Key Takeaways
- The standard WMR/IRS2Go tools don't track amended returns - use the separate WMAR tool instead, which updates once daily.
- Official IRS guidance is 8 to 16 weeks to process a Form 1040-X, but the National Taxpayer Advocate found the actual FY2025 average was over 5 months.
- WMAR has three statuses - Received, Adjusted, Completed - and a 'Completed' status doesn't guarantee a refund is coming.
- You can e-file up to three accepted amended returns per year; additional ones will be rejected with no WMAR status shown.
- Transcript codes 971/977 mean your amended return is in process; code 960 means an agent has been assigned; code 846 means your refund has been issued.
- Only call the IRS about a delayed amended refund after 12 weeks; expect long hold times given current staffing levels.
- If WMAR shows 'Completed' but your refund check never arrives, it's usually an outdated mailing address - file Form 8822 and contact the IRS directly, since undeliverable checks aren't automatically reissued.
- If your amendment flips you from owing to getting a refund, the correction replaces your old balance rather than adding a separate refund on top of it - but your IRS Online Account balance can lag the amendment's real status by several weeks, so check your transcript if the numbers don't seem to match.
While the IRS aims to process regular season tax returns and refunds within 21 days for the vast majority of filers, amended returns take quite a bit longer.
The IRS’s own current guidance is to allow 8 to 16 weeks for a Form 1040-X to process. In practice, it’s often longer: the National Taxpayer Advocate’s 2026 reporting found the IRS took an average of more than 5 months to process the 3.7 million amended returns it handled in FY2025, and as of early May 2026 the IRS was still working through amended returns filed back in February.
So it’s not surprising many taxpayers wait months for their amended return to clear, given ongoing IRS backlogs, identity verification checks, and staffing constraints.
Here are some tips that can get you a more real-time read on your amended return status and help make the wait less frustrating.
How Can I Check My Amended Return Status (WMAR)?
The standard WMR or IRS2Go refund tools do not show your amended return status.
You need the IRS’s dedicated Where’s My Amended Return (WMAR) tool instead. It tracks Form 1040-X for the current year and up to three prior years.
There are 3 statuses in WMAR: Received, Adjusted, and Completed. Received confirms the IRS has your amended return loaded into its systems for processing — it doesn’t mean processing has actually started, since amended returns often require manual review and assignment to an examiner.
Adjusted means the IRS has completed its review and adjusted your return based on the amended information, which can result in an additional refund, a balance owed, or no change at all. You’ll get an IRS notice explaining the action taken.
Completed means the IRS has finished processing and sent any applicable notices or refunds. Importantly, as the next section covers, a completed status doesn’t automatically mean a refund is coming — additional taxpayer action could still be required.
When Does the WMAR Tool Update?
WMAR updates once a day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times a day won’t get you anything new. It typically starts showing information about 3 weeks after you submit your amended return, though this can vary. You’ll need your SSN, date of birth, and ZIP code to use it.
One limit worth knowing: you can only e-file up to three “accepted” amended returns per tax year. Any beyond that will get rejected and won’t show a status in WMAR.
Calling the IRS About Your Amended Return
If WMAR hasn’t updated in several weeks, you can call the IRS — but official guidance is to wait until 12 weeks have passed before following up on a delayed amended return refund.
The IRS’s dedicated amended-return line is 1-866-464-2050 (English and Spanish options available). Expect long waits — the IRS answered only about 21% of the roughly 48 million calls it received during the 2026 filing season, with average wait times around 14 minutes.
Using Your IRS Transcript for Amended Return Status
In addition to WMAR, your free IRS tax transcript can offer more detail on your amended return and refund.
Transcript codes 971 and 977 show that your amended return was received and is being processed. Many filers see these codes for months before anything changes — it can take a while to move to the next stage.
Watch for code 960 (appointed representative), which marks the date an IRS agent was assigned and began actively working your amended return — often a manual process. You may also see code 971 if a notice is issued, which may require you to provide additional information — instructions come with the notice or letter.
Once processing is complete, you’ll see code 846 (refund issued). Note the date — you should receive your payment within 2 to 5 days of it. If your refund was delayed past the standard 45-day window after the filing deadline, you’ll also see an interest amount credited; the IRS’s current overpayment interest rate for individuals is 7% for Q1 and Q3 2026 and 6% for Q2 2026, adjusted quarterly. This interest is taxable income and gets reported on a 1099-INT the following year.
