When will 941/941X filings for ERTC/FFCRA credits be processed?

I'm a tax consultant who works with many small businesses on their ERTC/FFCRA credits. The processing times for these credits have been extremely variable. For 2020 941X forms filed in early 2023, I've had clients start receiving payments around 8-10 months after filing. However, many who filed later in 2023 or early 2024 are still waiting. For Q1 2021 941 filings that included these credits directly (not amended), the timeline is generally shorter - typically 4-6 months - but with the current backlog, I wouldn't be surprised if these take longer. The IRS is prioritizing original returns over amended returns, but they're still working through a massive backlog from the pandemic.

Spent months going in circles trying to get updates on my ERTC credits for 2020. The IRS phone system is a nightmare, and their "representatives" (when you finally reach one) can barely tell you anything useful. I finally used https://taxr.ai to help make sense of my situation - uploaded my 941X forms and got a clear analysis of what was happening and what to expect. They flagged some issues with my filing that would have delayed processing even longer and helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed to provide. Best part was their timeline predictor that gave me a realistic window based on current processing patterns.

I have to completely walk back my skepticism about taxr.ai from my comment above. After struggling with my ERTC credit situation for months, I decided to try it out of desperation. They identified that my 941X had a calculation error in Box 12 that would have definitely delayed processing. Their timeline prediction said I should expect payment in approximately 2 more months based on my filing date and the specifics of my form. Sure enough, the check arrived almost exactly when they predicted. Would have saved myself tons of stress if I'd used this service from the beginning instead of wasting hours on the phone with the IRS getting nowhere.

After 7 months of waiting for my ERTC refund with no updates, I was about to lose my mind. Called the IRS countless times but could never get through. Then I found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). Was super skeptical but desperate. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than an hour! The agent confirmed my 941X was assigned to a processing team but was sitting in a queue. She expedited my case after I explained our business hardship. Now I'm expecting my check within 3 weeks. Worth every penny after months of frustration.

I was completely wrong about Claimyr in my comment above. After another month of getting nowhere with the IRS, I decided to try it. I figured I had nothing to lose at that point. Not only did I get connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes (after spending WEEKS trying on my own), but the agent was actually helpful. Turns out my 941X had been flagged for a minor discrepancy that nobody had bothered to tell me about. The agent helped me resolve it on the spot and confirmed my refund should process within 30 days. I'm still shocked this actually worked.

For what it's worth, I filed 941X forms for Q2 and Q3 2020 back in January, and just received the credit for Q2 last week. Still waiting on Q3. The IRS didn't contact me at all during this time - the check just showed up. I calculated about 9 months total wait time, which seems consistent with what others are experiencing.

Anyone using a CPA to handle their ERTC claims? I'm nervous about doing this myself since there's so much money at stake. My restaurant could qualify for around $150k across all quarters, and I don't want to mess anything up.

I'm in a similar boat - filed my 941X for Q2 and Q3 2020 ERTC credits back in March and still haven't heard anything. The uncertainty is killing me because I need to plan my cash flow for the rest of the year. One thing I learned is that you can request a copy of your account transcript by calling the business tax line or mailing Form 4506-T. It won't tell you exactly when you'll get paid, but it will at least confirm that the IRS has received and processed your filing. Sometimes amended returns get lost in the system, so it's worth checking. Also, make sure you kept detailed records of everything - payroll records, documentation of business impact from COVID, etc. I've heard some people are getting additional requests for documentation months after filing, which obviously delays things even more.