How to Check the Status of an Amended Tax Return
- 1 You can use Form 1040-X to correct a tax return you have already filed.
- 2 Where’s My Amended Return? lets you check the status after the return has been in the IRS system for about 3 weeks.
- 3 Received, Adjusted, and Completed are the three status updates you may see.
- 4 Form 1040-X usually takes 8 to 12 weeks to process, but some cases may take longer.
- 5 If your amended return is not showing, check again later and follow any instructions shown by the IRS tracker.
After filing your Form 1040-X, there is no way that you can track the progress of the IRS with the same service that is used for a regular tax refund. For the amended return, the IRS uses Where’s My Amended Return? To show if the IRS has received, adjusted, or completed your return.
It may not show up immediately. Based on the IRS, check back three weeks after your submission. Processing can take 8-12 weeks, and some amended returns are even slower. You’ll find information on where to check your amended return status, what to expect and when it should be updated, what each IRS status means, and what steps you should take if your amended return does not show in the tracker below.
What Does An Amended Tax Return Mean?
An amended tax return is used to correct something on a tax return you have already filed with the IRS. You file one when something on the original return needs to be changed, such as incorrect or missing information.
- Received: The IRS has received the amended return and has started processing it.
- Adjusted: The IRS has updated your tax account based on the amended return. This could mean a refund, a tax balance, or no change.
- Completed: The IRS has finished processing the amended return. You will get the details in a letter from the IRS.
How To Check The Status Of An Amended Tax Return
The IRS provides Where’s My Amended Return? to check the status of Form 1040-X. You can check the current tax year and up to three prior tax years through the tool.
Follow these steps:
- Go to the IRS Where’s My Amended Return? tool.
- Enter your Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number.
- Enter your date of birth.
- Enter your ZIP code or postal code.
- Submit the information to view the current status of your amended return.
- Review whether the return is Received, Adjusted, or Completed.
You can also check the status by calling the IRS automated line at 866-464-2050. The online and phone services can be used three weeks after filing the amended return.
When Can You Check Your Amended Tax Return Status?
The IRS says it can take up to three weeks for an amended return to appear in its system. Checking before that time may not show your return.
There is generally no need to call the IRS during those first three weeks. The IRS recommends contacting them only if the Where’s My Amended Return? tool tells you to do so.
How Long Does An Amended Tax Return Take To Process?
Some amended returns take longer to process because the IRS may need additional information or further review. The IRS will contact you if it needs more information.
A return can take longer when it has errors, is incomplete or unsigned, requires additional information or needs further review. The IRS says it will contact you if it needs more information to process the amended return.
What If Your Amended Tax Return Status Is Not Showing?
If your amended return is not showing in Where’s My Amended Return?, check when you filed it first. The IRS says it can take up to 3 weeks for a Form 1040-X to appear in its system. If three weeks have passed and the return still does not appear, keep checking the tracker. The IRS says to call about the status only when the online tool tells you to contact them.
The tracker does not cover every type of amended return. It cannot provide status information for business returns, carryback applications or claims, injured spouse claims, Form 1040 returns marked as amended or corrected instead of using Form 1040-X, or returns being handled by special units such as Examination or Bankruptcy.
Can You Check An Amended Return With Where’s My Refund?
No! Where’s My Refund? and Where’s My Amended Return? are used for different purposes. Where’s My Refund? tracks refunds from original tax returns, while Form 1040-X amended returns are tracked through Where’s My Amended Return?
If you are checking a Form 1040-X, use the amended-return tracker rather than the regular refund tool. The amended-return service can show information for the current tax year and up to three prior tax years.
What Happens After Your Amended Tax Return Is Processed?
The outcome depends on the changes made to the return. An adjustment can result in an additional refund, a balance due, or no change to your tax account.
Once processing is complete, the IRS sends the information connected with the amended return by mail. If the adjustment creates a balance due, follow the payment instructions from the IRS. If it results in an additional refund, the refund will be issued according to the information on the amended return.
Official Resources:
IRS (Where’s My Amended Return?)
IRS ( Instructions for Form 1040-X)
IRS (Topic No. 308, Amended Returns)
IRS (When and How to Amend a Tax Return)
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I check my amended tax return status?
You should give it about 3 weeks after filing Form 1040-X before checking the status. Your amended return may not show up before that. Once 3 weeks have passed, you can check Where’s My Amended Return? for an update.
What does “Received” mean on an amended tax return?
“Received” means the IRS has received your amended return. Your return is still going through the processing stage at this point. A later status will show once the IRS moves forward with the return.
What does “Adjusted” mean for an amended tax return?
“Adjusted” means the IRS has changed your tax account after processing the amended return. Depending on the changes, you could have an additional refund, a balance to pay, or no change at all. The status itself does not tell you which result applies.
What does “Completed” mean on Where’s My Amended Return?
“Completed” means the IRS has finished processing your amended return. The final result can depend on what you changed on the original return. The IRS sends information about the completed processing by mail.
Can I use Where’s My Refund? to track my amended return?
Where’s My Refund? is not the primary tracker for Form 1040-X. Use Where’s My Amended Return? to check the processing status of an amended return. Once the amended return has been processed, Where’s My Refund? may provide information about a refund resulting from the amendment.
How long does the IRS take to process Form 1040-X?
The IRS says to allow 8 to 12 weeks for Form 1040-X to be processed. Some returns can take as long as 16 weeks. Processing may take longer when the IRS needs more information or additional review.
What should I do if my amended return is not showing online?
Start by checking whether 3 weeks have passed since you filed the amended return. If it still does not appear, check the IRS tracker again later rather than submitting another amended return. Should the tracker indicate that you need to contact the IRS, be sure to follow those instructions.
Can I check the status of an amended business tax return online?
Where’s My Amended Return? does not show the status of amended business tax returns. It also does not cover certain other filings, including carryback applications and claims and injured spouse claims. Returns processed by special IRS units, such as Examination or Bankruptcy, may also not appear in the tool.
Track Your Amended Tax Return With Confidence
Learn when to check your Form 1040-X status, understand IRS processing updates, and know what to do if your amended return is not showing online.
Check Amended Return Status
