Amended Return Filed in May 2022 - Still Waiting After Nearly 2 Years
I need to know if anyone else is experiencing this endless waiting period for an amended return. Here's my timeline: 1. Filed my original 2022 tax return in February 2023 2. Realized I needed to make corrections after my divorce finalized 3. Submitted Form 1040-X in May 2023 to adjust filing status and deductions 4. Verified receipt through the IRS amended return tool in June 2023 5. Called the IRS in September 2023 - told to continue waiting 6. Called again in December 2023 - told processing times were extended 7. Called in March 2024 - told it was "in the queue" It's now been approximately 11 months since filing the amendment. The IRS website states 16 weeks for processing, but I've waited nearly 3 times that long. The refund amount is precisely calculated and documented. Has anyone actually received their amended refund recently?
22 comments


Isabella Silva
You're not alone. This is happening to many people. Amended returns are severely backlogged. The IRS is still catching up. Processing times are much longer than normal. Keep checking the Where's My Amended Return tool. Consider calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They might be able to help.
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Ravi Choudhury
•I've been in the same boat since filing an amended 2022 return in April 2023. Called the IRS four times and got a different answer every time. First they said 16 weeks, then 20 weeks, then 30 weeks, and the last time they just said "we're backlogged" with no timeline. It's beyond frustrating when you're counting on that money and they can't even give you a straight answer about when to expect it.
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Freya Andersen
I was in exactly your situation last year. Waited exactly 267 days for my amended return to process. The regular IRS phone line was useless - waited on hold for 127 minutes only to be disconnected. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to reach an actual agent after waiting exactly 18 minutes. The agent was able to see my amended return was stuck in a processing queue and needed manual review. They escalated it and I received my refund exactly 21 days later. The service costs money but saved me countless hours of frustration and got my refund moving.
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Omar Farouk
•I'm always skeptical of these "get through to the IRS faster" services. I've tried calling early in the morning, right when they open, and usually get through within 30-45 minutes. Have you tried the IRS amended return hotline specifically? It's separate from the main line and sometimes has shorter wait times. I found it through the IRS website and had better luck there.
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CosmicCadet
•I understand the skepticism, but amended returns are different from regular returns. Think of it like trying to get a customer service rep during Black Friday versus a random Tuesday. The amended return queue is especially backed up right now compared to the regular phone lines. What works for a simple tax question might not work when you need to speak to someone with access to the amended return system.
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Chloe Harris
•Does this service actually connect you with IRS agents who have authority to expedite amended returns? I need my amended refund before my mortgage closing date on May 15th, and I'm wondering if they can actually help with that specific timeline or just get me general information?
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Diego Mendoza
The current wait time for amended returns is 12-18 months. This is not the standard 16 weeks they quote. Your timeline is actually normal for the current backlog. The IRS prioritizes original returns over amendments. Your calls won't speed up processing. Keep checking the amended return tracker online. Don't file a second amendment. That will restart your wait time completely.
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Anastasia Popova
I was completely lost in the amended return maze like you, feeling like my paperwork was buried in some forgotten IRS dungeon. I finally used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcripts, which was like having a treasure map to understand what was actually happening. It's like having a translator for IRS-speak - showed me exactly what the transaction codes meant and predicted when my amended return would finally process. Like seeing through the fog when you've been driving blind for months!
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Sean Flanagan
•Can this tool actually predict anything the IRS doesn't already tell you? Isn't it just reading the same information you can get from your transcript yourself? And how would it know about internal IRS processing timelines that aren't public information?
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Zara Shah
•Tbh I was pretty hesitant to try another tax tool (have been burned before lol), but it actually helped me understand my transcript way better than the IRS site. The diff is it explains what the codes mean for YOUR specific situation, not just generic definitions. Kinda wish I'd found it sooner instead of stressing for months about my amended return from last yr.
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NebulaNomad
I'm questioning whether anyone is actually receiving amended refunds in a reasonable timeframe. According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.5.3.4.6.1, amended returns should be processed within 16 weeks under normal circumstances. However, the IRS has invoked section 21.5.3.4.7.5.1 regarding 'Inventory Backlogs' which suspends normal processing timeframes. Their quarterly processing statistics indicate only 32% of amended returns are being processed within 20 weeks. I find it hard to believe anyone is receiving timely processing without intervention.
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Luca Ferrari
•I... didn't realize there were actual published guidelines about this. I always thought the 16-week timeline was just something they told people to keep them quiet. Is there an actual requirement for them to process within a certain timeframe? Can they just indefinitely extend these "backlog" provisions?
