The IRS skipped about $3.7 billion in advance child tax credit payments for 4.1 million eligible households, but sent more than $1.1 billion to 1.5 million filers who didn't qualify in 2021, according to an audit released Tuesday by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
However, the agency accurately issued 98% of the aid, the report found, based on a review of 178.9 million total payments made between July and November 2021.
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In an official response to the report, the IRS said it took corrective action in 2021 to block future payments to ineligible taxpayers and issued funds to millions of taxpayers who were erroneously excluded.