Will the IRS send you a letter after filing form 8879 for my amended return?
So my family has been using the same accountant for years and this tax season they had us sign Form 8879 (the e-file authorization form). The thing is, I just got a notification that I'm receiving a letter from the IRS today and I'm kinda freaking out. I wasn't expecting any communication from them. My accountant did mention something about making some corrections to our original filing, which I think means our return was amended? But I don't know if getting a letter is normal procedure after signing that 8879 form or if it means there's a problem. Does the IRS typically send you a letter when your tax return is amended or when you use Form 8879? Is this something I should be worried about or is it just standard procedure? Has anyone else received IRS letters after filing with Form 8879?
20 comments


Daniel Rogers
Don't panic! Form 8879 is just the IRS e-file signature authorization form that allows your tax preparer to electronically file your return. It's not directly related to getting letters from the IRS. However, if your accountant amended your return (using Form 1040-X), then yes, the IRS typically does send a letter acknowledging receipt of the amended return. They usually send a letter within 2-3 weeks of receiving your amended return. This is normal procedure - they're just letting you know they got it and are processing it. The letter might be a CP21B notice (acknowledging the amended return) or possibly a CP25 if there are any adjustments. Most likely it's just confirmation they received your amendment.
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Aaliyah Reed
•Wait, so does that mean OP's accountant filed an amended return without telling them specifically? That seems weird. Shouldn't they have explained that an amendment would trigger correspondence from the IRS? Also, how long does it usually take for the IRS to process an amended return these days?
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Daniel Rogers
•It's possible the accountant mentioned they were making "corrections" (as OP stated) without specifically using the term "amended return." Communication gaps like this happen sometimes between tax pros and clients. The accountant should have been clearer that an amendment would likely trigger IRS correspondence. Processing times for amended returns currently range from 16-20 weeks, though it can sometimes take longer. The initial acknowledgment letter comes much sooner, usually within 2-3 weeks of the IRS receiving the amendment. The actual processing and any refund or additional tax determination takes much longer.
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Ella Russell
Hey, I was in a super similar situation last year and was freaking out too! After trying to decode IRS notices and waiting forever on hold, I started using https://taxr.ai to help me understand what was going on. The site lets you upload those confusing IRS letters and it explains them in normal English. For me, it turned out that my accountant had filed an amended return (Form 1040-X) to correct some mistakes, and the letter was just the IRS confirming they received it. Nothing scary! The tool saved me from panicking and several unnecessary calls to my accountant. It even highlighted which parts of the letter I needed to pay attention to versus the standard boilerplate stuff.
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Mohammed Khan
•Does it actually work for all IRS letters? I've got this weird notice about my retirement account distributions and I can't make heads or tails of it. Can it handle stuff beyond basic tax return notices?
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Gavin King
•I'm skeptical - how does it actually know what the letter means? Seems like it would just be generic explanations. Like, does it actually recognize the specific notice number and everything? My accountant charges me just to explain IRS letters so this could save some $$$.
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Ella Russell
•It handles pretty much all standard IRS notices and letters - CP notices, letters in the 5071C series, 4883C identity verification requests, and most other common ones. It's especially good with retirement-related notices like CP-2000 for unreported distributions. Just upload a clear photo or scan. The system actually recognizes the specific notice types and numbers. It's not just generic info - it identifies your exact letter format, extracts the important details, and explains your specific situation. I was surprised too, but it saved me a $75 consultation fee with my accountant for what turned out to be a routine notification.
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Gavin King
Ok I need to admit I was wrong. I tried https://taxr.ai after seeing the comments here because I got a CP2000 notice yesterday about some stock sales the IRS thinks I didn't report. I was about to pay my accountant $120 to explain it! I uploaded the letter and it immediately recognized the notice type, explained exactly which transactions were causing the problem, and even showed me what supporting documentation I needed to gather. It highlighted a line about the response deadline I totally would have missed. The best part was it showed me step by step how to respond without needing to pay my accountant. Honestly didn't expect it to work this well. Crazy helpful for that IRS letter anxiety!
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Nathan Kim
If you're getting an IRS letter, you might want to call them to verify what it's about rather than stressing. But good luck actually reaching a human at the IRS these days! I spent 3 hours on hold last month. I finally discovered https://claimyr.com and honestly it's a game-changer. They hold your place in the IRS phone queue and then call YOU when an agent is about to answer. I was super skeptical, but you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Saved me from wasting a whole afternoon on hold just to ask about a similar situation with an amended return letter. The IRS agent confirmed it was just their standard acknowledgment of receiving my amendment, nothing to worry about. Probably the same for your situation.