Subscribe here and I’ll flag it if IRS amended-return processing times change materially.
Processing Complete, But No Refund Payment?
Even when WMAR shows Completed, some taxpayers don’t see the refund they expected. A completed status just means IRS processing has finished — the next step could be an additional tax assessment, a request for more information, or an adjusted (smaller or larger) refund rather than what you originally claimed.
Pay close attention to any notes or messages below the WMAR status bar, which give more insight into next steps. Check your transcript for details, and call the number listed in your notice if one was provided. Ultimately, you’ll need to wait for the IRS’s official notice to see what action was taken or what’s required from you.
How Long Will It Actually Take?
Given the NTA’s FY2025 average of over 5 months for amended returns — and the agency still working through February filings as of May 2026 — budget for a long wait if your amended return needs any manual review or additional verification. There isn’t much you can do to speed this up, including calling the IRS or the Taxpayer Advocate Service, beyond confirming nothing further is needed from you.
For general (non-amended) refund delays, see my full breakdown here.
IRS Amended Return Processing Schedule
Unlike regular refunds, which the IRS aims to process within 3 weeks, amended returns are prioritized behind regular returns and currently run 8 to 16 weeks by official guidance — longer in practice per the NTA’s most recent data. This has been compounded by IRS staffing cuts in recent years; the agency’s individual workforce was down roughly 27% heading into the 2026 filing season.
Amended return refunds can be paid via direct deposit rather than only mailed check, a change introduced a few years back — this option is available directly on Form 1040-X and should speed up and secure payment versus a mailed check.
Looking Ahead: 2027-2028
Watch for whether the IRS makes progress automating more of the 1040-X review process, a step the National Taxpayer Advocate has specifically recommended to cut down the backlog. I’ll update the processing-time figures here once the IRS or NTA publish new data for the 2027-2028 cycle.
Common Issues to Watch Out For
I hear from readers about the same handful of amended-return snags over and over. Here’s what’s usually going on and how to fix it.
WMAR shows “Completed” but the refund check never shows up. This is almost always an address problem. The IRS mails your amended-return refund to whatever address is on that specific 1040-X – not necessarily your current address, and not automatically your bank account even if your original return used direct deposit. If you’ve moved, file Form 8822 to update your address with the IRS, and don’t assume a reissue happens automatically: undeliverable checks get returned to the IRS and generally only get reissued after you contact them directly.
The refund that arrived is smaller than expected. Before assuming a math error, check whether the IRS applied some or all of it to an existing federal debt through the Treasury Offset Program – back taxes, defaulted student loans, or certain other government obligations. This usually comes with a separate notice explaining the adjustment, so check your mail (and your IRS transcript) before calling to dispute what looks like a shortfall.
WMAR says “no information available” even weeks after filing. Three common causes: a typo in the SSN/ZIP code combination you entered into the tool, a paper-filed amendment that simply hasn’t been logged yet (allow the full 3 weeks before WMAR shows anything), or amending a tax year outside WMAR’s tracking window – the tool only covers the current processing year plus the prior 3 years.
Filing a second 1040-X before the first one finishes. If you catch another mistake while an amendment is still processing, resist the urge to immediately file again – a second amendment on top of an unprocessed first one can reset or badly complicate WMAR’s tracking. Let the first one reach “Completed” status first whenever your situation allows it.
Confusing the federal WMAR tool with your state’s amended-return tracker. These are completely separate systems on independent timelines. If you also amended your state return, you’ll need to check your state’s own portal – the federal WMAR tool has no visibility into state processing at all.
Amending from owing money to getting a refund – does it cancel the debt, or do you get a separate check? This is a real point of confusion: if your 1040-X flips you from owing the IRS to being owed a refund, the amendment corrects your account rather than sitting alongside the old balance as a second, unrelated number. Once it fully posts, the corrected figure – including any resulting refund – is your one true balance, not two separate amounts you need to reconcile yourself. The catch is timing: the balance shown in your IRS Online Account can lag behind your amendment’s WMAR status by several weeks, so it’s common to still see the old balance displayed even after WMAR shows “Adjusted” or “Completed.” If your online account balance still looks wrong, check your tax transcript for the more current figure before assuming something’s gone wrong.
