When a taxpayer makes a mistake on their prior tax return, they can file an amended return to fix it within a certain timeline. The amended tax returns can take longer than usual as the agency may need more time to review them.
IRS allows taxpayers to track their amended return to avoid any potential errors and see the refund status if the return results in a refund. Taxpayers can track through Where’s My Amended Return or other available methods easily to make the needed corrections.
Where’s My Amended Return?
After three weeks of filing an amended return, the taxpayer can check the status of their previous return if they made changes before the deadline. Taxpayers who have filed the Form 1040X would need their Social Security number, ZIP code, and Date of birth to track the amended return status.
There is no use in checking the status of an updated return more than once a day because the IRS only changes it once. With the exception of the following hours, the service for amended return status is available 24/7:
- Mondays between 12 AM to 3 AM
- Sundays from 01 to 07 AM (Occasionally)
By using the “Where’s My Amended Return” service, taxpayers can verify their amended tax return’s acceptance and other status in the steps listed below:
- You should visit IRS2Go, the IRS mobile app, or the agency’s official website.
- Next, select from the Help section the Where’s My Amended Return option.
- After that, click the blue tab titled as Check Your Amended Return status to move to a new page.
- Next, input your ITIN or SSN, DOB, and ZIP code, and click the submit button.
- After you click the submit button, your amended return status will appear on your screen.
Returns You can’t check
Many taxpayers get confused about which return they should check with this tool; hence, to clear the confusion, here’s the list of returns whose status is not available on the Where’s My Amended Return tool:
- Return filed with the Foreign Address
- Injured spouse claims
- Business returns
- Returns that were processed by units like bankruptcy or examination
- Carryback applications and claims
- Form 1040, which was titled as corrected or amended (but not Form 1040-X)
Limitation for Amended Return
The IRS allows taxpayers to file an amended return for the correction of a prior return within three years of its original filing or 2 years after you paid the tax, whichever comes later, hence, many taxpayers file it later. The rules may change if the amended return is filed for refunds, or comes from disaster-affected areas, service combat zones, you wish to amend the foreign tax credit, bad debt, or deduction, etc.
The Amended return typically takes eight to ten weeks to process, though in complex cases, it may take more than 16 weeks, hence, the taxpayers should regularly check their amended return status and learn at what stage it has reached, that is, Received, Adjusted, and completed.
Taxpayers do not have any other way to know if the agency has received their amended return other than checking the status, so after three weeks of filing the amended return, you should track the status.
Other Methods
Though the online services are the best option to get the details about your IRS amended return status or tax refund, however, if you can’t access them or can’t acces them, you can go for the following ways:
- You can call the IRS between Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM at 866-464-2050, First, you will have to verify your identity with your tax information, and then you can inquire about your amended return. The IRS says the taxpayers should not call the agency unless the tools direct them to do so, as your return may need more corrections or information to process.
- You can physically visit the nearest IRS office or mail the agency to learn about your amended return status; however, if you are opting for mailing the query, you have to wait a long time for the response, so it’s better you visit the office.
Taxpayers should understand if their amended return is eligible for a refund; you will receive the refund based on the payment selection in the return, because generally refund is processed depending on the method of payment, in four to five weeks or longer.