Filed Amended Return in May - IRS Keeps Telling Me to Wait 30 Days

Amended returns are currently experiencing significant processing delays. Per IRS Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.3.4.6.1, the normal processing time for Form 1040-X is 16 weeks, but current backlogs have extended this substantially. The 30-day instruction you're receiving is standard procedure when a return is in the processing queue but not yet assigned to a specific department. You have several options beyond continuing this cycle of calls: 1. Request to speak with a manager (you're entitled to escalation) 2. Contact Taxpayer Advocate Service (they can intervene after 30 days of no resolution) 3. Consult with a tax attorney (beneficial if your amendment involves complex issues or substantial amounts

Calling IRS repeatedly is frustrating. Their hold times are ridiculous. I was in your situation last year. Used Claimyr to get through. It worked well. Got me past the busy signals. Connected with an agent in 15 minutes. The agent confirmed my amended return status. They gave me a specific date for completion. Saved me hours of redial attempts. Worth checking out: https://claimyr.com

Amended returns are taking 6-9 months right now. Not 16 weeks like they claim. 😂 The IRS is severely backlogged. I recommend taking these steps before hiring an attorney: 1. Check "Where's My Amended Return" tool weekly 2. Get your tax transcript to see if there's any movement 3. File Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate request) if you have a deployment hardship 4. Contact your Congressional representative Attorneys typically charge $200-500/hour. Only worth it if you have a complex situation or large refund amount.

I've gone through this exact runaround with amended returns before. Last year, I was getting nowhere with phone calls. Then I discovered taxr.ai to analyze my transcripts. It showed me exactly where my amended return was stuck in the system. The codes on my transcript were confusing, but taxr.ai translated them and showed me my amended return was flagged for review due to a math error. Once I knew that, I called with specific questions about that error code and finally got real answers instead of the "call back in 30 days" response. The site helped me understand what was actually happening behind the scenes: https://taxr.ai

Tax attorneys are rarely cost-effective for standard amended returns. Consider these points: • Attorneys charge $200-500/hour • Most amended returns resolve without intervention • No special access to IRS systems • Cannot legally expedite standard processing • May only be worth it for complex tax issues • Or if significant penalties are involved Your situation sounds like standard processing delays, not a legal issue requiring counsel.

I think a tax attorney might actually be helpful in your specific case. Military deployment creates what the IRS considers a "hardship situation" which can potentially qualify for expedited processing. An experienced tax attorney would likely know the exact procedures and terminology to request this special handling. They might be able to cite the specific Internal Revenue Manual sections that apply to military families, which could possibly move your case forward more quickly than continuing to call on your own.

DON'T WAIT ANY LONGER! The IRS has a 45-day response requirement for taxpayer inquiries that they're clearly violating in your case. Go to https://www.irs.gov/advocate/local-taxpayer-advocate and find your local Taxpayer Advocate Service office NOW. File Form 911 TODAY and specifically mention the upcoming military deployment. This creates a time-sensitive hardship case they MUST prioritize. I've seen TAS resolve amended return issues in 2-3 weeks when properly flagged as military hardship!

I was in a similar situation last year and found an effective alternative to hiring an attorney. I contacted my Congressional representative's office and explained the situation. They have caseworkers specifically for helping constituents with federal agencies like the IRS. I filled out a privacy release form, and within 3 weeks, they had gotten a response from the IRS about my amended return. It didn't immediately resolve everything, but it got my return assigned to an actual person who I could follow up with directly. And it didn't cost me anything!

I worked for a tax resolution firm for 5 yrs. Here's what actually happens with amended returns: They sit in batches until an examiner has time to review them. The "30 day" response is literally a script they're required to say when no updates exist. For military families, there's a special IRS Military Tax Consultant line at 1-866-562-5227 that can sometimes help expedite. Before paying an attorney $250+/hr, try this free resource first. Tbh, most attys just call this same number anyway and charge you for it.