Hey so I was just thinking of something .. when I sent in my amended 2018 return it said they originally received it 3/7/22. Last month the date changed to 4/25/22 as the new “received” date. Now I know anything filed after 4/18/22 is considered to be late. You have 3 years to claim a refund on an amended return correct? So now that my date has changed to after 4/18/22 instead of 3/7/22 does this mean it’s too late? Like is the IRS cheating me out of my refund by changing the received date from 3/7 to 4/25??
Mine changed as well, it was received March 5th, and processed on April 11th, and April 29th! In the area above the transaction codes..like 290 and 291…it’s says received on April 11th.
So I went back to previous years, and the dates were all goofy too. Each year it had the date the return was processed and it’s always later that the date the refund was issued.
So much for relying on transcripts…
How long after u get the letter that it was approved will they send the check out???
My amended return was received march 3rd and still not a word on why it’s taking so long. I contacted my congressman’s office got someone there to email the IRS on my behalf over a month ago still no reply from them an was told not to call back because it’ll take the up to 3 months to reply to a friggin email, 3 months! finally over six months of waiting I was told a tax advocate was assigned to me two weeks ago and I can expect a call within 30 days of that assignment. It’s been two weeks still no call. Beyond frustrated.
My amend is still not processed and was received on march 15th !! What should I do
unfortunately, we can do sh$t and they know this… It’s so frustrating dealing with this crap.. no one can ever give you answers!
But when we owe them they waste no time collecting!!!
They sent mine to tax advocate and within a week after I got a letter from tax advocate saying my case does not meet their criteria so was being sent back to IRS.
What! So they are no help
Ok, got this message on website. Anyone else get this message that got their refund?
2020
INFO
Income Tax
Your Information Is Not Available at This Time
We are in the process of updating your account. These updates take at least 2 weeks to complete.
I got that for a few days before I got the updated transcript and then the check
Heah!!! Some hope I might get my refund soon!
Thanks Jen
Hi been following the comments for updates since September. Wondering if you received your check yet? If so how long was it after receiving this message? “these updates take about 2 weeks to complete”
I created the amendment for 2020 unemployment non-taxable under the ARC agreement and mailed it certified mail return receipt requested. They posted as received on March 28, 2022. It took exactly 27 weeks to receive a check from Philadelphia, PA. The key is to keep tracking your transcripts. The last time I checked my transcript online, they sent me a letter to make sure it was me that was trying to access my transcripts and not fraudulently. A week later I signed in again onto transcript and noticed refund and interest dates on my transcript. Next week after that received my check finally. Those of you still waiting need to keep accessing whatever resources you have to get their attention to notice you. Once they notice you are not a fraudster, then you will get your refunds.
I check mine weekly. Once I received a notice asking if it was me doing so, but unfortunately it hasn’t triggered a thing.
I think you were just lucky.
@JaniceH Have you received the message about the updates as well or not yet?
I haven’t received anything from them in a long time, the general updates I do receive are from sources I research.
Wow what a mess the IRS is smh!
Thank you JaniceH and Melinda for your response
When was your account adjusted before you receive your check
I want to say on the 19th I saw the adjustment on my transcript. On the 21st nothing arrived direct deposit so I decided to wait to see if it would direct deposit in 2-5 business days or if I would see a check. The check arrived on the 25th.
Oh ok mine was adjusted on the 16th but it’s going to my old house so maybe it’s already been delivered by now,
Ok mine was adjusted on the 16th but it’s getting mailed to my other place so it’s probably already there then
How long after the approval letter did it take to get the check
Amended tax return refund arrived today 9/26 via check in the mail. I efiled my return and received a check im super happy.
When did u originally file?
When did your return get originally accepted? Trying to dial in a time frame.
Update: my amended return arrived today. I received a check in the mail. Although I efiled my return and my amended return, I didn’t get a direct deposit. I’m just happy it’s done.
That’s great news! Congratulations!
Would you please let us know the tax year, if you e-filed and the date?
This gives others some information of where they may be in the process,
2021 tax year. Amendment received in March, processed in July and check arrived today.
Did your transcript change and tell you your money was on the way. Or did your check just show up without the website updating it? Just curious. Ty.
My transcript updated and showed a payment date of 9/21/2022. I was hoping it would be a direct deposit like others had received and was kinda frustrated that it wasn’t. Still, I decided to give it a few days to see what would happen. Check arrived today.
I’m glad you received yours! My transcript only updated once saying it went to processing on April 12th. No word sense. Hopefully sometime soon fingers crossed!
Was curious what month ya submitted it still waiting on mine an the transcripts are no help
CORRECTION:
Make darn sure transfers in ARE NOT being labeled as income!
