Filed 1040x five months ago, heard nothing back

Call the IRS at 1-800-TAX-1040 and ask about it. If it has been received, they should be able to look it up on their computer. If it hasn't been received, you'll need to re-create it and re-send it. And this time, send it certified mail, return receipt requested so you know it's been received. Attach the postcard to your copy.

Five months is not that long, given the extra time on the IRS end to process First Time Home Buyer Credit (FTHBC) returns this year (many of which turned into amendments, if the original was e-filed without claiming the credit).

I wonder if the new version of 1040X is resulting in more returns being returned to sender for missing details?

I filed an amendment in early April to get the $30 phone excise tax refund for 2006 tax year, the check was just received a few weeks ago, and that's a pretty simple 1040X to process.

Incidentally, the $30 refund was shown as $25.61 tax credit and the rest as interest -- so the full $30 refund was not received. Doesn't seem right, but not worth pursuing with the IRS.

-Mark Bole

Don't they send the 45 day mails? After 45 days you get a letter saying they are busy and need 45 more days to process your amended return.

At

there is a link from which you can request your refund status. There is also a number to call if the system cannot return your status.

I used that a few months ago on an estate account, and was told that the IRS was lacking some documentation; what it was they were lacking; and how to correct the problem.

So I would suggest you start there.

The refund status ("Where's My Refund?") on the IRS web site doesn't work for amended returns, Form 1040X. The only way to find out the status is to call.

"What information is Not Available on Where's My Refund? Amended Tax Return (Form 1040X) Information Where's My Refund? doesn't track refunds that are claimed on amended tax returns."

Quoted from

0571,00.html Bob Sandler

I didn't realize that, Bob. Thanks for pointing it out. That said, I've always had good luck running down problems with phone calls to the IRS, although I've not had to deal with amended returns in the past.

My refund came in the mail yesterday! So looks like it takes a while.

I have several amended returns pending with the IRS, most of them filed MONTHS ago. When I called the IRS about one of them, about two weeks or so ago, I was politely informed that the IRS is taking the full six months to deal with amended returns - seems they are a bit overworked these days.

Shame on you for:

1 - not retaining a copy of the return; 2 - not sending it via certified mail, return receipt requested.

Had you sent it via certified mail with a return receipt you would know whether they got it or not, and you'd know who signed for it so you'd have some place to start the search.

Also, without a copy of what you sent you'll have to recreate it from scratch. The issues with this include -

a - how will you know if you get the same answer? Don't laugh, I've done this myself - sometimes the software gets updated or the rules change or you find (or miss) something from the first version. Without a copy of the original you may never know if the second version is better or worse than the first.

b - what if the IRS asks for support for some additional item you've put on the amended return? Without a copy of the original you can't be sure what you submitted so you'll be guessing when they ask you to support "the number you entered on Line X of Form Y" - good luck with that.

I don't mean to sound mean, that's not my intention. Keep copies of EVERYTHING. I even go so far as to document all phone calls - not only with the date, time, name and badge ID of the person I spoke with, I also make notes about the weather in my area and I ask what city they are located in. The more info you have the more credible you are should you need to make an argument later.

Good luck, Gene E. Utterback, EA, ABA