Is anyone else experiencing extremely long wait times for amended tax returns in 2025?

This is unfortunately very normal right now. Amended returns (Form 1040-X) are taking approximately 20+ weeks to process in many cases. The IRS is still working through a significant backlog that started during the pandemic and hasn't fully recovered. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool on the IRS website can provide basic status updates, but it often just shows "received" for months on end. As long as you haven't received any notices requesting additional information, your return is likely just sitting in the queue waiting to be processed. If you're approaching the 20-week mark and still have no updates, then it might be worth trying to contact the IRS. But at 14 weeks, I'd recommend waiting a bit longer before getting too concerned.

I was in the same boat last year with an amended return taking forever. I finally discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was a game-changer. You upload your tax documents and they analyze everything to make sure your amended return was filed correctly. They also check if you qualify for any overlooked deductions. What I found super helpful was their ability to explain exactly where my amended return was in the IRS processing pipeline. They have access to status information that goes beyond the basic "Where's My Amended Return" tool. Gave me peace of mind knowing everything was actually moving forward, just slowly.

I was skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to try it since my amended return had been sitting in limbo for nearly 5 months! The analysis showed my CPA actually missed claiming my home office deduction (I'm self-employed) which amounted to about $2,200 in additional refund money. The timeline prediction was spot-on - they estimated my return would be processed within 3 weeks of when I uploaded my documents, and sure enough, 18 days later I got the notification that processing was complete. The peace of mind alone was worth it, but discovering that missed deduction was an unexpected bonus!

If you're really anxious about your amended return and need to speak directly with someone at the IRS, check out Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in the same position - waiting forever on an amended return with no updates. Tried calling the IRS myself and kept getting the "high call volume" message before getting disconnected. Claimyr got me connected with an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the hours of redial attempts I had been doing. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent was able to look up my amended return and confirm it was still in processing but hadn't been flagged for any issues, which gave me some peace of mind.

I have to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After waiting 22 weeks for my amended return with zero updates, I was desperate enough to try it. Within 45 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS agent (first time after dozens of failed call attempts on my own). The agent confirmed my amended return had been assigned to a processing team but was delayed due to a verification issue they never notified me about. I was able to provide the information they needed right on that call. The agent told me this would likely have delayed my return by another 8-12 weeks if I hadn't called! Return was processed about 10 days after the call.

Pro tip for anyone with amended returns: even if your amended return is taking forever, make sure you've paid any taxes due by the original filing deadline. The IRS charges interest and penalties based on the original due date, not from when they process your amendment. I learned this the hard way last year when my amended return took 24 weeks to process, and I ended up owing an extra $430 in interest because I waited to pay until filing the amendment.

Has anyone tried using TAS (Taxpayer Advocate Service) to help with delayed amended returns? I've heard they can help if you're experiencing financial hardship due to delayed processing.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my amended return in late May and it's now approaching 4 months with just "received" status. My situation is similar - no letters, no calls, just radio silence from the IRS. What's particularly frustrating is that I'm owed a decent refund (around $3,200) from catching an error my previous tax preparer made with my business expenses. The money would really help right now, but I'm just stuck waiting like everyone else. I've been checking the "Where's My Amended Return" tool obsessively, but it never changes. At least it's reassuring to know from the other comments that 20+ weeks is becoming the new normal, even though that's absolutely ridiculous. The IRS really needs to get their act together - this level of delay is unacceptable for taxpayers who filed correctly and are just waiting for their own money back. Thanks for posting this - it helps to know others are in the same boat!

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm in week 18 of waiting for my amended return and was starting to panic that something was wrong. It's frustrating but reassuring to know that 20+ week waits are unfortunately normal right now. One thing I'd add for anyone else in this situation: make sure you keep detailed records of when you filed and any confirmation numbers. I also recommend taking screenshots of the "Where's My Amended Return" tool showing the "received" status periodically. My tax attorney friend mentioned this creates a paper trail showing you've been diligently checking and can be helpful if you ever need to escalate or prove timeline issues later. The IRS really needs to modernize their systems - it's 2025 and we're still dealing with processing times that would have been unacceptable 20 years ago. But at least we're all suffering together! Hang in there everyone.

I'm at week 19 with my amended return and this thread has been a lifesaver for my sanity! Filed in late May for a missed education credit that should get me about $1,800 back. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool has been stuck on "received" this entire time. What's really gotten under my skin is that I had to pay a penalty on my original return because I underpaid quarterly taxes, but now I'm waiting nearly 5 months to get back money that's rightfully mine. The asymmetry is infuriating - they can assess penalties instantly but take half a year to process corrections. I've started keeping a spreadsheet tracking my weekly checks of the IRS tool, following the advice from @Lydia Santiago about documentation. At this point it's more about principle than the money, though that $1,800 would definitely help with holiday expenses. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and experiences. It really does help to know this isn't just happening to me. Here's hoping we all get some movement soon!

I'm currently at week 15 with my amended return and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! Filed in early June to correct an error where I missed claiming some business equipment depreciation - should result in about $2,400 refund. Like everyone else, the "Where's My Amended Return" tool just shows "received" and hasn't budged. I was starting to worry something was wrong with my filing, but seeing all these similar timelines puts my mind at ease. What's particularly helpful is learning about the 45-day interest rule from @Ravi Choudhury - I had no idea the IRS pays interest on delayed refunds! That's a small consolation for this ridiculous wait time. I'm definitely going to start documenting everything better based on the advice here. It's wild that we need to create our own paper trails because the IRS can't provide basic status updates in 2025. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community support makes the waiting much more bearable!

I'm at week 13 with my amended return and this thread is exactly what I needed to see! Filed in early July to claim some overlooked medical expenses that should get me around $1,600 back. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool has been completely useless - just "received" since day one. What's really frustrating is that my regular tax refund this year came back in less than 3 weeks, but now I'm looking at potentially 5+ months for this amendment. The inconsistency in processing times is mind-boggling. I've started following the documentation advice from this thread - taking screenshots weekly and keeping a simple log. It shouldn't be necessary, but clearly we need to protect ourselves with these ridiculous wait times. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and experiences. It really helps to know this is a widespread issue and not something specific to my filing. Here's hoping we all see some movement soon! The holiday season would be a great time for these refunds to finally come through.

I'm at week 11 with my amended return and finding this thread incredibly helpful! Filed in late July to correct some miscalculated state tax deductions that should result in about $2,100 back. Like everyone else here, I'm stuck with the perpetual "received" status on the IRS tool. What's giving me some peace of mind is seeing how many people are in similar situations with similar timelines. I was starting to wonder if my CPA made an error or if something was flagged, but clearly this is just the new reality for amended returns in 2025. I'm definitely taking the documentation advice to heart - just started a tracking spreadsheet with weekly status checks and screenshots. It's frustrating that we have to create our own paper trails, but better to be prepared given these processing times. The interest on delayed refunds mentioned by @Ravi Choudhury is news to me - at least there's some small compensation for this ridiculous wait! Based on everyone's shared experiences, it looks like I've got another 7-11 weeks to go before seeing any movement. Thanks for creating this supportive community around what's obviously a widespread problem!