60-Day Review Notice for Amended Return - How Long Will This Take?

Been thru this last yr. The 60-day review is just the IRS's way of buying time tbh. In reality, amended returns are taking WAY longer than 60 days rn. Most ppl (incl me) are seeing 16-20 wks for processing. The 60-day letter is basically just them saying "we got it, now wait." Check your transcript online every wk or so - that's the best way to track progress. Once u see code 971 followed by 846, you're golden!

The IRS handles amended returns like a slow-cooking pot roast - you can't rush it without ruining the results. What you CAN do is create a case with the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you're experiencing financial hardship. Think of TAS as the express lane at a crowded grocery store - they can't make your items scan faster, but they can get you through a dedicated line. Submit Form 911 detailing your specific hardship (potential eviction, utility shutoffs, medical emergencies). Be precise about the financial impact - vague statements are like fishing without bait, you won't catch anything. I've seen TAS cut processing time by 4-6 weeks in legitimate hardship cases.

The 60-day review notice is standard operating procedure for amended returns, but the actual processing time typically extends well beyond that timeframe. Current Internal Revenue Manual guidelines indicate 20+ weeks for non-complex amendments, but the backlog remains substantial. I've found that attempting to contact the IRS directly is often an exercise in futility - multi-hour hold times with frequent disconnections. After wasting three days trying, I used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They confirmed my amendment was in queue but hadn't been assigned yet. I'm skeptical it accelerated anything, but at least I got confirmation they had received everything. The peace of mind was worth it versus wondering if my documents were sitting in a mail room somewhere.

I'm going through this right now too. According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return), normal processing time is up to 20 weeks, but many are taking longer. I filed my amendment in January and just got the 60-day letter last week. When I check the "Where's My Amended Return" tool, it still shows as received but not processed. I'm a bit worried since I've seen posts on r/tax about some amendments taking 6+ months. My tax preparer said the key is whether they need additional information - if they do, that restarts the clock completely.

The 60-day review notice is basically meaningless compared to what happens with regular returns. While a standard return might take 21 days, amended returns are in a completely different category. I've seen people waiting 4-6 months for simpler amendments, while more complex ones with multiple schedules or years can take even longer. The IRS is theoretically supposed to pay interest on delayed refunds, but that's small consolation when you're waiting on significant money. I'd suggest planning as if you won't see this money until at least August, then you'll either be prepared or pleasantly surprised.

I went through this exact situation last year with my amended return. Filed in February 2023, got the 60-day notice in March, and finally received my refund in July - about 22 weeks total. What worked for me was documenting EVERYTHING. I kept a folder with copies of all correspondence, certified mail receipts, and a log of every call attempted. I even took screenshots of the Where's My Amended Return tool weekly to show it wasn't progressing. This documentation proved invaluable when I eventually had to escalate to my congressional representative's office. Their constituent services team contacted the IRS Liaison, and miraculously my amendment was processed within 2 weeks after that. Not saying it will definitely work for you, but having that paper trail ready to go made a huge difference in my case.

If you absolutely need this money soon, you might want to consider a different approach altogether. The IRS allows you to request an abatement of the 60-day review in cases of financial hardship. You'll need to call the IRS (good luck with that!) and specifically request to speak with someone about a hardship abatement for your amended return. Have documentation ready showing immediate financial need - overdue bills, eviction notices, etc. The success rate isn't great, but it's worth trying if you're in a tight spot. I've also heard of people having success by contacting their state's taxpayer advocate directly rather than going through the general IRS channels. The contact info should be on the IRS website under Taxpayer Advocate Service.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my amended return in January and got the 60-day notice two weeks ago. What's frustrating is that the IRS website says "up to 20 weeks" but from what I'm reading here, that seems optimistic. I'm curious about something though - for those who've been through this process, did you get any communication from the IRS during those 16-20 weeks, or is it complete radio silence until they either approve it or ask for more info? Also, has anyone had success with calling the Practitioner Priority Service line if you have a tax professional representing you? I'm wondering if that might be a faster route than the general taxpayer line that everyone seems to struggle with.

I'm currently in week 14 of waiting for my amended return processing and can relate to your frustration about cash flow impact. One thing I discovered that might help is checking if your state offers any emergency business assistance programs for independent contractors - some states have bridge funding or micro-loans specifically for situations like this where you're waiting on legitimate tax refunds. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're checking your IRS online account transcript (not just the "Where's My Amended Return" tool) as it sometimes shows status changes a few days earlier. The transcript will show specific transaction codes that give you a better picture of what's happening behind the scenes. I know it's frustrating when you did everything correctly - the system just wasn't designed with small business cash flow in mind. Hang in there!

I've been through this exact scenario twice - once in 2022 and again last year. The 60-day notice is essentially the IRS saying "we acknowledge your paperwork exists" but doesn't reflect the actual timeline. My 2022 amendment took 23 weeks total, and my 2023 one took 19 weeks. Here's what I learned that might help: First, set up IRS online account access if you haven't already - the transcript updates are more reliable than the "Where's My Amended Return" tool. Look for your Account Transcript, not the Return Transcript. You'll want to watch for transaction code 971 (notice issued) followed eventually by code 846 (refund issued). Second, document everything with dates - when you filed, when you got the 60-day letter, etc. This becomes crucial if you need to escalate later. Third, as a fellow independent contractor, I totally get the cash flow stress. Consider reaching out to SCORE or your local Small Business Development Center - they sometimes have resources for short-term business financing while waiting on legitimate refunds. The waiting sucks, but hang in there. The money will come, just probably not within 60 days despite what the letter implies.