Do I have to pay the IRS for an emmended return if i haven't recieved my refund yet?

[matt632110]

The Irs is reviewing my return.  I found the error and amended it.  Now I owe, but I shouldn't Do i have to send a check

[bluedeb · Accepted solution]

You should never amend your return until you original return has been fully processed.  The IRS catches some errors and will automatically fix the error and adjust your return. The amended return assumes you received your original refund and then calculates the change you entered to come up with additional refund or taxes owed.

Look on your amended return for line 18, it should have your original refund amount.  Since you haven’t received it yet, your amended return should not show the original refund. With that said your original return is processed separately from your amended return.  

So you will most likely going to owe the amount your amended return shows since you will receive your original refund.  I t can take 20 weeks or so to process an amended return. The IRS may adjust your original return and send you a letter stating you owe taxes or your original refund is lower. 

[Mike9241]

by amending too soon you have left yourself a guess. An amended return is supposed to reflect the correct amount of any prior refunds or payments of balance due. The problem is you don't know if the iRS will catch the error and adjust the refund accordingly. so you didn't know what should have been entered on line 19 which will afffect line 20 (amount you now owe) or line 21 (additional refund).  you can 1) try calling the iRS 2)pay what is shown and if its an overpayment wait months to get it back 3) do nothing - if you end up owing the iRS will bill you