This is so frustrating but you're definitely not alone! I've been dealing with the same WMR lockout issue for the past week. Filed in late January, called IRS in early March, got the standard "processing delays" response, and now I'm locked out too. What's really annoying is that I've been super careful about only checking maybe twice a week, but somehow I'm still getting the "exceeded attempts" message. I tried using different browsers and even my phone's data instead of WiFi, but nothing works. The silver lining from reading these comments is that it sounds like this might actually be a sign that our returns are moving through the system? Really hoping that's true because like you, I'm really counting on this money right now. The timing couldn't be worse with everything getting more expensive. Hang in there - seems like we're all in the same boat this year! 🤞

This is such a relief to read - I thought I was going crazy! Same exact situation here. Filed early February, called IRS last week and got the standard "processing delays, call back in a month" response. The very next day I tried checking WMR (literally my first time checking in over a week) and boom - locked out for "exceeding attempts." What really gets me is how this seems to happen RIGHT after calling them. Like there's something in their system that flags your account once you make contact with customer service? The timing is just too coincidental for all of us. I'm really hoping the theory about this being a processing stage indicator is correct. At this point I'll take any sign of progress, even if it's the system having a meltdown! The financial stress is real - between rent increases and everything else, this refund can't come soon enough. Thanks for posting this @Andre - at least we know we're not alone in this madness! 🙏

Does anyone know if the Form 1040X instructions cover the IRC 1341 claim of right situations? I'm thinking of amending my return because I didn't handle my bonus repayment correctly last year.

I went through a very similar situation last year with a $30k signing bonus that I had to repay. The IRC 1341 calculation definitely caught me off guard too - my credit was about $1,500 more than what was originally withheld on the bonus. What helped me understand it was realizing that the bonus didn't just get taxed at the flat withholding rate. It pushed me into the next tax bracket for part of my regular income AND caused me to lose eligibility for some education credits I would have otherwise qualified for. When you remove that bonus income and recalculate, you're getting back not just the direct tax on the bonus, but also the "ripple effect" it had on your entire tax situation. The math gets even more complex if you had any itemized deductions that were subject to AGI thresholds. A $25k bonus can easily create a tax impact that's 28-30% of the bonus amount rather than just the 22% flat withholding rate. Your $7,170 credit on a $25k bonus works out to about 28.7%, which seems reasonable given these factors.

Protip: Go first thing in the morning if you can. Lines get insane by lunch time and they might turn u away if they too busy

Been through this exact situation! Got my 5747C letter last year and the whole process was pretty stressful. After doing the in-person verification, it took about 6 weeks for my refund to come through. The key is making sure you bring all the right documents - I brought my driver's license, passport, and a utility bill just to be safe. Also, definitely schedule your appointment ASAP like others mentioned because the wait times are crazy. One thing that helped me was checking my transcript online every week to see if there were any updates. Good luck!

Did you check if the $581 is from a previous year? Sometimes they'll hold current refunds for old debts

My transcript had both 971 and 290 codes. The notice basically said they adjusted my refund amount. After that it took about 3 weeks to get the money deposited

You're way overthinking this! I've amended my taxes three times in one year (don't ask lol) and never got audited. IRS has bigger fish to fry than someone who's trying to pay the right amount. Just do it correctly this time and stop worrying so much!

As someone who works in tax preparation, I can confirm that multiple amendments don't automatically trigger audits, but they do warrant extra care. The IRS processes millions of amendments annually - yours won't stand out just for being a second amendment. What's most important is accuracy and clear documentation. For your second amendment, include a detailed explanation of why you're correcting the first amendment. Something like "Amendment to correct calculation error on previous Form 1040X filed [date]" helps the IRS understand the sequence. A few practical tips: - Double-check all math before filing (consider having someone else review it) - Keep copies of everything, including your explanation letters - Be prepared to wait longer for processing since amended returns take 16+ weeks The fact that you're amending to pay MORE tax actually works in your favor - it shows good faith effort to comply. Just make sure this second amendment is absolutely correct so you don't need a third one!