No Response on my 1040-X for 1-Year - What are my options

[hereinhelena]

The IRS scanning machine (I sent in a hard-copy) appears to have skipped my wife's Schedule SE on my 2021 return (based on my review of the IRS transcripts).  The IRS therefore believed that I overpaid my taxes and sent me a refund check (November 2022) - which I voided and returned to the IRS with an amended 1040-X (at the direction of the IRS).  I have been trying to resolve this ever since.  According to IRS phone agents my latest  (3rd) 1040-X was  has been at the IRS "Exam Department" since February 2024 (it is now February 2025).   The first submittal was never acknowledged, the second was quickly returned with another check which I voided and returned with the 3rd 1040-X (September 2023) which is still being processed.  I have not received any correspondence from the IRS since January 2024 (LTR 2645C - "need another 60-days"), although the IRS phone agents say that I should have received a February 2024 (LTR 0672C) saying that "my payment was located and/or applied".  The phone agents say that my 1040-X is still being processed, but have forwarded me to the Taxpayer Advocacy Service (TAS).  TAS has assigned me a case number (November 2024) but have not reached out to me except an email that says "Your case is assigned to a team that is working to advocate for resolutions to system-wide problems at the IRS."  The email does not provide any specifics or timeframes.  When I call TAS - they say that my case is assigned to "a team" and that I just need to be patient (paraphrased).  The IRS phone agents also say that they can't "see anything" since my return is in the Exam Department, but that I should eventually hear something.

My wife's social security account shows no earnings for 2021 & this was a high earnings year that will significantly affect her future payment.  I need to somehow get the IRS to acknowledge receipt of the 2021 Schedule SE.  

Does anyone have any ideas?

[AmyC]

You have to continue with TAS and make them understand this does have a significant impact on you. When I was at the IRS tax forum in August, they were still behind 1.7 million returns with credit and still processing returns from 2020. I  personally know 2 people still waiting for 2020 refunds, the 3rd just got their refund last week. So, there is progress.

Keep calling the IRS and TAS. You can make appointments at local IRS and TAS offices to see them in person.

See Taxpayer Advocate Service and Contact your local IRS office | Internal Revenue Service

[fanfare]

"another 1040-X"

Is this the same 1040-X or a revised No. N based on No. n-1  ?

Sending in the same 1040-X doesn't help to get resolution.

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Put the unpaid SE into a self-directed Roth IRA.

Inevested properly, it will produce more benefits than relying on future SS benefits which are on the brink  of severe reduction if not cancellation.

But you can't because you voided the check.

@hereinhelena 

[hereinhelena]

AmyC:

Thank you for the tips.  Your suggestions are very encouraging.  I have (imperfectly) been trying to call them at the intervals that they recommend (was 60-days, then 30-days, now 2-weeks).  I don't want to over-bother them, as I know they must be very busy.  Everyone (with one exception) that I have spoken with at the IRS has been kind and has tried to help, it just seems that none of the phone-help people are empowered to take action.  I did schedule a meeting, and was told it would be a video-meeting at the local IRS office.  When I went to the office, the security guard said that it was closed & had been for several years.  I understand that there is a staffed office in another city about 90-miles away, perhaps I will need to make that drive, but I don't really want to do that unless the staff there is more empowered than the phone staff.

[hereinhelena]

fanfare:

The IRS never acknowledged receipt of the first 1040-X  (December, 2022), although they did acknowledge the voided check that accompanied it.  I included a brief cover letter and extensive documentation with the 1040-X.  The IRS kept telling me to wait, as they were backlogged, then finally suggested that I resubmit it - which I did  in June 2023.  They sent me another check (with more interest) in August 2023, but did not fix the problem.  When I spoke with the phone agent, she said that although she didn't know for sure what happened, she guessed that since my 1040-X reflected my original return (Column-A matched Column-B, and Column-C was all "Zero"), the system probably did not think that anything needed to be done.  She suggested that I resubmit another 1040-X with the information that the IRS "thinks I sent in" (per the transcript) in Column-A, my intended (and original) information in Column-B, and the difference in Column-C).  I submitted this 3rd 1040-X in September 2023.  It is this submittal that is still (hopefully) being worked on.

I did consider keeping the check and investing it per your suggestion, but that did not seem correct or honest.  I just want my taxes to be correct.  I am fairly confident that my original submittal is correct - I just need them to insert the one page (Schedule SE) that they seem to have lost.  If I did make a mistake - it would be so nice to be able to sit down with an agent and resolve it.