the No answer for 25 &26 which caused an error and the delays. It is going to take 6-8 weeks from the point they receive my corrected form 8863 to receive my refund. I have since spoken to 3 HR block representatives in their escalation center who still will not address or acknowledge that this is an HR block error and refuse to accept responsibility even though this is now in the major news. H&R block is negligent for not responding to their clients earlier on to let them know that they could be affected by these delays , they did not make an action to correct these issues until after 2/22 which was after the IRS started processing the form 8863 on 2/14. H&R blocks software error has affected so many people from receiving their hard earned money AND it is causing delays for applying for 2013 FAFSA. This is not right and HR block should be held responsible. Innocent people are being affected due to their misguidance and negligence. Pleas sign this petition if you agree!

http://wh.gov/ocWE

By: Jeanita

Jeanita — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:35:39 +0000

I called the IRS yesterday and pretty much got the same information but they stated to allow an additional 4 weeks.