How long does the IRS take to refund FICA taxes (and process Form 843)?

When you mention the "IRS account transcript" - is that the same as the Account Transcript in the Tax Records section? I filed a 843 about 4 months ago and I'm not seeing anything about it in my transcripts. Do they actually show Form 843 processing or just the refund if/when it's approved?

Yes, that's exactly right - it's the Account Transcript in the Tax Records section. Form 843 processing doesn't always show up clearly on transcripts until there's an actual determination. What you're looking for would be a transaction code (TC) 290, 291, or 971 with the refund amount or a notice being issued. Many people don't see anything on their transcript until the claim is actually approved and the refund is processed. The lack of visibility during processing is one of the frustrating parts of Form 843 claims. If you've hit the 4-month mark, it's still within normal processing times given current backlogs, but you could try calling to check status.

Did it actually help speed up the process though? I'm in month 5 of waiting and getting anxious about my $3200 refund. Was the service able to tell you if your form was actually being processed or just confirm you filled it out right?

I'm skeptical of these AI services. Can you actually talk to a real tax professional through this or is it just some algorithm analyzing documents? My situation is complicated because I was incorrectly classified as an employee when I should have been an independent contractor, so I'm trying to get back both the employee AND employer portions of FICA.

It didn't speed up the IRS processing time - nothing can really do that unfortunately. But it did confirm that my form was filled out correctly and that my documentation was sufficient for my claim. It gave me peace of mind knowing I hadn't made any mistakes that would cause a rejection. The service combines AI document analysis with real tax professionals who review complex cases. For your independent contractor situation, they'd actually be really helpful since they can analyze your specific classification factors and documentation needs for reclaiming both portions of FICA taxes. That's a more complex situation than mine was, and they specifically mentioned that contractor vs. employee cases were something they specialized in.

How does this actually work? Do they have some special IRS phone number or something? I've been trying to get through for weeks about my FICA refund.

This sounds like BS honestly. Nobody can "get you through" to the IRS faster. They have one phone system and everyone has to use the same numbers. Not trying to be rude but I'm super suspicious of services claiming they can magically bypass IRS wait times.

They don't have a special number - they use a call system that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When an agent picks up, you get a call back to connect with them. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you instead of doing it yourself. I was skeptical too before trying it. They don't "bypass" anything - they just automate the waiting process so you don't have to sit there for hours listening to hold music. The IRS doesn't prioritize their calls differently, but they do ensure you don't lose your place in line due to dropped calls or phone tree errors, which happened to me several times when trying on my own.

In my experience (retired IRS), Medicare-only refunds on Form 843 tend to be slightly faster to process than full FICA refunds because they're more straightforward to verify. The complexity comes from your specific situation - if you worked for multiple employers, for instance, the IRS has to verify combined income across W-2s. Did you attach copies of all your W-2s and a calculation worksheet showing exactly how you determined the overpayment amount?

I did attach copies of both W-2s (I had two employers last year) and included a detailed worksheet showing how I calculated the overpayment. I specifically highlighted the Medicare withholding amounts on both forms and showed that I had exceeded the threshold for one portion but was still incorrectly charged for the other. I'll try to be patient a bit longer since it sounds like even the "faster" types still take several months. Thanks for the insight about the multiple employer verification - that makes sense why it might take additional time.

That's ridiculous! Did you get any interest on the refund at least? I'm wondering if I should even bother with my $900 FICA refund if it's going to take that long. Might not be worth the hassle.

Yes, they did pay interest on the refund! It was calculated from the date they received the Form 843 until the refund was issued - ended up being about $85 additional. The IRS uses their standard underpayment interest rate for refund interest. For a $900 refund, you'd probably get around $30-40 in interest after 9 months, so it's still worth filing if you legitimately overpaid. The frustrating part isn't the money - it's the complete lack of communication during processing. But once it finally goes through, you do get compensated for their delay.

That's a great point about the employer filing 941-X corrections potentially slowing things down! I hadn't thought about that coordination issue. My employer mentioned they might need to file corrections for several employees who were affected by the same payroll error, so that could definitely explain why mine is taking longer than expected. I'm curious though - did your tax preparer give you any insight into whether it's better to wait for the employer's correction to be processed first, or if filing Form 843 simultaneously is the right approach? I'm worried I might have created more work for the IRS by filing my claim before my employer sorted out their end of things. Also, thanks for the reassurance about no news being good news. That actually makes me feel better since I was starting to worry they had lost my paperwork entirely!