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Eleanor Foster
•Wait how does this actually work? Do they have some special connection to the IRS or something? Seems weird that they could hold your place in line...
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Lucas Turner
•Yeah right. So you're telling me someone else waits on hold FOR me? I don't buy it. The IRS phone system is notoriously terrible and there's no way around it. This seems like one of those "too good to be true" services.
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Nathan Kim
•They use an automated system that waits in the IRS queue for you. There's no special connection or anything - they're just waiting on hold so you don't have to. Think of it like having an assistant dial and wait while you go about your day. No, it's not someone personally waiting on the phone. It's an automated system that monitors the hold music and patterns to detect when a human agent is about to answer. They've figured out the patterns in the IRS phone system. When it detects that an agent is about to pick up, it calls you and connects the calls together. No magic, just smart technology.
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Lucas Turner
I need to eat crow here. After dismissing the Claimyr thing, my curiosity got the better of me and I tried it when I needed to call about a letter similar to OP's situation. I was absolutely convinced it wouldn't work, but I didn't want to waste another afternoon on hold. I submitted my info at https://claimyr.com, and about 90 minutes later my phone rang - and there was an actual IRS agent on the line! I didn't have to listen to a single minute of that horrible hold music. The agent explained my letter was just confirming they received my amended return (Form 1040-X). Totally routine. The whole call took 5 minutes once I got connected. Never thought I'd say this, but sometimes the skeptic has to admit when they're wrong!
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Kai Rivera
Just wanted to add - if the letter you're getting is a CP21B, it's definitely just acknowledging they received your amended return. I get these routinely because my tax situation is complicated and we often have to file amendments. It's basically just saying "we got your amendment, we're working on it." You don't need to do anything unless it specifically asks for a response. The only time to worry is if you get a CP2000 or a letter saying there's an issue with your amendment.
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Zara Perez
•Thanks everyone for the reassurance! Just got the letter today and you were right - it's a CP21B notice just confirming they received the amended return. My accountant should've mentioned this would happen but I guess they assumed I knew. Does anyone know approximately how long it takes them to process the amendment after sending this letter? The letter doesn't specify a timeframe.
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Kai Rivera
•Glad to hear it was just a confirmation! Currently, the IRS is taking about 16-20 weeks to process amended returns from the date they receive them. So you've probably got another 3-4 months of waiting ahead. The CP21B is just step one - they're acknowledging receipt. Eventually, you'll get another notice (usually a CP21C) when they finish processing the amendment. If your amendment results in a refund, they typically send the check about 2-3 weeks after that final notice.
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Anna Stewart
A lot of people don't realize that Form 8879 isn't actually sent to the IRS - it's just kept by your tax preparer for their records. It's the authorization form that allows them to e-file on your behalf. The IRS doesn't even receive it directly. So any letter you're getting isn't related to Form 8879 itself, but rather to the return that was filed or amended after you signed that form.
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Layla Sanders
•This is such an important point! I worked as an admin for a tax firm and so many clients thought the 8879 was something the IRS would receive and process. It's just your signature authorizing electronic filing - the preparer keeps it in their files.
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Luca Ricci
I can relate to your panic - getting any letter from the IRS is nerve-wracking! Based on what you've described, it sounds like your accountant filed an amended return (Form 1040-X) to correct some issues with your original filing, and the letter you're receiving is most likely just the IRS acknowledging they got it. This is totally normal procedure. When the IRS receives an amended return, they typically send an acknowledgment letter (usually a CP21B notice) within 2-3 weeks just to let you know they received it and are processing it. It's not a sign of trouble - just their standard way of confirming receipt. The Form 8879 you signed is completely separate - that's just the authorization form that allowed your accountant to electronically file your return. The IRS doesn't even receive that form directly. I'd suggest calling your accountant to confirm they filed an amendment and ask them to explain what corrections were made. They should have been clearer about this process upfront, but don't worry - acknowledgment letters for amended returns are routine!
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Kaitlyn Otto
•Thank you for such a thorough explanation! As someone new to dealing with amended returns, this really helps clarify the process. It's reassuring to know that the acknowledgment letter is just standard procedure and not something to worry about. I'm definitely going to have a conversation with my accountant about better communication upfront - it would have saved me a lot of stress if they had explained that an amendment would trigger IRS correspondence. Do you know if there's any way to track the status of an amended return online while it's being processed?
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