Ammendment Filed but no Update

[JLeon]

What is the name of your state?
Texas

Hello!

Short Version:
My amendment was received.
The website said to wait up to 16 weeks for them to process it.
After 16weeks (July5th) the message in the website changed to:

Your amended return was received on March 15, 2020. However, it has not been processed. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Please call 800-829-0582, extension 623, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will need a copy of your amended return.


Full Story:
1. my wife filed married separately.
2. it was approved and she received her refund.
3. my wife and I filed an amendment to her return to include me. Married filing jointly.
4. mailed the forms (generated through turboTax) to the IRS.
5. IRS website shows received, processing, wait up to 16weeks.
6. 16 weeks are up as of July 5th~
7. message on IRS is:


Today is the last day to file.
Should I just file married jointly or married single to avoid any penalties or would that cause too much trouble in the long run?

Thank you!

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

You should call 800-829-0582, extension 623. NOW.

If you don't think you are going to owe file for an extension. If you think you are going to owe pay the estimated amount and file for an extension.

 

[Zigner]

I suspect that the COVID-19 situation has delayed many things...

 

[Zigner]

Oh, by the way, there was no need to create a second thread on the same matter. Here is your original thread: https://forum.freeadvice.com/threads/filing-taxes-amend.659472

 

[Taxing Matters]

Today is the last day to file.
Should I just file married jointly or married single to avoid any penalties or would that cause too much trouble in the long run?

No. What you should do is send in an extension to file for yourself (either online or using Form 4868). Get it in the mail postmarked today. And then follow up with the IRS to see what the hold up is. The IRS may wish to examine your amended return before approving it.

Once again, you are married so you cannot file as single for last year. And your wife already filed a return and you've submitted an amended return to convert that to married filing jointly. Filing a married filing joint return thus would be rejected now, and likely so would a return filed as married filing separately. Either way, you risk creating more problems by filing a separate return now. That amended return filing should suffice to cover you for your filing requirement. I only recommend the extension out of an abundance of caution in case something was wrong with you amended return such that it would be considered incomplete and thus not a proper return. You certainly should have an answer on the amended return by October 15.

In any event, you should be able to avoid the late filing penalty so long as the IRS either ultimately approves the amended return or you promptly file a married filing separate return upon getting written notice that the amended return will not be accepted. So far all you know is that it has not been processed. That is not the same as the IRS rejecting it.

 

[JLeon]

Oh, by the way, there was no need to create a second thread on the same matter. Here is your original thread: https://forum.freeadvice.com/threads/filing-taxes-amend.659472

Sorry, since the information on the page changed I thought I needed to create a new post.

No. What you should do is send in an extension to file for yourself (either online or using Form 4868). Get it in the mail postmarked today. And then follow up with the IRS to see what the hold up is. The IRS may wish to examine your amended return before approving it.

Did this and I finally got ahold of them today.

Thank you!

 

[JLeon]

Just got off the phone, apparently the dates with COVID are "up to 16weeks starting August 1st 2020"
Regarding my filing, you were right, I am in the clear and do not need to file anything else.

Thank you!

 

[Taxing Matters]

Just got off the phone, apparently the dates with COVID are "up to 16weeks starting August 1st 2020"
Regarding my filing, you were right, I am in the clear and do not need to file anything else.

Thank you!

Thanks for letting us know the update to your situation. Covid-19 has hit the IRS particularly hard and a number of its operations have been curtailed or delayed as a result.