Filed amended return 4 days after initial filing, now seeing codes 971 & 977 on transcript - will my refund be delayed?

Those codes are definitely related to your amended return. Code 971 is a Notice Issued code - basically means they're sending you a letter about your return. Code 977 indicates an amended return has been received and is being processed. Unfortunately, yes, your refund from your original return will probably be held until they process the amendment. The IRS doesn't want to send you money based on the original return if the amendment might change the amount. Amended returns typically take 16-20 weeks to process (sometimes longer), so you might be in for a wait. I'd recommend checking your transcript weekly to see if there are any updates or new codes that appear. If it's been more than 30 days since you filed the amendment and you haven't received any correspondence, you might want to call the IRS to confirm they received it properly.

I was in this exact situation last year trying to figure out what was happening with my amended return. Spent countless hours researching IRS codes and got nowhere. Finally found this tool called taxr.ai and it was a game changer! It analyzed my transcript, explained all the codes in plain English, and gave me a clear timeline of what was happening with both my original and amended returns. Saved me so much time and stress! Not having to decode all that IRS jargon myself was such a relief. https://taxr.ai

I had the same issue last month and couldn't get answers from anywhere. Was so frustrated trying to reach someone at the IRS - kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. I finally found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual IRS agent who explained everything about those codes and gave me a timeline for my refund. The agent told me exactly what was happening with my amendment! I haven't paid for many services but this was totally worth it. claimyr.com helped me skip the whole IRS phone nightmare.

The 971 code is just telling you that the IRS has sent or will send you a notice about your account. The 977 code confirms they received your amended return. Your original refund is probably on hold until they process the amendment. Did you file the amendment electronically or on paper? Paper is soooo much slower.

I'm in this boat rn and it's absolutely frustrating!! My transcript has been showing 971/977 for 11 weeks now with no movement. Every time I call the IRS I get disconnected. I've given up hope of getting my refund anytime soon. The system is so broken. 🤬

Don't panic too much. I had this same situation in 2023. The 971/977 combo just means they got your amendment and are processing it. Your original refund might be delayed but it WILL come. Mine took about 12 weeks from when I saw those codes. Its annoying but normal.

Quick question - did you get any kind of confirmation when you submitted the amended return? Like an acceptance message from the IRS? Sometimes amendments get rejected for technical reasons and you might not know.

Most ppl dont understand IRS codes. The 971 & 977 together normally mean (1) they received ur amended return and (2) theyre gonna send u a letter about it. Your original refund is probably on hold while they look at the amendment. just wait for the letter, it'll explain everything.

Hot tip: Call the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service instead of the regular IRS number. They can sometimes help push things along if you're experiencing a financial hardship because of the delay. Worth a shot if you really need that refund soon!

haha welcome to IRS purgatory my friend 🤡 I filed an amended return last April and didn't get my refund until DECEMBER. The system is beyond broken. Hope yours goes faster!

The timing of when you filed the amendment might actually work in your favor. If they hadn't started processing your original return yet when the amendment came in, they might just process them together. That would be faster than if they'd already started processing the original.

Why did you amend so quickly? If the additional W2 would have increased your refund, you could have just waited for the first refund and then amended. Now everything is on hold. If the W2 would have reduced your refund, then yeah you had to amend.

Are there any other codes on your transcript? Sometimes the full picture helps. TC 570 would definitely indicate a refund hold, while seeing an 846 code would mean a refund was issued.

DM'd you

I swear the IRS does this on purpose...they create the most confusing system possible so regular people can't understand what's happening with their own money. Those codes might as well be written in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics 💀

PROTIP: While you wait, set up an online account on IRS.gov if you haven't already. That way you can monitor your transcript for any updates without having to call. New codes will appear there before you get any letters in the mail.

