Amended Return Timeline - How Long Compared to Regular Returns?

Oh man, amended returns are a whole different beast compared to regular returns. I filed one on March 12th, 2023 and didn't get resolution until September 28th, 2023. That's over 6 months! The IRS says 16 weeks, but in my experience and from what I've seen, that's the absolute minimum. With the backlog from recent tax years, I'd be surprised if you see anything before 20-24 weeks.

I went through this last year. Filed my amended return in February 2023 after realizing I missed claiming some education credits. The online tracker showed "received" for about 12 weeks, then nothing changed until I suddenly got a check in the mail in August! The online status never updated beyond "received" even after I got my refund. Pro tip: Take screenshots of the "Where's My Amended Return" page periodically. The system sometimes resets and loses your history, which freaked me out when it happened to me.

OMG amended returns are the WORST. Had to do one last yr bc my spouse's W2 came late af. Took forever and the "Where's My Amended Return" tool is basically useless compared to the regular WMR. I feel your pain. After waiting 3 months w/ zero updates, I tried https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript. It showed me exactly where my amended return was in the process and explained what each code meant. Saved me so much stress bc at least I could see it wasn't lost in the void, just moving through their stupid slow system.

Amended returns are notoriously slow. Here's what to expect based on my experience and research: • 16 weeks is the "official" timeline but rarely happens • 20-30 weeks is more realistic in current conditions • Paper check is the only option (no direct deposit for amended returns) • The online tracker is minimally useful • Your transcript will update before the tracker does Best advice is to file electronically if possible (some amendments can be e-filed now), keep copies of EVERYTHING, and check your transcript weekly rather than the amended return tracker.

Amended returns are like taking the scenic route instead of the highway - same destination but a much longer journey. The IRS processes these manually, which is why they take so long. When I needed to check on mine after months of waiting, I tried calling the regular IRS number but gave up after being on hold for 2+ hours. Then I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 30 minutes. It's like having a FastPass at Disney World - same line, just much faster access. The agent was able to tell me exactly where my amended return was in the process and gave me a much more specific timeframe.

Has anyone tried contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service about delayed amended returns? I've heard they can sometimes help if it's been beyond the normal processing time? Or maybe contacting your congressional representative's office? I'm wondering if there are any options beyond just waiting indefinitely.

I filed an amended return in April 2023 and received my refund in November 2023. Seven months total. The first three months showed nothing on the tracker. My amended return was for a substantial amount ($7,800) due to missed business expenses. The IRS never contacted me for additional information. It just took that long to process.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. Filed my 1040X in January and it's been radio silence ever since. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool has been stuck on "received" for over 8 weeks now. What's frustrating is that with regular returns, you at least get status updates like "being processed" or "refund approved." With amended returns, it's basically just "we got it" and then nothing until suddenly a check appears in your mailbox months later. I've been keeping a spreadsheet tracking when I check the status just so I don't go crazy checking it every day. From what I'm reading here, sounds like I need to prepare for a much longer wait than I initially thought. The timing with your PCS move in August is going to be tricky - definitely recommend setting up mail forwarding well in advance since you might still be waiting by then. Has anyone had luck getting more specific timelines by calling the IRS directly, or is it just the standard "16 weeks" response?

I'm going through this right now too and can share some recent experience. Filed my 1040X in late January after discovering I missed claiming some medical expenses. It's now been about 6 weeks and still showing "received" status. What I've learned from talking to other military families (I'm Army) is that the timeline really depends on complexity. Simple amendments like missed deductions seem to take the full 16+ weeks, but more complex ones involving multiple forms or business income can stretch even longer. Since you mentioned a PCS move in August, I'd definitely recommend: 1. Set up mail forwarding through USPS well before your move 2. Update your address with the IRS as soon as you know your new one 3. Consider having the refund sent to a trusted family member's address if timing gets tight The "Where's My Amended Return" tool really is pretty useless compared to the regular tracker. I check mine maybe once a week now instead of daily - saves my sanity. From what everyone's saying here, it sounds like we're all in for a long wait regardless of when we filed. Good luck with your move prep! At least dealing with the IRS gives us practice for all the other military bureaucracy we deal with regularly.