Tax preparer filed amended return by mistake - now facing 20+ week wait when we need refund by May
Please tell me your amended return stories. My tax person amended my federal by mistake on March 13th. I originally filed on February 27th, but was on PATH act delay already. The very rude woman at the IRS wouldn't even talk to me and told me "I guess you'll get your taxes in 20 weeks to a year now. That sucks". This is detrimental to us if we don't have our refund by May. I've never had an amended return before, but I've had regular returns take anywhere from 7 days to 8 weeks in previous years. This seems so much worse than even the COVID delays we all faced.
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Lydia Bailey
Unfortunately, amended returns (Form 1040-X) do take significantly longer than regular returns. The IRS is currently quoting 20+ weeks for processing amended returns, though I've seen some come through faster. Do you know exactly what was amended? Was it a substantial change or a minor correction? Also, have you checked your transcript online to see if it shows the original return was processed before the amendment was received?
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Mateo Warren
Not to hijack this thread, but is there any way to "unamend" a return? Like call the IRS and say "nevermind, just process the original"? Seems ridiculous they can't just ignore an amendment if it was filed by mistake.
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Sofia Price
This is really helpful info! I had no idea amended returns took that long. ā¢ Definitely checking my transcript now ā¢ Going to be extra careful with my preparer next year ā¢ Will make sure to file early if I need funds by a certain date Thanks for explaining this so clearly!
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Alice Coleman
I had something similar happen in 2022. My transcript showed my original return was processed, then the amended return came in as a separate transaction. The IRS actually paid my original refund first, then processed the amendment separately. Not sure if that still happens now though.
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Owen Jenkins
How much is your refund? Big difference? I need mine too. Bills piling up. Can't wait 20 weeks. Any way to speed it up?
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Lilah Brooks
I had an amended return last year that was filed on April 12th, 2023. It took exactly 22 weeks and 3 days to process. The key is to check your transcript every Friday morning - that's when they update the system with new information. If you see code 971 followed by 290, that usually means they're working on it. One thing to try: call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778 if you can prove financial hardship (like eviction notice, utility shutoff, etc). They might be able to expedite in extreme cases.
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Jackson Carter
Thank you for the specific timeline. It helps to have realistic expectations. I'll definitely check transcripts on Fridays. The Taxpayer Advocate Service sounds like a good option if things get desperate - I appreciate you mentioning the exact requirements and phone number.
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Kolton Murphy
I was in a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to anyone at the IRS for weeks. I was hesitant at first, but I tried Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and they got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent couldn't speed up my amended return processing, but at least confirmed it was in the system and gave me a more accurate timeframe. Might be worth trying if you need specific information about your case? I'm not sure if there are other options out there...
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Evelyn Rivera
I've seen Claimyr mentioned in several threads, but I'd be careful about using third-party services to contact government agencies. Have you verified they're just connecting calls and not storing any personal information? The IRS website says they're working on improving their own phone systems.
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Julia Hall
Claimyr doesn't access your tax information or personal details. They use automated technology to navigate the IRS phone tree and secure your place in the queue. When an agent answers, you're connected directly with no intermediary. The service operates on the VOIP protocol with end-to-end connection security.
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Arjun Patel
I'm really skeptical about this 20-week timeline. Last year my friend had an amended return and got it back in 8 weeks. Then I read online about people waiting 40+ weeks. The IRS seems completely inconsistent with their processing times. I think it depends on which service center gets your return and how complex the amendment is. Has anyone actually gotten an amended return processed quickly in 2024?
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Jade Lopez
Have you considered whether this might qualify as a preparer error that warrants special handling? The IRS does have procedures for tax professional mistakes, although they're rarely publicized. Have you spoken directly with your tax preparer about this error? They should be advocating on your behalf with the IRS, especially since this was their mistake. Would it be possible to have them write a formal letter explaining the error to accompany a hardship request? In my experience, documentation from the preparer admitting the error can sometimes help expedite these situations, particularly if you can demonstrate financial need for the refund by May.
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