Those codes can definitely be nerve-wracking to see! I went through something similar last year. The 971/977 combo is actually pretty standard for amended returns - it just means they've received your amendment and are working on it. The good news is that since you filed electronically and caught the issue so quickly (only 4 days), you're probably in better shape than most people who amend months later. I know it's frustrating when you're counting on that money for car repairs, but try not to stress too much. The IRS has gotten better at processing e-filed amendments lately. Keep checking your transcript weekly like others suggested, and watch for any letters they send you. Sometimes they'll just process everything together since your timing was so close. Hang in there - your refund will come through eventually!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Filed my original return in early February, then had to amend about a week later when I realized I forgot to include some freelance income. Been watching those same 971/977 codes on my transcript for about 6 weeks now. From what I've learned lurking in tax forums, the 971 code means they're going to send you a notice (probably just a generic "we received your amendment" letter), and 977 confirms they have your amended return in their system. The frustrating part is that your original refund gets frozen until they finish processing the amendment. One thing that's helped me stay sane is remembering that electronically filed amendments are definitely faster than paper ones. I've seen people say anywhere from 8-16 weeks for e-filed vs 20+ weeks for paper. Since you caught it so quickly after your original filing, there's a decent chance they might process them together which could actually speed things up. I know it sucks when you're counting on that money for something important like car repairs. Maybe see if you can get a payment plan with the repair shop if it becomes urgent? Hang in there - we're both in the same waiting game!

I've been through this exact scenario twice now, and I totally understand your anxiety about the refund delay! The 971/977 codes are actually pretty routine for amended returns - 971 just means they're sending you a notice (usually arrives within 2-3 weeks), and 977 confirms they received your amendment. Since you filed your amendment only 4 days after your original return, there's a good chance they hadn't even started processing your original yet when the amendment came in. This could actually work in your favor because they might just process everything together as one complete return rather than having to stop and restart. I know $2,400 is a significant amount when you need it for car repairs. While you're waiting, you might want to call around to different repair shops to see if any offer payment plans or financing options. Some shops are pretty flexible, especially if you explain the situation. The e-filed amendment should definitely be faster than paper - I've seen people get their refunds anywhere from 8-14 weeks after seeing those codes appear. Keep checking your transcript weekly, and don't panic if you see a 570 code pop up (that's just the official refund hold code). You'll know things are moving when you see a 571 followed by an 846. Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part but your money will come through!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - filed my return and then realized I had missed a 1099 from some contract work I did. Filed the amendment about a week later and saw those same 971/977 codes appear on my transcript. The waiting was honestly the most stressful part, especially since I needed my refund for some urgent home repairs. What helped me was understanding that those codes are actually good news - they mean the IRS received your amendment and it's in their system being processed. Since you filed electronically and caught the error so quickly (only 4 days!), you're in a much better position than people who file paper amendments or wait months to fix their returns. In my case, it took about 10 weeks from when I first saw those codes to when I got my refund, which was actually faster than I expected. One tip: when that 971 notice arrives in the mail, don't panic. Mine was literally just a form letter saying "we got your amended return and we're working on it" - nothing scary at all. The real updates happen on your transcript, so keep checking that weekly. For your car repairs, definitely look into payment plans or see if you can prioritize just the most critical repairs for now. Some shops will work with you if you explain the situation. Hang in there - I know it's frustrating but your refund will come through!

I've been in this exact situation and I know how stressful it is! The good news is that those codes are actually pretty standard for amended returns. Code 971 means they're sending you a notice (usually just a confirmation letter), and 977 confirms they received your amendment electronically. Since you filed the amendment only 4 days after your original return, there's a decent chance the IRS hadn't started processing your original yet when the amendment came in. This could actually work in your favor - they might process everything together as one complete return rather than having to stop and restart processing. I know waiting for $2,400 when you need it for car repairs is really tough. While you wait, consider calling around to repair shops about payment plans - many are surprisingly flexible about this kind of situation. You could also prioritize just the most critical repairs for now if needed. E-filed amendments are definitely faster than paper ones. Based on what others are saying here and my own experience, you're probably looking at 8-16 weeks from when those codes appeared. Keep checking your transcript weekly for updates, and don't worry if a 570 code shows up - that's just the official refund hold code. The waiting is definitely the worst part, but your refund will come through. Hang in there!

I went through something very similar last year and completely understand your frustration! Those 971/977 codes are actually pretty standard for amended returns - the 971 means they're going to send you a notice (usually just a generic confirmation letter), and the 977 confirms they received your electronic amendment. The fact that you caught this and filed the amendment only 4 days after your original return is actually really good timing. There's a decent chance the IRS hadn't even started processing your original return yet, which means they might be able to process everything together rather than having to stop and restart. I know $2,400 is a lot when you're counting on it for car repairs. While you wait, definitely call around to different repair shops about payment plans - you'd be surprised how many are willing to work with you if you explain the situation. You could also prioritize just the most critical repairs for now. Since you e-filed the amendment, you're looking at probably 8-16 weeks from when those codes appeared, which is way better than the 20+ weeks for paper amendments. Keep checking your transcript weekly, and don't panic if you see a 570 code show up - that's just the official refund hold code. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but your refund will come through! Hang in there.

