I filed my Amended 2019 Return via mail more than 6 weeks ago, but I still haven't received my tax return or an update on my return. How do I find out my return status?

[fgriffit]

I originally attempted to e-file three different times with TurboTax, but each attempt was rejected.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

In normal times it takes up to 16 weeks or more to process an Amended 1040X return.  But these are not normal times.

Sorry the IRS has limited staff due to Covid-19.  They just started opening the mail in June that's been stacking up. Back in March the IRS closed their processing centers and stopped processing mailed tax returns.  An IRS spokesperson recently said that they have about 11 million pieces of unopened mail.  The IRS says....."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."  So it may take longer if you mailed in June or later.  So you have to keep waiting.

See this IRS page for the latest information

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

Then once they start opening the mail, After 3 weeks you can track it here,    

https://www.irs.gov/filing/individuals/amended-returns-form-1040-x-/wheres-my-amended-return-1

[fgriffit]

Gotcha- thank you so much!!

[VolvoGirl]

By the way, what was Rejected?  The Amended return or your original return?  You don't amend if the first original return was rejected. Turbo Tax just started allowing Amended returns to be efiled on Aug 26.  So you couldn't have tried to efile it 6 weeks ago.

[fgriffit]

The original return was rejected. 

[VolvoGirl]

Oh no!  Did you actually mail in a 1040X Amended return instead of your original 1040 return?  You should not have done an amended return to fix a rejected return.  You now might have a big problem.  Hopefully the IRS will send back your amended return if they didn't get the original return.  You still have to file the original one.

[fgriffit]

Sorry, I was mistaken. It says on TurboTax that I amended it (“you amended your 2019 taxes!”), but the print out which I mailed in to the IRS (and copied for my records) is the original 1040. I didn’t want to try to e-file it for a fourth time, because each of the three prior times were rejected for various reasons despite my having followed TurboTax’s instructions for fixing each issue.

[Critter-3 · Accepted solution]

Good ... due to the covid situation mailed in returns are taking much longer to process this year ... could take 4 months or more so all you can do is check the IRS site once a week until you see the return in the system. 

[fgriffit]

Oh WHEW! Thank you SO much @Critter-3 and @VolvoGirl for all of your help!!!