How Long Does An Amended Tax Return Refund Take?

If you’ve recently submitted an amended tax return and you’re wondering how long does it take to get your refund, you’ve come to the right place! Right off the bat, the refund usually takes a bit longer than you probably anticipated.

Usually, when you discover an error or omitted information on your tax return, you file Form 1040-X. This form is meant to correct mistakes on your federal tax return. But once you file It, it almost feels like your tax return is in limbo.

If you have been eager to know the status of your amended tax return and wondering how long it takes to get your refund, let’s talk about.

How does an amended tax return work?

When you file a Form 1040-X it may take up to three weeks for the documents to appear within the system.

Here’s some good news that’s improved over the years: Form 1040-X can now be filed electronically for recent tax years, which is a big upgrade from the old paper-only days. If you’re amending an older return that the IRS no longer accepts electronically, you’ll still have to mail in the paper version of Form 1040-X. When in doubt, your tax software or the IRS page for Form 1040-X will tell you which years are eligible for e-filing.

It’s also important to remember that if you are filing form 1040x to get some money back from the IRS, you will need to do so within three years of your original tax return or within two years of paying the tax, whichever is greater.

Typically, the only two reasons you would file form 1040-X is because you catch an error that the IRS does not, or they might have missed some income you made and you owe them more money.

How Long Does An Amended Tax Return Refund Take?

An amended tax return can take up to 16 weeks (and sometimes longer) for the IRS to process. This time frame varies wildly depending on an individual’s circumstances, but most returns should fall within that range. ⏳

For most people, it usually gets processed within this time frame, but for others, it might take longer. As a general rule of thumb, if nothing has happened well after the typical processing window of filing your amended tax return, you should call the IRS.

Remember, it might take up to three weeks for your amended return to even show up on their Where’s My Amended Return tool, so only start checking after about 3 weeks of filing. Patience is the name of the game here — an amended return moves a lot slower than a regular one, so if you’re used to the quick turnaround in our tax refund schedule, reset your expectations.

A list of IRS phone numbers can be found at the bottom of the IRS page here. You can also talk to someone at your local IRS office to figure out the status of your Form 1040-X.

Checking the status of an amended tax return

If you are sitting in the dark wondering where your amended tax return is, you’re in luck. The IRS provides a tool called Where’s My Amended Return. You can use this tool to check the status of your return.

Once you file your amended tax return, your filing typically undergoes three stages:

Filing Status	Description
Stage 1 - Received	The IRS confirms that they have received your form 1040-X. This usually appears on their system up to three weeks from filing your Form 1040-X.
Stage 2 - Adjusted	This status confirms that the IRS has applied the updated information that you provided on Form 1040-X.
Stage 3 - Completed	This is the final stage of your amended tax return. The IRS confirms that they have completed processing your Form 1040-X. Your refund (if applicable) would be sent here.

If at any point during their processing they encounter issues, it will contact you by mail or by phone. You must be careful when receiving any IRS mail. Do your due diligence and avoid falling for scammers. Never blindly accept and believe mail that you receive without confirming it first.

Common reasons for Amended Tax Return delays

If you have filed your form 1040-X and still have not heard anything after 16 weeks, chances are there might be an issue with your form.

Certain issues and situations might require more review or more information from you. This can lead to delays in processing your refund. If the IRS discovers issues in your form, it might take longer than the typical 16 weeks.

Here are a few examples of what might cause delays in your amended tax return.

• Errors on your Form 1040-X
• You forgot to sign the form correctly
• They suspect possible identity theft or fraud
• The IRS bankruptcy team needs to review the amended return
• The IRS sends the Form 1040-X back to you with a request for more information
• A revenue office needs to review and approve the amended return
• The IRS never received your Amended Tax Refund

If you encounter any of the above issues, it’s important to respond to any IRS requests promptly. This can at least mitigate delays that your form might have.

Bottom line

Filing an amended tax return is a bit easier than it might sound. For recent tax years, Form 1040-X can be filed electronically. If it’s an older tax return, you will have to file the paper version.

Once you have filed it, it’s really a game of patience. The IRS aims to complete amended tax return filings within about 16 weeks, though it can run longer. It is equally important to make sure that your file is accurate to avoid further delays.

While you wait on that refund, it’s a good time to get the rest of your money in order. If you’re planning to put the refund toward debt, run the numbers through our debt-to-income calculator first, or use our free money dashboard to map out exactly where it’ll do the most good. 💸