My tax preparer actually said it's better to file Form 843 even if you know the employer is planning to file corrections. The reason is that employer corrections (941-X) can take just as long to process, and sometimes employers say they'll file but then don't follow through or make mistakes on their correction forms. By filing Form 843, you're creating an independent claim that doesn't rely on your employer doing their part correctly. Yes, it might slow down processing while the IRS reconciles everything, but it also protects you in case the employer correction gets delayed or rejected for some reason. The IRS will actually coordinate between the two filings once they're both in the system, so you won't end up getting double refunds or anything like that. My preparer said she's seen cases where employees waited for employer corrections that never came, so filing your own Form 843 is the safer approach even if it adds some processing time. Your paperwork is almost certainly not lost - the IRS is just really backed up on these types of claims right now!

I actually did go through the Taxpayer Advocate Service after waiting 7 months on my Form 843, and they were incredibly helpful! They have access to internal IRS systems that regular customer service doesn't, so they could see exactly where my claim was in the process and what was causing the delay. In my case, they discovered that my form had been sitting in a specialized review queue because student loan forgiveness FICA exemptions are relatively new and require additional verification steps. The advocate was able to expedite my case and I received my refund about 6 weeks after contacting them. You can submit a Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance) online or call their dedicated line. Since you're at 5 months, you're getting close to the 6-month threshold where they'll typically accept your case. The $2,800 amount definitely makes it worth pursuing - that's a significant refund to have tied up for this long. The advocate also explained that student loan forgiveness cases often take longer because the IRS has to verify the forgiveness details against Department of Education records, which adds another layer to the processing time. Definitely worth reaching out to them soon!

I included a detailed cover letter with my Form 843 explaining my specific situation, and honestly I think it helped. My case was also a ministerial exemption issue (I'm a chaplain who was incorrectly classified), and the cover letter laid out exactly why I qualified for the exemption and referenced the specific tax code sections. My tax attorney recommended including the cover letter because ministerial exemptions can be tricky - there are specific requirements about ordination, duties, etc. that the IRS needs to verify. Without the explanation, they might not immediately understand why you're claiming exemption from FICA taxes, especially since it's not a common situation. I attached my ordination certificate, a letter from my employing organization confirming my ministerial duties, and copies of relevant IRS publications. The whole package was pretty comprehensive. I submitted in January and just got my refund approved last week (so about 5 months total), which seems faster than some of the other cases mentioned here. The Taxpayer Advocate Service is definitely worth keeping in mind as your backup plan. From what I've heard, they're particularly good with complex cases like ministerial exemptions where there might be confusion about the tax law application.

I'm in almost exactly the same boat! Filed my Form 843 in late February for FICA taxes incorrectly withheld from my graduate research assistant stipend - about $800 total. It's been just over 3 months now and complete silence from the IRS. Your point about it being a "black hole" once submitted really resonates with me. I've been obsessively checking my online account transcripts every few weeks hoping to see some sign of progress, but there's literally nothing there about the Form 843. It's so different from regular tax refunds where you can at least track the basic status. I hadn't thought about the Taxpayer Advocate Service before reading this thread, but it sounds like they might be the only way to actually get real information about what's happening with these claims. I'm definitely going to keep that in mind as I approach the 6-month mark. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's oddly comforting to know there are others dealing with the same frustrating wait! The fellowship/stipend situations seem particularly confusing for the IRS to process based on what others have mentioned here.

I'm in a very similar situation! Filed my Form 843 in March for FICA taxes that were incorrectly withheld when my employer misclassified me as an employee instead of an independent contractor. It's been about 3 months now and nothing but radio silence from the IRS. The consulting/contractor misclassification cases seem to be particularly complex based on what I've read here, which probably explains some of the longer processing times. I included a detailed explanation with my Form 843 about why I should have been classified as a contractor, along with copies of my contracts and invoices, but I have no idea if that documentation is actually being reviewed or just sitting in a pile somewhere. Your point about it feeling like a "black hole" is so accurate. The lack of any tracking system for Form 843 is incredibly frustrating compared to regular tax refunds where you can at least see basic status updates. I've been checking my IRS transcripts monthly but like everyone else has mentioned, nothing shows up there about Form 843 processing. I'm definitely planning to contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service once I hit the 6-month mark if I haven't heard anything by then. Based on the experiences shared here, they seem to be the only way to get real visibility into what's actually happening with these claims. Hang in there - sounds like we're all in for a long wait unfortunately!

I'm currently going through something very similar! Filed my Form 843 in January for FICA taxes that were incorrectly withheld from my freelance work (employer treated me as W-2 when I should have been 1099), and I'm now at the 5-month mark with zero updates. What's particularly frustrating about contractor misclassification cases is that the documentation requirements seem less clear-cut than other types of FICA refunds. I included copies of my service agreements, invoices, and a detailed letter explaining the working relationship, but I keep second-guessing whether I provided enough evidence to support the independent contractor classification. The lack of any status tracking system really is maddening - at least with regular refunds you get some indication that your return was received and is being processed. With Form 843, it's just complete silence until (hopefully) a check eventually shows up months later. I'm planning to contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service once I hit 6 months if I haven't heard anything. Based on what others have shared here, they seem to have much better visibility into these claims and can actually provide real updates on processing status. The $2,100 amount definitely makes it worth the wait and effort, even though the whole process is incredibly frustrating!

