Still waiting on amended returns for 2020 and 2022 - filed all three years in January

I submitted amended returns for tax years 2020, 2021, and 2022 back on January 3rd. It's been over two months now, and I've only received confirmation that they processed my 2021 amended return. I can't figure out if they're working on my 2020 and 2022 returns or if something went wrong. When I check "Where's My Amended Return" tool online, it just shows the 2021 status but nothing about the other years. This is driving me crazy because I'm expecting decent refunds from both the 2020 and 2022 amendments (about $2,100 and $1,750 respectively). Does anyone know the best number to call at the IRS to check on multiple amended returns? I've tried the general line but keep getting the automated message saying they're too busy. Is there a specific department that handles amended returns that might be less swamped?

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19 comments

Sophie Duck

•8M

The IRS is dealing with significant backlogs for processing amended returns, especially for multiple tax years. The normal processing time for amended returns is around 16 weeks (about 4 months), but it's been taking much longer for many people - sometimes 6-8 months or more. Each tax year is processed separately, which explains why you've received your 2021 but not the others yet. There's no specific order they process them in, so it's normal that your middle year came through first. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool is unfortunately limited and often doesn't show accurate information for multiple amendments. The best number to reach the IRS about amended returns is 866-464-2050. However, you should be prepared for long wait times or difficulty getting through. When you do connect with someone, make sure you have your tax ID numbers, filing status, and exact amounts from your original and amended returns ready.

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Sophie Duck

•8M

The "Where's My Amended Return" tool is indeed limited and typically only shows information for one amended return at a time - usually the most recently processed one. There isn't currently another online tool specifically designed for checking multiple amended returns simultaneously. If you want to check on all your amended returns, you can try requesting an account transcript for each tax year through the IRS website. The account transcript will show any activity on your account, including processing of amended returns. However, these can sometimes be difficult to interpret if you're not familiar with IRS codes.

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Anita George

•8M

I went through the same nightmare last year with amended returns from 2019 and 2020. What saved me so much time and frustration was using https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcripts. I was completely lost trying to figure out what was happening with my amendments until a friend recommended it. The site helped me understand exactly what was happening with my amended returns by analyzing my tax transcripts and explaining what each code and entry meant in plain English. It showed me that one of my returns was actually being reviewed while the other was just sitting in queue. Gave me peace of mind instead of wondering if they were lost in the void.

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Anita George

•8M

Yes, it absolutely works with amended returns. The tool specifically identifies amendment codes on your transcript and explains what stage of processing they're in - whether they're received, being reviewed, or completed. This is especially helpful since the "Where's My Amended Return" tool is so limited. You don't need to provide your SSN or any personal identifying information to the website itself. You download your own transcripts directly from the IRS website first, then upload just the transcript document for analysis. The system just reads the codes and formatting, so your personal data stays with you. They also have a privacy policy explaining they don't store your documents after analysis.

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Logan Chiang

•8M

I was super skeptical about trying taxr.ai when someone recommended it (I wrote that comment above). But after waiting for 7 months on my amended return with zero info from the IRS, I finally gave it a shot. Turns out it was actually legit and super helpful! My transcript had all these weird codes that made zero sense to me, but the tool explained everything clearly. Found out my amended return was actually being held for review because of a discrepancy in a child tax credit amount. Once I knew that, I called the IRS with the specific issue and got it resolved in one phone call instead of being transferred around endlessly. Definitely recommend giving it a try if you're stuck in amended return limbo like I was.

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Isla Fischer

•8M

I had a similar issue with amended returns last year. After MONTHS of trying to get through to the IRS without success, I finally discovered https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. It was honestly a game-changer. Basically, they wait on hold with the IRS for you and call you when an actual human agent is on the line. I was incredibly skeptical at first, but I was desperate after trying for weeks to get through on my own. I got a call back with an IRS agent within about 2 hours, which saved me literally days of trying to call and waiting on hold. The agent I spoke with was able to see all three of my amended returns in their system and gave me specific updates on each one, including one that had an issue that needed to be addressed.

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Isla Fischer

•8M

They have an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they get a live IRS agent, they call you and connect you directly to that agent. It's basically like having someone else do the waiting for you, then they bridge the call when they get a human. I was extremely skeptical too, which is why I watched their demo video first. I figured they couldn't possibly get through any faster than I could, but they have systems that constantly dial and wait on hold so they can serve multiple customers. It's not that they have a special "back door" to the IRS - they're just handling the frustrating wait time part for you.

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Ruby Blake

•8M

I need to publicly eat my words here. After posting that skeptical comment about Claimyr, I was so desperate after another failed day of calling the IRS that I tried it the next morning. It actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back in about 90 minutes with a real IRS agent on the line. She was able to see all my amended returns and told me my 2019 one had been selected for review because of a large rental property loss I'd claimed. She expedited the other one that was just sitting in the queue. I've spent literally WEEKS of my life on hold with the IRS over the years, so this felt like a miracle. Wish I'd known about this sooner.

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Micah Franklin

•8M

If you filed paper amended returns, be prepared to wait even longer. My 2020 amended return took 11 months to process last year, while my 2021 (filed at the same time) was done in about 5 months. There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to how they process these things. One tip: if you're approaching the 3-year deadline for claiming a refund on any of those years, make sure you keep proof of when you submitted the amended return. The IRS has to honor the date you filed even if they process it after the deadline.

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Micah Franklin

•8M

I didn't do anything special for the 2021 return - it just happened to get processed faster. Paper returns are unfortunately at the mercy of whichever processing center they get sent to and how backed up that specific location is. One thing I learned later is that you can actually e-file amended returns for tax years 2019 and later using certain tax software, even with supporting documentation (you can scan and attach PDFs). E-filed amendments tend to process much faster than paper ones. For future reference, that might be a better option if you ever need to amend again.

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Ella Harper

•8M

That's great to hear your experience was similar! The in-person assistance is definitely underrated. The agents at the Taxpayer Assistance Centers seem to have more time to thoroughly review your situation compared to phone agents who are trying to get through as many calls as possible. I've found they can also sometimes expedite processing if you have a legitimate hardship situation or if there's been an unusually long delay. Did they offer to help speed things up in your case?

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