# Question About the New Homebuyer's Tax Credit-12 Weeks?!?! Really?!?!? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 15, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319 "2010-06-15T17:48:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Storm\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Storm\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Storm_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/1 "2010-06-15T17:48:29Z")
So I bought a new house on May 15th or so-just squeaked in under the deadline for the 10% new homebuyer’s credit. I duly filed an amended tax return the day after closing, and sat back to await my Big Ole Government CheckTM I just called the IRS 800 number, and was told by the faceless government drone there that there was an expected wait of 12 weeks for the refund to be sent out, and that they had no record of my amended return since they had “only” had it for a month or so… So here is my question to you oh wise Dopers: Has anyone on the Board had experience with filing an amended tax return to get the Homebuyer’s Credit, and if so, did it really take 3 months? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/2 "2010-06-15T18:42:58Z")
> [@Storm\_Girl](#): > > So I bought a new house on May 15th or so-just squeaked in under the deadline for the 10% new homebuyer’s credit. I duly filed an amended tax return the day after closing, and sat back to await my Big Ole Government CheckTM > > I just called the IRS 800 number, and was told by the faceless government drone there that there was an expected wait of 12 weeks for the refund to be sent out, and that they had no record of my amended return since they had “only” had it for a month or so… > > So here is my question to you oh wise Dopers: Has anyone on the Board had experience with filing an amended tax return to get the Homebuyer’s Credit, and if so, did it really take 3 months? I haven’t filed an amended tax return at all, but 3 months really doesn’t strike me as a long time at all. They have tens of millions of returns that they’re still sifting through that aren’t amended. That shit takes time. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/3 "2010-06-15T18:44:35Z")
> [@Storm\_Girl](#): > > So here is my question to you oh wise Dopers: Has anyone on the Board had experience with filing an amended tax return to get the Homebuyer’s Credit, and if so, did it really take 3 months? Tax type person here. Three months is fast. Just so you know, they are, per what I’ve been told, taking up to 8 months to process amended returns. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/4 "2010-06-15T18:45:01Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > I haven’t filed an amended tax return at all, but 3 months really doesn’t strike me as a long time at all. They have tens of millions of returns that they’re still sifting through that aren’t amended. That shit takes time. Agreed. If the IRS gets something done in 12 weeks, that’s downright _speedy_ and you should thank your lucky stars. Hell, I’m still waiting to receive a rebate check for something I bought in 1995. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/5 "2010-06-15T18:57:54Z")
I meant to also note that something like 1/4 returns with the New Home Buyer credit are being audited. So the hold up might not be just processing your amendment (which can be done by a computer), but that your return is being audited. Hooray! ---
**Author:** ![Storm\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Storm\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Storm_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/6 "2010-06-15T20:18:20Z")
I guess you guys are right…hope it gets here before the snow flies, though or I’m gonna freeze my booty off-part of the money is going to be used for much needed upgrades to the heating system! Dio, I’m not too worried about the audit-my tax return is as simple as they come. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/7 "2010-06-15T22:37:06Z")
We bought our house in December and filed taxes in early March. We qualify for the tax credit for second-time buyers, but got a letter back in the mail asking for some form (a form we had submitted the first time around mind you, but whatever). Faxed it in and now have been waiting 6 weeks or so. We were instructed if we don’t get our refund by end of June to call again. our Acountant says that matches to what he’s hearing from other clients. The thing that is making me grumpy is they have given us _none_ of our refund, even the portion totally unrelated to this homebuyers thing. That part makes me grrrr. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/8 "2010-06-15T22:42:10Z")
I finally got my return, which included the buying again home owner credit, and because it took so long…I got $26 in interest from the IRS! That didn’t really take the sting out of waiting an extra six weeks, but I was happy to see it. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/9 "2010-06-16T15:36:19Z")
Shit, I best get mine filed. ---
**Author:** ![Storm\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Storm\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Storm_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/10 "2010-06-16T15:51:35Z")
Wow stretch, whatcha gonna do with all that loot? 🙂 I had no idea that the IRS would pay interest on your refund if it was delayed. That does suck Hedda-maybe you’ll get some interest on the full amount. Smellmywort, you should hie yourself to the accountant’s office right away! Maybe you’ll get your refund in time to buy a nice sled for winter… ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/11 "2010-06-16T16:40:17Z")
Holy crap! I thought I was supposed to deduct it on next year’s return. WTF is this “amend your return” crap? I bought my house in May 2010, FFS?!? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/12 "2010-06-16T17:17:38Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > Holy crap! I thought I was supposed to deduct it on next year’s return. WTF is this “amend your return” crap? I bought my house in May 2010, FFS?!? You need to amend your 2009 tax return: [see here.](http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/13 "2010-06-16T17:30:09Z")
> [@Storm\_Girl](#): > > Wow stretch, whatcha gonna do with all that loot? 🙂 I had no idea that the IRS would pay interest on your refund if it was delayed. I didn’t know they paid interest either. The only reason I knew it was interest is because called the IRS a couple of days before the deposit–I wanted to know what was going on and the IRS rep told me that I was getting a larger return and that it included interest. I blew the extra money on food. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/14 "2010-06-16T17:30:52Z")
Of course they pay interest. Just like they charge interest if you owe them money, if they owe you money, they pay interest. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/15 "2010-06-16T18:30:05Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > You need to amend your 2009 tax return: [see here.](http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html) I think you can actually do either the ammended 2009 return or wait and do it with the 2010 return. **Storm Girl** : Sled? I’m thinking more along the lines of HOT TUB.😃 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/16 "2010-06-16T21:24:29Z")
Yeah; it looks like I can do either. I’d rather just do it in '10, anyway. Thanks for the link; I’m a big duh face sometimes. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/17 "2010-06-21T20:39:23Z")
Update: My refund, complete with the homebuyers-credit came last Friday. Yay! Here’s hoping everyone else gets theirs soon too. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-new-homebuyers-tax-credit-12-weeks-really/543319/18 "2010-06-22T19:13:01Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > Shit, I best get mine filed. Hell. I filed my taxes over a year ago. Get with the program, slacker 😉