After you file

My ammended return was mailed in 3/2023. (Its now  17 month's later) Was told by the IRS on the phone, (and actually making an appointment at IRS office) t can take up to 2 years to receive a refund!!  Is this true?  Is our federal government this efficient? Now I call ever 2 months. Keep getting a response of "you should receive a check next month" , (have heard this like 3 times)  can I just deduct this refund from next year's income?  Because I seriously doubt I will ever get it.