amennded return

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I filed an amended return the day after the original form was sent for a refund of $429.

The deposit came in 3 days. The amended amount was for $50 less and they sent me a check within 3 weeks for that one too.
I have not cashed the check….please advise….

M-MTax

Level 15

Step 1: Void and Return the Check

Since you have not cashed the paper Treasury check, follow the official IRS Tax Topic 161 instructions to void it:

Write "Void" clearly in the endorsement section on the back of the check.
Do not staple, bend, or paper clip the check.
Write a brief explanatory note stating: "Return of erroneous refund check. Original return refund of $429 was received via direct deposit. Form 1040-X was filed to adjust the total refund to $379."

Step 2: Send the $50 You Still Owe

By keeping the $429 direct deposit but needing an adjusted total of $379, you still owe the IRS $50.

Pay electronically: Use IRS Direct Pay to submit the $50. Select "Amended Return (1040X)" as your reason for payment to ensure it attaches correctly to your account.
Pay by check (Alternative): If you prefer mail, enclose a personal check or money order for $50 in the same envelope as the voided check. Write “Amended Return Tax Payment,” the applicable tax year, and your Social Security Number directly on the memo line.

Step 3: Mail to the Correct IRS Location

You must mail the voided check, your explanatory note, and your $50 payment (if paying by check) to the specific IRS submission center handling your state.

Look up your specific state's mailing address on the IRS Form 3911 Address Page.
Pro Tip: Send this package using Certified Mail with Return Receipt so you have legal documentation that the IRS received the returned check.

Loretta P

Employee Tax Expert

M-Mtax is correct you do not want to cash or deposit the check based on the amended return. Cashing an erroneous refund check means the IRS will bill you for the overpayment plus potential interest and penalties down the line. M-Mtax’s post explains the steps to resolve your issue.

Normally you need to wait until the original return is processed by the IRS before amending a return. This is not a problem as you have 3 years in which to amend a return. By waiting to amend until after the original return is processed, you avoid the situation where the amended return gets processed before the original return.

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MythSaraLee

Level 6

@Loretta P Usually how many days do I need to wait for to avoid this problem of “an erroneous refund check” while we filing the amended return.

Loretta P

Employee Tax Expert

@MythSaraLee It depends on how the original return was filed. If the original return was e-filed, it is normally processed by the IRS within 21 days, with received being received in 2-3 weeks. If the original return was paper filed, meaning it was sent by mail, it is normally processed by the IRS within 6 to 8 weeks. This time frame would be extended during peak tax filing season.

For amended returns the standard IRS processing time is 8 to 12 weeks. If the amended return requires manual verification or has special forms it can take up to 16 weeks to process an amended return. It normally takes 3 weeks after an amended return is submitted to the IRS for it to show up in the IRS tracking system.

The IRS returns can be tracked on the IRS website.

Track original return status using the IRS Where's My Refund? tool (available 24 hours after e-filing).
Track amended return status using the IRS Where's My Amended Return? tool (available 3 weeks after filing).

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