7 months and still waiting on amended refund for energy credit - IRS keeps saying "working on it"

The IRS is historically slow with processing amended returns, but 7 months is definitely on the longer side. The typical processing time for amended returns is about 16 weeks (4 months), but since COVID they've been running behind on everything. A few things that might help: First, try calling the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. They're specifically designed to help when you're facing hardship due to IRS delays. Explain that you've been waiting 7 months and that you need the refund for necessary home repairs. Another option is to contact your local congressional representative's office. This might sound extreme, but congressional inquiries often get faster responses from the IRS. Most representatives have staff dedicated to helping constituents with federal agency issues. Also, double-check the status using the "Where's My Amended Return" tool with your exact information (SSN, zip code, and date of birth). Sometimes there are small discrepancies that cause the tool to not show accurate information.

I had almost the exact same issue last year with an energy credit amendment. After months of getting nowhere with the regular IRS number, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped me understand what was happening with my amendment. They have this tool that analyzes your tax documents and transcripts to show you exactly what stage your amendment is in and why it might be delayed. In my case, it turned out my amendment had been assigned to the wrong department, and I would have never known without seeing the full transcript analysis. The service showed me specific dates and codes in my tax account that the regular "Where's My Amended Return" tool doesn't show. Once I understood the actual status, I was able to call the right department directly and got it resolved within 3 weeks. Saved me months of additional waiting and frustration.

I have to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since my amended return has been stuck for 5 months. The service actually showed me that my amendment was flagged for a specific issue related to the energy credit documentation. The regular IRS rep never mentioned this when I called! After seeing the exact issue, I uploaded the missing documentation they needed through the IRS portal and called the specific department handling my case (which I wouldn't have known without seeing the transcript analysis). My amended refund was approved within 2 weeks after that. What surprised me most was how they explained all those cryptic IRS codes in a way that made sense. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind and actual results. Guess I shouldn't have been so skeptical!

If you're still struggling to get through to the IRS after trying everything else, I'd recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in the same boat with my amended return last year - 8 months of waiting with zero progress. After trying to call the IRS myself for weeks (always disconnected due to "high call volume"), I used Claimyr and actually got connected to a live IRS agent in about 20 minutes. They have this system that navigates the IRS phone tree for you and holds your place in line. You can watch how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with was able to look up my amended return and found it was missing a document they needed. They never sent me a letter about it! Was able to fax it over that day, and my refund was processed within a month. Would have been waiting forever otherwise since I had no idea there was an issue.

I need to apologize for my skeptical comment about Claimyr. After weeks of failing to reach the IRS myself (kept getting disconnected after 2+ hours on hold), I decided to give it a try out of desperation. I was honestly shocked when I got a call back connecting me to an actual IRS agent after about 45 minutes. The agent was able to see that my amended return had been sitting in the system untouched for months because of some internal routing error. The agent transferred me to a specialist who fixed the issue while I was on the phone. My amended refund was processed and approved a week later, and I received the check about 3 weeks after that. After 6 months of getting nowhere, I finally got resolution in less than a month. I was completely wrong about this being a scam. Sometimes you have to admit when you're wrong, and in this case, I definitely was!

The IRS has been a nightmare with amended returns lately. Make sure you're checking your tax account transcript online (not just the "Where's My Amended Return" tool). You can access this through the IRS website if you create an account. Look for transaction code 971 followed by 977 - this means they've processed your amendment. If you see 570, that's a hold on your account which could explain the delay. If your transcript shows no movement for months, that's when you definitely need to escalate through Taxpayer Advocate Service or your congressional rep as others have suggested.

When I had a similar issue with my amended return, I found that calling right when they open (7am Eastern time) got me through much faster. Also, Mondays and Tuesdays seem to be their busiest days, so try calling on Thursday or Friday if possible.

UPDATE: After 440 days (yes, over a year!), I finally received my amended refund last week. No explanation for the delay, just a check in the mail with interest added. The interest didn't come close to making up for the stress and hassle, but at least it finally arrived. If you're still waiting, don't give up. Keep calling, use the Taxpayer Advocate Service, contact your congressional rep, and utilize any of the services others have mentioned here. Sometimes persistence is the only way through the IRS bureaucracy.

Emma, I feel your pain! I went through something very similar last year with an amended return for the solar credit. What finally worked for me was getting my tax account transcript and finding the specific "freeze code" that was holding up my refund. In my case, it was code 810 which meant they needed additional documentation that I never received a notice about. Once I knew the exact issue, I was able to call the amendments department directly (not the general number) and get it resolved quickly. You can get your transcript online through the IRS website, but honestly the codes are like reading hieroglyphics. If you're comfortable spending a little money, those transcript analysis services that others mentioned really do help decode what's actually happening with your case. Sometimes knowing the specific problem is half the battle. Also, document every call you make - date, time, who you spoke with, and what they told you. If you end up escalating to the Taxpayer Advocate Service, having that detailed record really helps your case. Hang in there - 7 months is frustrating but you will eventually get your refund!