Apologizing for the confusion.
Has anyone received one ammended return but not the other? My transcript doesn’t state that they have even received my ammended return. When I check the where’s my refund status it says it was received 7/06/21. I am just very confused on why I received one and not the other when they were received on the same day. HELP!
@Charli
You may want to get on the phone with them if you transcript has not been updated to reflect they have received it.
My transcripts for sure show Amended Return from this past March.
My account balance on my transcript is showing $0 at the top but at the bottom of the transcript it’s showing a 291 code with a negative balance. No refund code though and I’m confused with all the codes and what is being taken or not since now my balance is almost $1000 less than what it was a few weeks ago. So am I getting a refund or not? I’m tired of hoping at this point and just want to know.
A negative balance is a credit, this is the amount that was calculated as the refund due.
Here is a list of the irs codes and what they mean. If you really want to get a migraine, reading this whole thing may just do it.
Are there any lawyers on this website? Seems to me that “we the people” have a great case for a class action lawsuit against the IRS. This is ridiculous that people including myself have been waiting this long for our refunds. I worked in payroll for 45 years, and if I didn’t pay people in a timely manner, I would have been not only fired, but legally responsible for not obeying the Federal and State laws.
I’m certain they will claim some sort of technicality, but generally speaking there is no statutory limit n processing. However, after 45 days from the filing deadline they must pay interest on the refund, and after six months you can sue them in the Court of Claims.
So after October 15th you can discuss with a tax attorney.
@Janice, but in this situation, we are all dealing with Amended Returns. Not sure if there is a statutory time for processing those.
There’s no statutory time on any return, that’s true, but the way I interpreted the law was based on the language I zeroed in on, and there was no differentiation between types of filings!
Granted, you have a valid point!, and I’m going to have to do a little more digging!!
Janice, Since my amended return and many others that have not received refund is based on the American Rescue Act past on 3/11/21 for the exclusion of Unemployment in 2020 is there any statutory time limit on the American Rescue Act law?
I have to review the language, but on a broad stroke basis, anyone who is involved, or any actions that take place with the parameters of a given Act, will not be subjected to any civil consequences outside of those parameters.
If we use this tax situation as an example, and understand, I have to review the law to be certain, but based on general language in prior Acts, this example is generally the case:
People filing within the dates of the Act would held harmless; likewise, those taking action..meaning the IRS, will also be held harmless.
I would bet that somewhere …buried in the boilerplate ..is something that will exempt IRS from any civil consequences relating to their delays.
That’s the best I can give you without pouring over the language.
Who is in charge of the IRS? Doesn’t he or she have any responsibility in realizing the impact to the American people of not responding to this massive need to not only Amendments and tax returns to individuals but businesses alike. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to their working the cases nor volume. Where is the work ethics here…..
Again, I worked for major corporations that were much more organized in receiving documentation and procedures of workloads. Had Service Now setup for communications and cases to be worked. Now that we the people have paid for an additional 80,000 IRS workers; they need to be held accountable for not answering phone calls, not sending out notices, nor entering data from paper forms. We all want answers instead of the usual script of well you know that COVID and IRS didn’t do their jobs for 6 months because offices were closed and look at your Transcripts every day when we cannot even descifer what the codes mean. I urge everyone to start writing Congress and State Legislatures and sign petiions to have the IRS overhauled. It is our money that is paying for their salaries.
The Secretary of Treasury is a cabinet position in the White House, like all cabinet positions these are political appointees. Some are very good, some are not.
The current SOT is Janet Yellen; she has a very impressive resume, she also feels that the current inflationary period is good for us.
While you’d like to be able to do so, You can’t begin to compare operations at a corporation to the federal government.
1. They aren’t accountable to anyone.
2. Many don’t care
3. There doesn’t seem to be any ramifications for people who don’t do their job.
As far as hiring staff: they’ve passed a bill authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of far too much money to hire far too many people, far too late to help any of us.
Two problems with this:
1. Good luck finding 80,000 people who want to work.
2. Good luck finding people willing to work for the IRS.
3. I guarantee you, the people they hire will not be those who are at the top of the educational ladder, if they’ve graduated at all.
