Need help re-submitting tax return Form 9143 after 30+ days - signature issue

Your situation is pretty common with Form 9143 notices, especially for foreign student returns. When the IRS questions a signature, they put everything on hold until they get a properly signed form. After you resubmit with a valid signature as requested, the normal processing time is 6-8 weeks from the date they receive your corrected return. So if you sent it back in April, you're still within the normal waiting period. The IRS doesn't typically send a confirmation when they accept your resubmission - you'll just eventually receive your refund if everything is in order. For future reference, always use blue or black ink (no gel pens, no markers) when signing tax documents, as some gel pens can look suspicious when scanned by IRS systems.

After dealing with similar signature issues on my tax forms, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which saved me so much hassle! I was also questioned about my signature on a tax form and wasn't sure how to properly respond. The tool basically analyzed my rejection notice, explained exactly what was wrong with my submission, and showed me the correct way to sign and resubmit. It even gave me a timeline of what to expect after resubmission.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here! It completely cleared up my confusion about the Form 9143. The site explained that gel pens often create signatures that look printed because they don't have the expected ink absorption patterns the IRS scanning equipment is calibrated for. I followed the advice about resubmitting with a standard ballpoint pen on clean forms, and my return was processed within 4 weeks. Already got my refund! Would have been stuck in limbo without understanding what the actual issue was.

If you're still waiting after properly resubmitting, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation where I resubmitted my corrected 1040NR after a signature issue, but weeks went by with no response. I tried calling the IRS directly multiple times but kept hitting that infamous "call volumes are too high" message and got disconnected. Found Claimyr and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent was able to check my file and confirm they had received my resubmission but it was sitting in a processing queue. They escalated it and my refund was processed within a week after that call.

I need to apologize for being so skeptical about Claimyr in my earlier comment. After sitting on hold with the IRS for 2+ hours and getting disconnected AGAIN yesterday, I was desperate and decided to try it. I used the service this morning, and I kid you not, I was talking to an actual IRS agent within 25 minutes. The agent confirmed my Form 9143 resubmission was received but was flagged for additional verification since it was my second submission. They were able to verify my identity over the phone and release the hold. They said my refund should be processed within 2-3 weeks. Worth every penny for the time saved and stress relief!

One thing to check - did you send your resubmission to the correct address? Form 9143 sometimes includes a special address that's different from where you sent your original return. If you sent it to the wrong department, that could explain the delay.

Has anyone tried faxing their resubmission instead of mailing it? I've heard that can sometimes be faster for Form 9143 responses.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Filed my 1040NR-EZ in March, got the dreaded Form 9143 about signature issues in early April, and then waited what felt like forever after resubmitting. Here's what I learned: The 6-8 week timeframe that others mentioned is pretty accurate, but it can stretch longer during busy periods. Since you resubmitted in mid-April and it's been about a month, you're still within normal processing time. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records - sounds like you already did this with the certified mail, which is perfect. When I finally called the IRS (took forever to get through), having the exact dates and tracking info made the conversation much smoother. If you don't hear anything by the 8-week mark, definitely try calling. In the meantime, you can also check the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov, though it doesn't always update promptly for resubmissions. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when you're counting on that money, but hang in there! The good news is that once they process your corrected return, the refund usually comes pretty quickly after that.

I'm dealing with a similar Form 9143 situation right now, so this thread is really helpful! I filed my 1040NR-EZ in early March and got the signature rejection notice about 3 weeks later. Like you, I definitely didn't photocopy my signature - I think the issue was that I used a really smooth gel pen that made my signature look too "perfect." One thing I wanted to add based on my research: when you resubmit after a Form 9143, the IRS treats it as a completely new return in their system, which is why the processing time resets. That's why you're looking at 6-8 weeks from your April resubmission date, not from your original March filing. I'm about 5 weeks into my own wait after resubmitting, and I've been checking the "Where's My Refund" tool religiously. It still shows my original filing date but with a generic "still processing" message. From what I've read, this is totally normal for Form 9143 resubmissions. The certified mail approach was definitely smart - I did the same thing and at least have peace of mind that they received it. Now it's just the waiting game! Let us know when you get your refund - it'll give the rest of us hope that our resubmissions are working their way through the system too.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Got my Form 9143 about 3 weeks ago for a signature issue on my 1040NR-EZ (also a foreign student). I resubmitted immediately with a regular ballpoint pen instead of the fancy pen I originally used. Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful - I had no idea that gel pens could cause signature verification problems! I was so confused when I got the notice because I definitely signed it myself. One question for those who have been through this: should I be worried that I haven't received any acknowledgment that they received my resubmission? I sent it to the address specified on the Form 9143, but unlike some of you, I didn't think to send it certified mail. Now I'm second-guessing whether it even made it to the right place. Also, has anyone had luck with calling the IRS just to confirm they received the resubmission? I don't want to tie up their phone lines unnecessarily, but the uncertainty is killing me. My summer plans definitely depend on getting that refund!

I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation! Filed my 1040NR-EZ in mid-March as an international student, got Form 9143 about signature issues in early April, and resubmitted with a regular ballpoint pen. It's been about 5 weeks now and the waiting is really stressful. What I've learned from my research and talking to other students who went through this: the signature verification process is surprisingly sensitive, especially for international student returns. Apparently the IRS scanning equipment flags signatures that look "too uniform" or don't have the right ink absorption patterns. Gel pens, fine-tip markers, and even some rollerball pens can trigger this. One thing that's helped me manage the anxiety is understanding that Form 9143 responses are processed in a separate queue from regular returns. That's why the normal refund tracking tools don't always update properly. The 6-8 week timeframe everyone mentions seems to be pretty accurate based on what I'm seeing in various forums. I called the IRS last week (used one of those callback services mentioned here since I couldn't get through directly) and they confirmed they received my resubmission but said it was still "under review." The agent mentioned that international student returns with signature issues sometimes get an extra layer of verification, which can add a few weeks to processing. Hang in there - it sounds like you did everything right with the certified mail and following the Form 9143 instructions exactly. The waiting is awful when you're counting on that money, but from everything I've read, these situations almost always resolve positively once the IRS processes the corrected return.

I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Filed my 1040NR-EZ in February, got Form 9143 in March for signature issues, and finally got my refund in early May after resubmitting. The waiting period after resubmitting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you're depending on that money for expenses. What helped me was understanding that once you resubmit after Form 9143, you're essentially at the back of the processing queue again - so the 6-8 week timeline starts from your resubmission date, not your original filing date. A couple of things that might help while you wait: 1. Keep checking "Where's My Refund" but don't expect it to update frequently - mine stayed on the original filing info until literally the day before my refund was deposited 2. If you sent it certified mail (smart move!), you have proof of delivery which puts you in a good position if you need to call later 3. The fact that it's been over 30 days but under 6 weeks means you're still well within normal processing time The signature verification issue is so frustrating because it feels like such a minor thing, but apparently their scanning systems are really sensitive. I used a gel pen too and learned the hard way that standard ballpoint is the way to go for paper tax forms. Hang in there - based on your timeline, you should hopefully hear something within the next 2-4 weeks. The good news is that once they process it, the refund usually comes pretty quickly after that!