Tenn. man says he tried to return IRS error, then got charged interest

COOPERTOWN, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Coopertown man says the IRS despatched him a $20,000 tax refund by mistake — and that attempting to return it value him years of frustration, interest costs, and ultimately his complete tax refund.

Wilson Perry Kirby, 76, a retired Montgomery County Highway Department employee who describes himself as plain-spoken and nation, obtained the misguided refund on May 10, 2022. He says he instantly tried to give the cash again, however bumped into wall after wall, even along with his accountant’s assist.

“She didn’t make a mistake, I didn’t make a mistake, they made a mistake,” Kirby stated.

After years of forwards and backwards with the company, Kirby says the IRS not solely charged him interest on the cash he had tried to return — it saved his complete refund this yr.

“Oh, I cried. It hurt me,” Kirby stated.

The IRS wouldn’t focus on the specifics of Kirby’s case due to federal privateness legislation.

Kirby says he reached out to everybody he might consider for assist.

“I’ve tried the president, governor, mayor, they don’t mind asking you to vote for them, but when you need help you can’t get a hold of nobody,” Kirby stated.

Kirby misplaced his spouse, Norma Jean, in August 2024 and has been preventing the battle largely on his personal since then.

“She knew how to text, she got a computer in there. I don’t even know how to cut it on,” Kirby stated. “But she stuck by me and I wouldn’t have what I have today.”

Kirby says issues lastly began transferring after I got concerned. By the tip of the month, he says he is anticipating this yr’s refund, which might carry the case to shut.

“And if it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t of gotten anything done,” Kirby stated.

Kirby has additionally finished important advocating for himself all through this course of and by no means gave up — one thing he credit partially to his personal stubbornness.

“I’m hard-headed, and I get set in my ways, and I’m that way,” Kirby stated.

“Might’ve helped,” I stated.

“Yeah,” Kirby stated.

Running into issues with the IRS?

The Taxpayer Advocate Service generally is a good first step. It is an impartial group inside the IRS that helps taxpayers navigate points and resolve issues.

Want Hannah’s assist with one thing you are struggling to deal with? E-mail hannah.mcdonald@newschannel5.comor search ‘Hannah Can Help’ on Facebook to be part of her group.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been transformed to this platform with the help of AI. Our editorial group verifies all reporting on all platforms for equity and accuracy.