4. They don’t expect to have even half of those numbers of people hired before the end of 2023.
There’s been several articles lately. Unfortunately, despite the dates, they pretty much say the same thing, and none of those things indicate a solution. I’m attaching links:
This one is the best:
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-taxpayer-advocate-issues-midyear-report-to-congress-expresses-concern-about-continued-refund-delays-and-poor-taxpayer-service
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/business/irs-backlog.html
There is a CPA posting daily videos. He talks about how bad the IRS is, and how hiring new 87,000 agents will be used against those with less mean. He says the new agents will not have nowhere near the experience he as has, and won’t be getting a dollar from his clients in an audit. Also , while 87,000 are being hired, 55,000 will be retiring.
He’s not wrong. I’m a retired (x2) Accountant, CMA, CGFM.
This year I had 8-10 clients who had to submit paperwork that was ridiculous. One had to submit a copy of her husbands death certificate. He’s been dead since 1994.
Another had to send in a copy of her 10 year old’s birth certificate.
Another..get this..had to send in copies of his 1099’s to prove his withholding.you know, the ones that the irs already has!?
There’s some kind of weird stuff going on there, and these 87,000 aren’t coming in to be your friend.
The people they’ll be getting, at best, will be new college grads, and clerks. They’ll have no experience, precious little knowledge, and their jobs will be pure drudgery.
I doubt very seriously that the majority of these people will be used to take care of this mess. Most are going to be hired to pour over your bank records, Venmo, PayPal, and especially your crypto/bitcoin.
Pay very close attention to your financial institution”s actions. Are they getting new websites?, new apps?. Watch any transaction that has money being transferred through PayPal and Venmo, as well as internal transfers. Make darn sure they are labeling them as income.
If you are still with a bank? Get the H out of there!, unless it’s a small community bank. Get in with your best local credit union.
Everyone….every single person..should have as much cash as they can afford, stashed away in a safe at home. If you can buy into gold and silver, do so.
Also, start saving your receipts..every single one.
Janice, Thanks for sending the link to the website.
I not only worked for major corporations, I also worked in the Payroll Dept. for the 2010 Paper Census Bureau whereby there were different departments to accomplish the opening, scanning, reporting, and shredding of all the paper census forms. It was a 6 month project, and because we had experienced project managers and IT folks with good reporting skills, we finished the project on time and the census information for 2010 was on the President’s desk ON TIME for him to sign off. I don’t see the difference between the Census and the way the IRS should be conducting business. If they have bar codes on paper tax returns, at least the form could be tracked and communications to and from the owner of the paper form could be identified. I realize that it is a major undertaking, however, if they can implement Service Now which tracks cases then each IRS employee is assigned so many cases a day, they can widdle down the backlog. At one of my positions in a service center I was able to do upwards of 50 cases a day in a department of 30 people for 30,000 employees. I’m just saying there are ways to efficiently run the IRS, just like any other business.
They are using Covid as an excuse. My amended return was received April 12, 2022..Still not processed.. it’s me, trying to get the second stimulus check, I never got..
Mine was accepted January 10th….and hasn’t been processed. They sent me a letter last month about a supposed missing form and told me I had 30 days to get it to them. I did 2 days later, certified mail. Cant get ahold of anyone, of course, to see what’s going on with it at all. How are they going to tell me I have 30 days to respond yet they take MONTHS to do NOTHING?
@Jennifer
Did you send yours in by mail?
Have you checked your transcripts recently to see what is going on?
Yes sir. H&R Block said that amended returns cant be files electronically and have to be mailed. I mailed it the end of Dec last year and they received it January 10th of this year. ( months later I got the letter saying they were missing my EIC page, so I got a print out of it from H&R Block and mailed it to them, certified mail. I got confirmation they received that as well. My transcripts still just say they received it on 1-10-22. The WMAR only tells me it hasn’t been processed and they’re sorry for any inconvenience. I’ve called the number and used the extension it says but always get the recording that they’re busier than usual and cant assist me at this time. I don’t know what else to do.
@Jenna
I recall in September of 2020, I sent in two regular returns to them in the mail. I did not sign either of them, as I missed them completely (it used to be on the first page). Six months later, they returned them to me. After I mailed them off again, it took another six months to get checks in the mail for those returns.
Hopefully they don’t pull similar nonsense like that with missing forms.
You guys, im just here to inform everyone to not go by your transcripts because the dates mean absolutely NOTHING. Mine has a refund issued date of today 09/23/2022 and money did not get deposited to my account. Do not believe in that its bs, i live in the state of KY.
