Any update on the current IRS amended return backlog situation?

Unfortunately there is a significant backlog with amended returns right now. The IRS is still processing some amended returns from last year. The official timeline they're giving is up to 20 weeks (about 5 months) for processing, but many people are reporting much longer waits. The best way to check is using the "Where's My Amended Return" tool on IRS.gov or calling the 1040 number, but be prepared for long hold times. If it's been more than 16 weeks, you might want to consider calling to make sure it wasn't lost. The IRS prioritizes processing original returns over amended returns, which contributes to the backlog. They're still catching up from pandemic-related delays and staffing issues.

I was in the exact same situation with my amended return taking forever! After waiting 4 months with zero updates, I tried this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out exactly what was going on with my amended return. It analyzed my tax documents and gave me detailed insights about why my return might be delayed and what specific sections might be causing the holdup. The system showed me that there was a discrepancy in how I reported some investment income on my amended return that likely triggered additional review. Once I understood the issue, I was able to prepare the right documentation to support my case. Seriously saved me so much stress and guesswork!

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai that I asked about earlier. I ended up trying it and wow - it actually found that I made an error in how I calculated my qualified business income deduction on my amended return. The system highlighted exactly where the discrepancy was between my original filing and my amendment. I wouldn't have caught this on my own! I called the IRS with this specific information (still waited forever on hold), but at least when I finally spoke to someone, I knew exactly what to ask about. My amended return was processed about 4 weeks later. Honestly didn't expect it to be that helpful but it saved me from probably another 2-3 months of waiting.

If you're still waiting and need to actually talk to the IRS (which I HIGHLY recommend for amended returns), try Claimyr.com (https://claimyr.com). They got me through to a real IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for DAYS to get through on my own. They have this system that basically waits on hold for you and calls you when an agent picks up. Check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. It saved me hours of hold music! The IRS agent I spoke with was able to tell me that my amended return had a review code that wasn't showing up on the online tool, and gave me the exact timeframe for when it would be completed.

Well I'm eating my words about Claimyr. After being so skeptical, I tried it this morning out of pure frustration - I've been waiting on my amended return for 7 months! The system called me back after about 75 minutes of waiting (which I didn't have to sit through), and I talked to an actual IRS person who was surprisingly helpful. Turns out my amended return had been assigned to a specific department for review due to a change I made with some cryptocurrency reporting, but there was no notification about this on the "Where's My Amended Return" tool. The agent gave me a direct number to that department and told me exactly what additional documentation I needed to provide. Can't believe I wasted so many months just blindly waiting when I could have addressed this specific issue way earlier!

Hey, similar experience here with amended returns. Filed mine in April, still waiting. What I've learned from tax forums is that amended returns are processed entirely by humans (not the automated system), so they take much longer. For what it's worth, I had an amended return last year that took exactly 22 weeks to process. If you mailed your amended return instead of e-filing it, add even more time. The IRS mail processing centers have their own delays before your return even gets into the amended return queue.

Another tip - if your amended return involves a substantial refund, consider filing Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate Service request) after the 20-week mark. The Taxpayer Advocate can sometimes help if you're experiencing financial hardship due to the delay. They won't help just because of a long wait, but if you can demonstrate actual financial hardship, they might be able to expedite things.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my amended return in August and it's now been over 4 months with just "received" status. What's really frustrating is that the IRS changed those rules so late in the game - it feels like they should prioritize processing returns that were amended because of THEIR rule changes. Based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like the key is figuring out if there's a specific issue holding up your return rather than just waiting blindly. The taxr.ai tool that @Jamal Thompson mentioned sounds interesting for identifying potential problems, and the Claimyr service for actually getting through to talk to someone seems worth trying if you're past the 16-week mark. @Carmen Reyes - since you mentioned needing the refund for home repairs, you might want to look into the Taxpayer Advocate Service (Form 911) that @Fatima Al-Mazrouei suggested if you can demonstrate financial hardship. September to now is already hitting that 20+ week timeframe where they might be able to help.