Check the Status of Your Amended Return You can check the status of your amended return with the Where’s My Amended Return tool. It may take up to 3 weeks for your amended return to show in our system. Can I file my amended return electronically? Yes. If you need to amend your 2019, 2020 or 2021 Forms 1040 or 1040-SR you can now file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return electronically using available tax software products. Additionally, amended Form 1040-NR and amended Form 1040-SS/PR can now be filed electronically for tax year 2021. What are some reasons that an amended return cannot be filed electronically? Amended returns must be filed by paper for the following reasons: Any amended Form 1040 and 1040-SR returns older than three years, or Form 1040-NR and 1040-SS/PR returns older than the current year cannot be amended electronically. Amended returns for any other tax years or tax forms must be filed by paper. If amending a prior year return originally filed on paper, then the amended return must also be filed on paper. How do I file my amended return electronically? Contact your preferred tax software provider to verify their participation, answer any questions and for specific instructions needed to submit your amended return. How many amended returns can be filed electronically? Filers can electronically file up to three amended returns. If you file a third amended return that is accepted, all subsequent attempts will be rejected. Can I file my amended return electronically for previous tax years? You can amend tax year 2019, tax year 2020 and tax year 2021 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR returns electronically at this time. Additionally, amended Form 1040-NR and amended Form 1040-SS/PR returns can now be filed electronically. Will my amended return be processed faster if I file electronically? The current processing time is more than 20 weeks for both paper and electronically filed amended returns. See our operations page for more information about processing timeframes. Additionally, calling the IRS will not speed up return processing. Our phone and walk-in representatives can only research the status of your amended return 20 weeks or more after you've mailed it; or if Where's My Amended Return? itself has directed you to contact us. What forms are required with an electronically filed amended return? An amended Form 1040, 1040-SR and 1040-NR return requires submission of all necessary forms and schedules as if it were the original submission, even if some forms have no adjustments. This is in addition to an attached Form 1040-X. The amended Form 1040-SS/PR return requires submission of all necessary forms and schedules as if it were the original submission, even if some forms have no adjustments. Note that Form 1040-X will not be attached to Form 1040-SS/PR. Is a new Form 8879 required when electronically filing Form 1040-X? A new Form 8879 is required each time an amended Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR is electronically filed. Is direct deposit available for electronically filed Form 1040-X? Direct deposit can’t be requested for amended returns. However, there are certain exceptions when a direct deposit may be issued on a Form 1040-X; for example, if there was a math error on your original return. Can Form 8888, Allocation of Refund (Including Savings Bond Purchases), be filed with an amended Return? No. Page two of the Form 8888 instructions state not to attach Form 8888 to Form 1040-X since refunds on an amended return can't be directly deposited or used to buy savings bonds. Where do I mail a paper check for an electronically filed amended return and should I use a Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher? Use Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher, when mailing a paper check for payment made on an electronically filed amended return. Form 1040-V instructions provide the mailing address for sending paper checks. How can I check the status of my electronically filed amended return? The Where's My Amended Return? online tool can be used to check the status of your return and confirm receipt. How soon can I use the Where's My Amended Return application to check the status of an electronically filed amended return? The Where's My Amended Return (WMAR) online tool or the toll-free telephone number 866-464-2050 can be used for status updates three weeks after filing the return. Both tools are available in English and Spanish and have the most up-to-date information available. Can I get the status of an amended return for multiple tax years? Where's My Amended Return? can get you the status of your amended returns for the current tax year and up to three prior tax years. What is happening when my amended return's status shows as received? Your amended return was received and is being processed. It currently takes more than 20 weeks to complete processing. What is happening when my amended return's status shows as adjusted? An adjustment was made to your account. The adjustment will result in a refund, balance due or in no tax change. What is happening when my amended return's status shows as completed? Your amended return has been processed. You will receive all the information connected to its processing by mail. It's been longer than 20 weeks since you received my amended return. Why hasn't it been processed? Some amended returns take longer than 20 weeks for several reasons. Your return may need further review if it: Has errors Is incomplete Isn't signed Is returned to you requesting more information Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation Is affected by identity theft or fraud Delays in processing may also occur when an amended return needs: Routing to a specialized area Clearance by the bankruptcy area within the IRS Review and approval by a revenue officer Review of an appeal or a requested reconsideration of an IRS decision You will be contacted if more information is needed to process your amended return. What types of amended returns aren’t available in the tool? Where's My Amended Return? cannot give you the status of the following returns or claims: Carryback applications and claims Injured spouse claims A Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return marked as an amended or corrected return An amended return with a foreign address An amended business tax return An amended return processed by a specialized unit—such as our Examination or Bankruptcy Department You may find the following tax information useful: Tax Topic 308, Amended Returns Tax Topic 152, Refund Information Tax Topic 202, Tax Payment Options