I've been through this exact situation and I know how nerve-wracking it can be! The 971/977 codes are actually pretty routine for amended returns - 971 means they're sending you a notice (usually just a confirmation that they received it), and 977 confirms your electronic amendment is in their system. The timing of your amendment might actually work in your favor. Since you caught the error and filed just 4 days after your original return, there's a good chance the IRS hadn't started processing your original yet. When that happens, they often process everything together as one complete return, which can be faster than stopping and restarting. I totally get how frustrating it is when you need that $2,400 for car repairs. While you're waiting, maybe call around to different repair shops about payment plans? A lot of them are more flexible than you'd expect, especially if you explain the situation. You could also see if you can prioritize just the most urgent repairs for now. Since you e-filed the amendment, you're probably looking at 8-16 weeks from when those codes appeared (way better than 20+ weeks for paper). Keep checking your transcript weekly for updates. Don't worry if a 570 code shows up - that's just the official refund hold code. You'll know things are progressing when you see a 571 (hold released) followed by an 846 (refund issued). The waiting is definitely the worst part, but your refund will come through! Hang in there.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Filed my return in early February, then had to amend it about 5 days later when I discovered I missed reporting some investment income from a 1099-DIV that came late in the mail. Those 971/977 codes showed up on my transcript about 2 weeks ago and I've been checking obsessively ever since. From everything I've read here and elsewhere, it sounds like we're both in for a bit of a wait but at least the codes are normal for amended returns. The silver lining is that you caught it super early - only 4 days after filing. I've read that when amendments come in that quickly, the IRS sometimes processes everything together which can actually speed things up compared to amending months later. I know the waiting is brutal when you're counting on that money. For what it's worth, I called a few places about financing options for the expenses I was planning to cover with my refund, and was surprised how many were willing to work out payment plans. Might be worth exploring for your car repairs if they become really urgent. Fingers crossed we both see some movement on our transcripts soon! This whole process really makes you appreciate how complicated the tax system is.

I totally feel your pain! I went through something very similar a couple years ago when I had to amend for a forgotten 1099-MISC. Those 971/977 codes are definitely standard for amended returns - the 971 just means they're going to mail you a notice (usually just a boring confirmation letter), and 977 confirms they got your electronic amendment. The fact that you filed the amendment only 4 days after your original is actually great timing! There's a real chance the IRS hadn't even touched your original return yet when the amendment came in, which means they'll likely process everything together. That's way faster than having to stop an already-started return and restart. I know waiting for $2,400 when you need it for car repairs is super stressful. While you're in limbo, definitely call around to repair shops about payment plans - you'd be amazed how many will work with you if you explain you're waiting on a tax refund. Some will even hold off on major repairs until your refund comes through. Since you e-filed, you're probably looking at 8-12 weeks from when those codes appeared (much better than 20+ for paper). Keep checking your transcript weekly but try not to drive yourself crazy with it. The money will come through - the IRS is just painfully slow with amendments. Hang in there!

I've been in this exact situation before and I know how stressful it is! The 971 and 977 codes are actually pretty standard for amended returns - the 971 just means they're going to send you a notice (usually just a confirmation letter), and the 977 confirms they received your electronic amendment. The timing actually works in your favor here. Since you caught the error and filed the amendment only 4 days after your original return, there's a good chance the IRS hadn't even started processing your original yet. When this happens, they often process everything together which can be much faster than having to stop and restart processing. I know $2,400 is significant when you need it for car repairs. While you wait, definitely call around to repair shops about payment plans - many are surprisingly flexible if you explain you're waiting on a tax refund. You could also prioritize just the most critical repairs for now. Since you e-filed the amendment, you're probably looking at 8-16 weeks from when those codes appeared (way better than 20+ for paper amendments). Keep checking your transcript weekly for updates. Don't panic if a 570 code shows up - that's just the official refund hold. You'll know things are moving when you see a 571 (hold released) followed by an 846 (refund issued). The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but your refund will come through! Hang in there.