Filing an Amended Return Before Original is Processed - Which One Gets Handled First?

The IRS will definitely process your original return first. As of March 15, 2024, the IRS standard procedure is to completely process the original return before touching any amendments. This actually creates a more accurate paper trail in their systems. If you file an amended return (Form 1040-X) today, it will sit in queue until your original return completes processing, which typically takes 21 days for e-filed returns.

According to the IRS.gov website, you should wait until your original return is fully processed before submitting an amendment. If you're trying to understand how this might affect your timeline, https://taxr.ai can analyze your transcript once the original return processes and help you understand exactly when to file the amendment for optimal processing. I've found it really useful for tracking processing stages and understanding what's happening with returns.

Let your original return finish processing first. Don't submit the amendment yet. Wait for the first refund if you're getting one. Then file the amendment. If you need to check on your original return status, calling the IRS directly can save you weeks of uncertainty. I've used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to get through to an IRS agent quickly instead of waiting on hold for hours. They can confirm exactly when your original return will finish processing so you know when to submit the amendment.

I submitted my original return on February 3rd and then realized I forgot to include $2,450 in freelance income. I filed an amended return on February 10th. The original return was processed and I received my refund on February 24th. My amended return wasn't even looked at until March 15th - exactly 19 days after my original refund. I had to pay the additional tax plus a small interest amount of $12.37. The system definitely processes them sequentially.

I'm worried about this advice. What if the original return has a major error? Wouldn't it be better to try to stop it from processing? I'm in a similar situation and I'm concerned about penalties if I let the wrong return process first. Has anyone actually confirmed this with an IRS representative recently? The rules might have changed for the 2024 filing season.

There's actually no mechanism to "stop" an original return from processing once it's submitted, at least in most cases. The IRS systems are basically designed to handle amendments after original processing. While there might possibly be rare exceptions for certain types of major errors, the standard procedure almost always follows this sequence. I've worked with probably dozens of clients in similar situations over the years, and attempting to rush or circumvent this process typically just creates more complications.

I can confirm from personal experience that the IRS processes original returns first. I filed my original return in early February and realized I had made an error about a week later. When I called the IRS (after waiting 45 minutes on hold), the representative explicitly told me that their system won't even look at Form 1040-X until the original return completes processing. She explained that this prevents data conflicts in their computer systems. My original return finished processing about 3 weeks after e-filing, and then my amendment took another 12 weeks to process. So plan accordingly - you're looking at potentially 15+ weeks total if you need that amended refund before the next tax season.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on what everyone is sharing, it sounds like the IRS definitely follows a strict sequence - original first, then amendment. I actually just checked my IRS account transcript online and can see my original return is still showing "processing" status from when I filed it 10 days ago. I was panicking about whether to file the amendment immediately, but now I'll definitely wait until I see that original return fully processed. The 15+ week total timeline Paolo mentioned is concerning though - that could push my amended refund well into summer. Has anyone found that certain types of amendments process faster than others, or is it pretty much the same 12+ week wait regardless of what you're amending?

I went through this exact scenario two years ago and can confirm everything others are saying about the sequential processing. What I learned the hard way is that you should also make sure you have all your documentation ready for the amendment before your original return finishes processing. The IRS gave me a really tight window to submit supporting documents after they started reviewing my 1040-X, and I almost missed the deadline because I wasn't prepared. Also, if you're amending because you missed income (like a 1099), double-check that the payer actually submitted that form to the IRS - sometimes the processing delays give you time to discover the payer never filed it in the first place, which changes your amendment strategy completely.