So the refund date could have been 09/23 if they sent the refund either direct deposit which depending on your bank can show up in 3-5 business days or if they sent it by mail then 7-10 business days. Hopefully you’ll get it Monday 09/26
I bank with chase, if they did deposit it to my account, do you know how long it will take for my refund to show up?
I have tried calling the IRS over and over and over! The website shows my amended return for 2020 being accepted on 1/28/22. However, after the 12 weeks passed and it still wasn’t processed, I have called over and over again. Every time I go through the whole system and then just get a message saying to call back later. ????
Any advice? There’s a 20K difference in what I owe and it’s vital I get this processed and resolved. I know there have been delays but now it’s been 9 months and still nothing. ???
Also, I tried calling the collections line like someone else said worked for them, but when I entered my SSN it wouldn’t find it and told me to call back later. :(
Hi there!…..
It seems like there is no standard. I have seen ppl who E-filed in March that already received refunds. I have seen ppl from last June that mailed their 1040x in June 2021 that are STILL waiting. I hate saying it but all we can do is just wait. I have called several times and I am able to get someone but they don’t tell me anything new. Just that they are backlogged and to try again in another 30 days. I stopped calling and just check my transcripts every week to see if anything changes. I mailed mine to Austin it’s for 2018, they received it on 3/7/22. The only thing I can see is that they received it back in March. The last time I called they told me that it was assigned to someone on 9/6/22 but according to transcripts it’s not assigned to anyone. Sorry the IRS is just super f**ked up right now. Who knows how long it will be? I have a 17k difference so I’m right there with ya!
@Ashley. I sent in two years of regular returns to Austin in September 2020. I did not see the signature spots on them as they are no longer on the first page anymore. It took them six months to return them to me. I mailed them back, in March 2021 and took another six months to issue refunds. Back in 2020-2021 the IRS offices had minimal persons in the offices, and regular returns took priority over amended returns. That’s why some who sent in amended returns have taken so long to get them completed. Someone this week posted they finally got a refund on their amended return they sent in back in July 2021.
In addition, the media reported the IRS started a “phased return” (whatever that means) back to the offices this past May.
Since IRS personnel have basically returned back to the office now, I would expect to wait at least six months for the amended returns to be processed instead of over a year. I mailed mine (I should have gone to a tax office and had them do them electronically) back in late March, thus I would think they would start on mine in late September. However, you are indicating there has been no movement on yours and it is now six months.
*UPDATE* Direct deposit received today. WMAR never updated. I just followed my transcripts. Initial amended return received 2/26/22. Transcript says 4/15/22 on 9/1/22. On 9/25/22 it said refund deposit on 9-21-22 but I received today. 9/20/22
I called collections all the time for information. They were more helpful in that department.
Did it actually say “refund deposit 9/21”? Or did it just say “refund issued 9/21?” Mine says refund issued and I’m trying to figure out if its going to be deposited like it has for most people or if they’re mailing me a check.
@Dee Refund issued
@Natascha You can get a direct deposit up to three days before the actual deposit date.
Yes!!! I see that. I’m just glad it’s over with and I hope that they get it together and get everyone paid. This has been an awful awful experience
Hey lady !! Great to hear its finally done! Did you mail it in or efile?
Yes!!! I see that. I’m just glad it’s over with and I hope that they get it together and get everyone paid. This has been an awful awful experience. Thanks Trent!
Did it actually say “refund deposit 9/21”? Or did it just say “refund issued 9/21?” Mine says refund issued and I’m trying to figure out if its going to be deposited like it has for most people or if they’re mailing me a check.
Anyone have a future date on their transcript? Mine has been updated to October 3 and shows the last transaction code is a 291, with a negative amount. Does this mean I will receive my refund soon or that I’m not getting one?
@Hope. A negative (-) means the IRS will send you a refund.
Hi Hope! Mine also had future dates. It was updated on 9/9 to have a date of 9/26 next to code 291. Under that line, there was a code 846 that said refund issued on 9/16. I was confused also because both dates were in the future, as it was only 9/9 when the update was made. Do you see the code 846 under the 291?
No it’s not showing anything under that code yet as of 09/21.
What are transcripts? Where do you access them? I have no idea what Im doing in this process and have learned the hard way that calling gets you no where but crazy :(
@Jenna. Transcripts are a log of what the IRS has done with your tax returns for the year. There is a link in the article above to get them
Thank you!