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Nia Wilson
What steps have you taken to verify the status of your amended return? Have you pulled your account transcript? Have you requested a taxpayer advocate? Have you contacted your congressional representative? I'm currently waiting on my own amended return but I've managed to get confirmation it's in the processing queue by speaking directly with an IRS agent who confirmed my documentation was complete and properly submitted. The key is getting to someone who can actually see your file, not just the customer service representatives who only have access to the same status information you can see online.
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Mateo Martinez
•I'm concerned about what this means for my financial planning. If amended returns are taking 12+ months, should I be adjusting my expectations for future tax situations? I have another amendment I need to file for 2023, but now I'm wondering if I should just let it go if the amount isn't substantial.
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Aisha Hussain
•Back in 2019, I had a similar situation with an amended return that took 14 months to process. I found that getting my congressional representative involved was what finally broke the logjam. Their constituent services contacted the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service with an official inquiry, and suddenly my amended return was processed within 3 weeks. The key difference was having someone with authority making the inquiry rather than just me as an individual taxpayer.
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Ethan Clark
I filed my amended 2022 return on April 15, 2023, and received my refund on February 28, 2024 - exactly 10 months and 13 days later. On January 12, 2024, my transcript updated with code 971 followed by 290 on January 19, 2024. The refund was issued exactly 40 days after those codes appeared. If you check your transcript and see those codes, you're getting close. Mark your calendar for approximately 6 weeks from the date of those codes appearing.
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StarStrider
I might be wrong, but I believe you could possibly try requesting a taxpayer advocate? From what I understand, they might be able to help if you're experiencing financial hardship because of the delay. I think you need to fill out Form 911, if I remember correctly. It sort of worked for my cousin who was waiting for almost a year, though it still took a few more weeks after that.
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Yuki Sato
Has anyone successfully received an amended refund without intervention from a taxpayer advocate or congressional representative? If so, exactly how long did it take from submission to deposit? Did you receive any correspondence in between or did it just suddenly appear in your account?
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Yuki Ito
I'm going through almost the exact same situation! Filed my amended 2022 return in June 2023 and it's been 10 months with no resolution. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool just shows "received" with no processing date. I've called three times and each representative gives me different information - one said 20 weeks, another said they're "working on 2023 returns from early in the year," and the last one couldn't even locate my return in their system initially. The inconsistency is maddening. I'm owed a significant refund due to overlooked medical expenses, and at this point I'm wondering if I should contact my representative or try the taxpayer advocate route. It's reassuring to know others are experiencing the same delays, but frustrating that there seems to be no clear timeline or accountability.
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Emma Olsen
•I'm in almost the identical situation as you and Isabella! Filed my amended 2022 return in July 2023 for missed education credits and it's been radio silence ever since. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool is basically useless - just says "received" like yours. I've called twice and got completely different stories each time. First agent said 16-20 weeks, second one couldn't even find my return initially and then said they're "extremely backlogged." What's really frustrating is that my original return was processed lightning fast in 2023, but the amendment seems to have disappeared into a black hole. I'm seriously considering the taxpayer advocate route too - at least then we'd have someone specifically assigned to track our cases instead of playing phone roulette with different representatives who clearly don't have access to the same information.
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Mikayla Davison
I'm in a very similar situation and it's incredibly frustrating. Filed my amended 2022 return in March 2023 (so about 13 months ago now) and I'm still waiting. The worst part is the complete lack of transparency - every time I call, I get a different story about processing times and where my return is in the queue. What really bothers me is that they can take your money immediately if you owe them, but when they owe you, it's somehow acceptable to wait over a year with no real explanation. I've been considering filing a complaint with the Taxpayer Advocate Service because this feels unreasonable at this point. The financial impact of waiting this long for a legitimate refund is real - some people are counting on that money for important expenses. Has anyone here had success with the Taxpayer Advocate Service for amended return delays? I'm wondering if it's worth the effort or if they'll just tell me to keep waiting like everyone else.
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Grace Patel
•I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare! Filed my amended return in August 2023 and it's been 8 months of absolutely nothing. What kills me is exactly what you said - they'll garnish wages instantly if you owe them, but somehow when it's the other way around, we're supposed to be patient indefinitely? I actually did contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service last month through their online portal. They assigned me a case advocate who at least acknowledged that 8+ months is unreasonable. She couldn't give me a firm timeline, but she did confirm my return wasn't "lost" and that it's sitting in what she called a "manual review queue." The advocate said she'd follow up in 30 days if there's no movement. It's only been 3 weeks since then, so I can't say if it actually helps yet, but at least someone with authority is now tracking my case instead of me calling the general line and getting different answers every time. Definitely worth trying - at minimum, you'll have documentation that you've escalated it properly.
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