How to follow up on tax return that I sent via US mail?

[YehudaMaor]

Greeting,

My father has made a mistake and kept me as dependent in his 2019 tax return. As a result, my tax return that I attempted to submit electronically via Turbo-Tax has been rejected. When we found out about the problem, my father submitted an amendment to his tax return and we both sent our return (my return and his amendment) via US mail

I have not yet received my money form the government and while attempting to check online of the status I'm still receiving a message that my return was not found in the system. I have also tried to call IRS but reached only the automatic answering machine with no option to get any callback form someone there to hear my complaint 

All of the above happened back early on March

Any suggestion, anyone, how to resolve the above situation?  

[xmasbaby0]

   The IRS has not been working on mailed returns until very recently---and an amended return could only be filed by mailing it in until late August 2020 when the IRS began to accept e-filed 2019 amended returns.   Under normal circumstances you would be able to see something about your mailed in Form 1040X after about three weeks, but that is not the case right now.  The usual 4 months for processing an amended return is going to take longer.  Sorry.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/politics/irs-mail-trailers-covid/index.html

MAILED RETURNS

Per the IRS website IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue:  

IRS operational status and alternatives

Processing Delays for Paper Tax Returns: Taxpayers should file electronically through their tax preparer, tax software provider, or IRS Free File. 

We’re experiencing delays in processing paper tax returns due to limited staffing. If you already filed a paper return, we will process it in the order we received it.

Do not file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

 If you mail a tax return (or a payment) to the IRS, it is a good idea to use a mailing service that will track it like UPS or certified mail so you will know it was received.

 TurboTax will not know anything about your amended return, and nor will TT know that you put your 1040X  in an envelope and took it to a mailbox.  TurboTax does not get updates on mailed  (or e-filed) returns.

When the IRS finally opens its mail and begins to process mailed returns you can check the status on the IRS site.

https://www.irs.gov/Filing/Individuals/Amended-Returns-(Form-1040-X)/Wheres-My-Amended-Return-1

https://www.irs.gov/filing/individuals/amended-returns-form-1040-x/amended-return-frequently-asked-q...

[xmasbaby0]

Your own mailed return is likely also somewhere in the pile of over 11 million pieces of mail that the IRS is working on.  Until your return surfaces and the IRS opens it, you will not see anything on the IRS site about it.  This will simply take lots of patience.

[YehudaMaor]

So, are you basically suggesting that it's a matter of time (in light of the unfortunate circumstances)?

[xmasbaby0]

@YehudaMaor Yes---if an envelope is in a pile of millions of other envelopes,  what other suggestion can we offer?  TurboTax cannot speed up the IRS for anyone.

[YehudaMaor]

Thanks a bunch... I didn't expect Turbo Tax to resolve the issue, only to provide reasonable assessment of the situation. I Thought that this is the case, just wanted to either get confirmation or to see if there is anything else that I might have missed and could do

Your response is honest and very prompt and I appreciate it

[VolvoGirl]

Did you mail your return and your father's amended return in SEPARATE envelopes? You should have or the IRS will probably miss one.

[YehudaMaor]

We actually put them both into the same envelop and added a hand-written letter explaining tie circumstances 

[VolvoGirl]

Yikes.  Don't be surprised if that causes a problem.  They might just staple them all together and miss one.    You might need to call the IRS after this all settles down and they get caught up opening the mail.

[xmasbaby0]

Agreed.  Putting them together could just make the IRS miss one.  The unpredictable variables include what human being opens the envelope and looks to see what is inside.

[YehudaMaor]

Bummer..... Are you, guys, suggesting that maybe we should re-send them (could cause, though, another problem of duplication.....in case IRS didn't miss the first envelop)?