Hey everyone!! So WMAR tool stated they received my Amended Return on 3/7/22, I have never seen anything on my transcript. I recently checked my transcripts as I know some ppl are seeing updates there rather the WMAR tool. So today I checked my transcripts and it now finally says amended return filed 4/25/22. I went to check to WMAR tool after this and saw that it now reads the received my amended return 4/25/22 Vs 3/7/22. Does anyone know why this date has changed? I only see codes 971 and 977 next to the spot that finally shows an amended return filed.
@Ashely Just a guess on my part, but in 2020 when most offices had little to no personnel in them, I understand some of the paper returns were shipped to other offices with less work to help with the load. This may be what happened here.
I decided to go back and look at 2020 and 2019, just to look at the dates..
I wish I could attach them here, it would make it so much easier.
So, for 2019
(Actual filing date…1-30-2020)
Refund issued ..,2-28-2020
Filing date per transcripts…3-16-2020
Processing date 3-30-2020
Yes, you’re reading that right: per the transcripts they sent the refund weeks before.
Same thing for 2020: the refund date is a month before the filing date per the transcripts, and on both the “processing date” was even later.
So when I look at this year:
Return forwarded for processing date 3-5-2022
Additional tax assessed ($0.00). 3-29-22
Additional tax assessed ($0.00). 4-19-22
Tax return filed: 4-11-22
Processing date: 4-11-22
Nothing since then….
So, here’s the take-away from this: their dates are nonsensical. They mean nothing.
I’ve been following these comments as I’m in the same boat. Amendment received 03/03/22 and then got the Take Action message. My transcript shows nothing past Amendment Received.
My question is how are you supposed to handle the fact that they think you owe $1900 when you’re actually supposed to get back $5000? A few months ago, I actually got a person on the line and they put me on a payment plan to have me not pay until December …. they said by then everything should process and I won’t have to pay. I explained over and over that I don’t owe so is there no “hold”?! So now, what happens in December if this is (likely) still not resolved?
Is there no way to stop collection until the amendment is processed?
This huge mess is all because my H&R Block rep added an extra digit, in their haste to my Medicare wages. Ugh!
Omg, that’s horrible! I would be livid with H&R. I hope they’re fronting you the refund you’re owed or at least paying the money to the IRS their mistake makes it look like you owe.
Btw, my amended return(s) were received 4/13/22, but are still not processed & I have received the Take Action & call the “Is there anyone out there?” Hotline. Good luck to you!
2018 Amended PAPER return received by Fresno, CA office 02/28/22, adjusted 06/17/22, refund check dated 06/17/22, and I deposited it on 06/24/22, so received it fairly quickly after they mailed it. So roughly 16 weeks processing time.
2019 Amended PAPER return received by Fresno, CA office 03/28/22…it’s now over 24 weeks later…not processed yet per WMAR and no change on IRS online transcripts.
I was wondering if anybody filed more than one ammended return and received one but not the other. When I check it says it was received but not processed. And the transcript hasn’t changed.
@Charli, I mailed in three at the same time. I guess there was so many returns, the Austin did not even show them received on the same day back in late March.
How much time passed before you got a refund on the first one?
13 months before I received the first one. So that makes me worry.
Also have you received any of them back?
@Charli. According to the transcripts I just checked the other day, they have not even been touched yet. I saw where you submitted your returns back in July 2021. I suspect the reason for taking 13 months is because returns are being completed in house, Regular Returns have higher priority, and most IRS employees were not in the office back then. It seems the IRS employees have now since returned to work again.
Hopefully things will speed up now, and especially with the elections coming up soon. It seems the IRS does prefer one political party over the other by their history.
I just received my amended return via direct deposit today. My amended return was sent and accepted via efile on 3/9/22. It was useless calling in to check status or get any answers. I checked my transcript and it was not until Monday it was updated completely and I was given a refund sent for 9/14/2022. It does not advise if ACH or Check. It was a frustrating and long process to wait for over 6 months to receive, however it is a relief to have now received it.
Thanks for sharing this update Allie, gives others hope that their amended return will eventually be processed. Most likely you will get paid via check.
Mine was accepted on 3/5/22, e-file. It was “processed”on 4/11/22, and has been sitting ever since.
It shows $0 tax owing, $0 penalties, and the credit amount which should be my refund.
Mine says was received on 03/01/2022, and adjusted 09/02/2022. Completed says N/A.
Mine says within three weeks you will receive a notice that explains the adjustment.
Should I be worried, this is my first ammended return.
Did you efile ? IF not where did you send your return to?