Amended Tax Return Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take to process my amended tax return?

A Form 1040X – Amended Tax Return can take up to 12 weeks to process once the IRS receives it.

Will Where’s My Amended Return? provide me with the status of amended tax returns for multiple tax years?

Where’s My Amended Return? provides the status of Form 1040X Amended Tax Returns for the current year and up to three prior years.

What is the best and fastest way for me to get information about my amended tax return?

Use the Where’s My Amended Return? tool or call our automated toll-free number 866-464-2050. You can start checking on the status of your amended return 3 weeks after the 1040X has been mailed.

Will calling the IRS help me get my amended tax return processed any faster?

Calling us will not speed up the processing time of your amended tax return. Our phone and walk-in representatives can only research the status of your amended return if it has been 12 weeks or more since you mailed your return, or if Where’s My Amended Return? directs you to contact us.

If we need more information to process your amended return, we will contact you by mail. Otherwise,Where’s My Amended Return? has the most up to date information available about your 1040X. Use the Where’s My Amended Return? tool, or call our automated toll-free number 866-464-2050. Both are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When can I start checking on the status of my amended tax return?

You can start checking on the status of your amended tax return three weeks after it has been mailed to the IRS.

How will I know if the IRS received my amended tax return and it is being processed?

Use Where’s My Amended Return? to follow your amended tax return from receipt until processing is completed. While your amended tax return is being processed you can follow it through three stages: Received, Adjusted, and Completed.

What is happening when Where’s My Amended Return? shows the status is: Received?

This means your Form 1040X – Amended Tax Return has been received and it is being processed. Generally, amended tax returns take up to 12 weeks to be processed.

What is happening when Where’s My Amended Return? shows the status is: Adjusted?

This means the processing of your Form 1040X- Amended Tax Return resulted in an adjustment to your account. An adjustment may result in a refund, balances due, or no tax change.

What is happening when Where’s My Amended Return? shows the status is: Completed?

This means your Form 1040X- Amended Tax Return has completed processing resulting in a refund, balance due, or no tax change. This timeframe also means all correspondence related to the processing of your amended tax return has been mailed to you.

How often does Where’s My Amended Return? update?

Where’s My Amended Return? updates are made no more than once per day, usually at night. So there is no need to check more often.

I’ve accessed Where’s My Amended Return? and it’s been longer than 12 weeks since the IRS received my amended tax return and it hasn’t been processed. Why?
We work hard to process amended tax returns within 12 weeks, but some amended tax returns take longer to process than others for many reasons, including when an amended tax return:

• includes errors
• is incomplete
• is unsigned
• is returned to you requesting additional information or signature(s)
• needs further review
• is impacted by identity theft or fraud
• needs to be routed to a specialized area
• has to be cleared by the bankruptcy area within the IRS
• has to be reviewed and approved by a Revenue Officer, because your tax account is assigned to a Revenue Officer
• has been filed and is appealing or requesting reconsideration of an IRS decision
• includes Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation

If we need more information to process your tax return, we will contact you by mail.
IRS representatives can only research the status of your return if it has been 12 weeks or more since you mailed your amended tax return, or if Where’s My Amended Return? directs you to contact us.

Which type of amended tax returns can be accessed using the Where’s My Amended Return? tool?

Generally, Where’s My Amended Return? will provide you with the status of amended returns mailed to the IRS processing operations. The Form 1040X – Amended Tax Return provide guidance on where to file your amended return.

Which type of amended tax returns cannot be accessed using the Where’s My Amended Return? tool?

Status updates for the following types of amended returns are not available through the Where’s My Amended Return? tool:

• carrybacks (applications and claims),
• Form 843 claims,
• Injured Spouse claims,
• a Form 1040 marked as an amended or corrected return,
• an amended return with a foreign address,
• business amended returns,
• an amended return routed/received outside of the processing operations in a specialized function (i.e. Examination Dept, 1040X response to a CP 2000 notice, Bankruptcy Dept).

Will Where’s My Amended Return? provide a refund status on an original current tax year filed return?

No, it does not provide information about an original current year filed return. Use the IRS2Go mobile app or the Where’s My Refund? tool. You can start checking on the status of your tax return within 24 hours after we have received your e-filed return or 4 weeks after you mail a paper return. Both are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See Tax Topic 152 for more information.

• Tax Topic 308 – Amended Returns
• Tax Topic 202 – Tax Payment Options
• Tax Topic 203 – Refund Offsets for Unpaid Child Support, Certain Federal and State Debts, and Unemployment Compensation Debts