I'm also going through the exact same thing! Filed my Form 843 in February for FICA taxes that were incorrectly withheld from my graduate teaching assistant position. My university's payroll department made an error and treated me as a regular employee instead of recognizing my student exemption status. It's been about 4 months now and absolutely nothing from the IRS. The amount involved is around $1,400, and like you mentioned, it's definitely worth pursuing even though this whole process is incredibly frustrating. What really gets me is how there's literally no way to check if they even received the form, let alone whether it's being processed. I've called the main IRS line twice but gave up after being on hold for over 90 minutes each time. Your point about the seasonal work exemption is interesting - I hadn't realized there were different types of student exemptions that could apply. I'm wondering if certain types of exemptions (like seasonal vs. academic year employment) get processed differently or take longer to verify. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the Taxpayer Advocate Service really is our best bet once we hit that 6-month mark. It's reassuring to know that other people have had success getting their cases expedited through that route, especially for student-related exemptions where the rules can be pretty complex. Hang in there - sounds like we're all in this waiting game together unfortunately!

I'm also dealing with this same incredibly frustrating situation! Filed my Form 843 back in February for FICA taxes that were incorrectly withheld from my adjunct professor position. The college's HR department made an error in my classification that resulted in about $1,650 being withheld when it shouldn't have been. I'm now at the 4-month mark with complete radio silence from the IRS, and like everyone else here, I've been checking my transcripts obsessively with no luck. It's somewhat comforting to read that 5-6 month waits seem to be pretty standard right now, though still incredibly frustrating when it's your money sitting in limbo. What really strikes me from reading through all these experiences is how consistent the timeline seems to be regardless of the specific situation - whether it's contractor misclassification, student exemptions, fellowship stipends, or teaching positions, everyone seems to be hitting that 6-9 month processing window. Makes me think this is more about IRS staffing and backlog issues than the complexity of individual cases. I'm definitely going to reach out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service once I hit 6 months. Based on what others have shared here, they really do seem to be the only way to get actual information about what's happening with these claims. Thanks for sharing your experience - it helps to know we're all struggling with the same broken system!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed my Form 843 in January for FICA taxes incorrectly withheld from my graduate research fellowship at a university. The amount is around $1,900 and like you, I'm frustrated by the complete lack of communication after 5+ months. What's really helpful about your post is that you're at the 6-month mark - please update us if you do contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service! From everything I've read in this thread, they seem to be our best hope for getting actual information about these claims. The medical school/research stipend situations seem particularly complex for the IRS to process, probably because the scholarship vs. employment classification rules are so nuanced. I've been checking my transcripts religiously too with no luck. It's somewhat reassuring to know that radio silence seems to be normal, but $2,300 is a significant amount to have tied up for this long. Hope you get some movement on your case soon!

I'm also going through this exact same frustrating process! Filed my Form 843 in late January for FICA taxes that were incorrectly withheld from my freelance graphic design work. My client's accounting department treated me as a W-2 employee instead of issuing a 1099, and now I'm trying to get back about $1,400 in FICA taxes. I'm at about 4.5 months now with complete silence from the IRS, and like you mentioned, the lack of any tracking system is absolutely maddening. I keep checking my transcripts hoping to see something, but it's just a complete black hole once you submit the form. The contractor vs. employee misclassification cases seem to be particularly tricky for the IRS to process based on what I've read here. I included detailed documentation about my working relationship, invoices, and contracts, but I have no idea if any of that is even being reviewed yet. It's somewhat comforting to know from everyone's experiences that 6-9 months seems to be the standard timeline, even though it's incredibly frustrating when it's your own money sitting in limbo. I'm definitely going to look into the Taxpayer Advocate Service once I hit that 6-month mark - sounds like they're really the only way to get actual information about what's happening with these claims. Thanks for sharing your experience! It helps to know we're all dealing with the same broken system.

I'm going through almost the exact same thing! Filed my Form 843 in early February for FICA taxes incorrectly withheld from my contract web development work. The client's HR department processed me as a W-2 employee instead of 1099, and I'm trying to get back about $1,750. I'm at about 4 months now and like everyone else, it's been complete radio silence from the IRS. The lack of any tracking system is so frustrating - I keep refreshing my transcripts hoping something will show up but nothing ever does. What really strikes me from reading this whole thread is how consistent everyone's experience is regardless of the specific situation. Whether it's consulting, freelance work, student exemptions, or fellowship issues, we're all hitting that same 6-9 month wall with zero visibility into what's actually happening. I'm definitely going to reach out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service once I hit 6 months. It sounds like they're really our only option for getting real answers about these claims. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's oddly comforting to know so many of us are stuck in this same broken process!