Form 8379 Injured Spouse - Anyone Received Refund Faster Than 11 Weeks?

It's crazy how filing an Injured Spouse form essentially puts you in the same timeframe as people who still file paper returns! I've seen regular e-filed returns processed in 2-3 weeks, amended returns in 8-10 weeks, and then there's the Injured Spouse form at 11+ weeks. It's like the IRS created a special slow lane just for people dealing with this specific situation. The system seems designed to handle straightforward cases quickly but anything that requires human review gets pushed into this bureaucratic black hole.

Have you tried calling the IRS directly? It's like trying to get front row concert tickets - you keep dialing and getting busy signals. I spent three days trying last month before discovering Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). It's like having a fast-pass at a theme park - they navigate the phone tree and hold times, then connect you when an agent is available. I was able to confirm my injured spouse claim was received and in processing. The agent couldn't speed it up, but at least I knew it wasn't lost in the system, which gave me some peace of mind during the wait.

I think there's some confusion about the 11-week timeframe. When I filed my injured spouse form on January 24th, 2024, I was told 11 weeks was the maximum processing time, not the minimum. My refund was actually processed in 8 weeks and 4 days. However, a colleague who filed on February 12th, 2024, is still waiting after 9 weeks. It seems the processing time varies significantly based on when you file and the complexity of your case. January and early February filers might see faster processing than those who file in March or April when the IRS is handling peak volume.

According to IRS Publication 556 and Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.6, injured spouse claims require manual review to properly allocate the joint refund between spouses. I filed Form 8379 with my joint return last year on February 28th and received my portion exactly 63 days later. This is actually faster than the stated timeframe, but you need to act quickly if you're facing financial hardship! The IRS has a Taxpayer Advocate Service that can help expedite your refund if you're experiencing economic difficulties. You must document your hardship (potential eviction, utility shutoff, medical emergency) to qualify for expedited processing. The deadline for requesting this assistance is typically within 30 days of filing, so you may still have time to apply!

When I filed my injured spouse form last year, I was completely in the dark about what was happening. This year I discovered taxr.ai which helped me understand my transcript codes. My return had a TC 570 (refund hold) followed by a TC 971 (notice issued) which is apparently common with injured spouse claims. The tool explained each code and gave me a much clearer picture of where my return was in processing. I wish I'd known about this during my previous experience when I was checking WMR daily with no updates for weeks. Having visibility into what's actually happening behind the scenes makes the wait much less stressful.

I've filed Form 8379 for exactly 3 tax years now. Processing times were: 2021 - 9 weeks and 5 days, 2022 - 10 weeks and 2 days, 2023 - 7 weeks and 6 days. Based on my experience, 11 weeks is definitely the outer limit. My 2023 claim was processed faster despite filing during peak season on March 15th. The key factor might be that I submitted all supporting documentation with perfectly clear allocations of income, withholding, and credits between spouses. The 11-week timeframe is likely a buffer to manage expectations, but well-prepared forms can move through faster.