While the IRS promises to have regular season tax returns and associated refunds processed within 21 days for the vast majority of filers, it does take quite a bit longer for them to process amended returns and refund payments.
Covered in this Article:
How Can I Check My Amended Return Status?
It’s important to realize that the standard WMR or IRS2Go refund status checking tools from the IRS do not track amended tax return status’.
You need to instead use IRS tool, “Where’s My Amended Return” instead.
This tool is normally updated weekly, in line with your IRS processing cycle. But can update more or less frequently depending on IRS actions.
If the refund status tool does not provide update for a long time you can call the IRS. But official guidance is to only call the IRS to follow up on delayed amended return refunds after 12 weeks. The number to call is 1-800-829-1040
Amended Refund Delays Persist in 2022
Many filers are seeing the message in image below, or variants of it, when it comes to their amended returns. This status message just reflects the ongoing delays of the IRS and includes Amended returns from the 2020-2021 tax season.
The above message basically means the amendment hasn’t been processed by the IRS within the standard timeframe.
It does not mean there is an issue with your amended return. It’s just that the IRS has not got around to processing (and a lot of times it is a manual activity) your return.
Based on the latest tax season statistics, it is taking up to 6 to 8 months in some cases for the IRS to clear backlogs, which includes amended returns or those that require significant validation.
Unfortunately you cannot do much (even calling the IRS or taxpayer advocate service) to expedite this. You’ll just have to be patient and wait for IRS processing to commence.
Once this happens, you can review your free IRS transcript for more details and transaction codes.
Amended Return Processing Schedule
Unlike the regular IRS refund processing schedule where refunds are processed within 3 weeks, you will have to wait up to 20 weeks more for the IRS to process amended returns since they prioritize regular returns.
This has been exacerbated in recent years due to IRS backlogs and staffing shortages.
Below is a table showing an estimate of when refunds will be processed (standard schedule), assuming it has been accepted by the IRS.
2022-2023 Amended Tax Return and Refund Processing Schedule
| Tax Return Accepted by IRS (Week Ending) | Estimated Refund Payment Date via Direct Deposit (Status = Refund Sent) | Estimated Refund Payment Date via Paper Check |
|---|---|---|
| February 5, 2022 | June 25, 2022 | June 30, 2022 |
| February 12, 2022 | July 2, 2022 | July 7, 2022 |
| February 19, 2022 | July 9, 2022 | July 14, 2022 |
| February 26, 2022 | July 16, 2022 | July 21, 2022 |
| March 5, 2022 | July 23, 2022 | July 28, 2022 |
| March 12, 2022 | July 30, 2022 | August 4, 2022 |
| March 19, 2022 | August 6, 2022 | August 11, 2022 |
| March 26, 2022 | August 13, 2022 | August 18, 2022 |
| April 2, 2022 | August 20, 2022 | August 25, 2022 |
| April 9, 2022 | August 27, 2022 | September 1, 2022 |
| April 16, 2022 | September 3, 2022 | September 8, 2022 |
| April 23, 2022 | September 10, 2022 | September 15, 2022 |
| April 30, 2022 | September 17, 2022 | September 22, 2022 |
| May 7, 2022 | September 24, 2022 | September 29, 2022 |
| May 14, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | October 6, 2022 |
| May 21, 2022 | October 8, 2022 | October 13, 2022 |
| May 28, 2022 | October 15, 2022 | October 20, 2022 |
| June 4, 2022 | October 22, 2022 | October 27, 2022 |
| June 11, 2022 | October 29, 2022 | November 3, 2022 |
| June 18, 2022 | November 5, 2022 | November 10, 2022 |
| June 25, 2022 | November 12, 2022 | November 17, 2022 |
| July 2, 2022 | November 19, 2022 | November 24, 2022 |
| July 9, 2022 | November 26, 2022 | December 1, 2022 |
| July 16, 2022 | December 3, 2022 | December 8, 2022 |
| July 23, 2022 | December 10, 2022 | December 15, 2022 |
| July 30, 2022 | December 17, 2022 | December 22, 2022 |
| August 6, 2022 | December 24, 2022 | December 29, 2022 |
| August 13, 2022 | December 31, 2022 | January 5, 2023 |
| August 20, 2022 | January 7, 2023 | January 12, 2023 |
| August 27, 2022 | January 14, 2023 | January 19, 2023 |
| September 3, 2022 | January 21, 2023 | January 26, 2023 |
| September 10, 2022 | January 28, 2023 | February 2, 2023 |
| September 17, 2022 | February 4, 2023 | February 9, 2023 |
| September 24, 2022 | February 11, 2023 | February 16, 2023 |
| October 1, 2022 | February 18, 2023 | February 23, 2023 |
| October 8, 2022 | February 25, 2023 | March 2, 2023 |
| October 15, 2022 | March 4, 2023 | March 9, 2023 |
| October 22, 2022 | March 11, 2023 | March 16, 2023 |
| October 29, 2022 | March 18, 2023 | March 23, 2023 |
| November 5, 2022 | March 25, 2023 | March 30, 2023 |
| November 12, 2022 | April 1, 2023 | April 6, 2023 |
| November 19, 2022 | April 8, 2023 | April 13, 2023 |
| November 26, 2022 | April 15, 2023 | April 20, 2023 |
| December 3, 2022 | April 22, 2023 | April 27, 2023 |
| December 10, 2022 | April 29, 2023 | May 4, 2023 |