When you have a tax “oops” you fix it by filing an Amended Tax Return, form 1040X.
Mistakes happen. You file your return and later get a W2 in the mail for a job you had forgotten about. Maybe your investment firm sent you an amended 1099 because your interest income they reported was wrong. Or maybe you were talking to a friend and learned about a deduction that you should have been claiming for the past three years and you’d like a refund. What do you do?
It’s easy, you need to file an amended return, the form is called a 1040X and you can find it on the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040x.pdf.
An amended return can’t be filed electronically like a regular return. You must mail it in and it’s going to take about 12 weeks to process. That’s a bummer if you’re expecting a refund, but that’s the way it works. If your regular return had a refund, make sure you wait until you’ve received the first refund before you file the amended return. (If they start processing the amended return before your original refund gets paid, it can mess up you getting the original refund. You don’t want that to happen now do you?)
If you have more than one tax return that needs to be amended, you must file separate returns for each year and mail them in separate envelopes. For example, say you found out that you had missed a $1000 deduction on your Schedule A every year and you’re in the 25% tax bracket. You can’t just put $3000 on this year’s return for a $750 refund. You’ll have to amend 2010, 2009, and 2008 separately and you’ll receive three checks for $250 each. It’s too late now to claim a refund that should have gone on 2007.
When you amend your tax return, you’ll have to send in the schedules of anything that changed. In the example above, the thing that changed was on the schedule A, so that form would also have to be attached. Don’t attach any forms that didn’t change. Warning: for many folks, a change in one part of your tax return can cause a change somewhere else-most notably on your schedule A. Before you actually mail anything in, go over it carefully to see if you have any unexpected changes.
When you file a 1040X, make sure you check the box for the tax year that you’re amending. That’s a pretty common mistake. The IRS can’t process the return if they don’t know what year it’s for.
When not to file an amended return: You don’t need to file an amended return for a basic math mistake. The IRS will automatically fix that for you. You also don’t need to file an amended return if your original was missing a schedule. That’s where you get a letter from the IRS saying that you claimed something on your return but that you’re missing the supporting documents. A common example of that would be a capital gain of $2000 on your return, but there’s no schedule D to back it up. You don’t need to amend the return, just mail them the schedule D. The IRS will ask you for whatever schedule they’re looking for, you won’t have to guess at what’s missing.
I’ve talked a lot about filing an amended return because of a refund. Sometimes when you file an amended return you’re going to owe. If you have a balance due, mail the payment check with your 1040X. The IRS will probably send you a bill for interest and maybe even penalties depending upon how much you owed. Be prepared for that.
Often times, people are thinking about filing amended returns because they received an IRS letter. Sometimes, you don’t need to amend, just pay the tax. Sometimes, you really need to amend because you shouldn’t have to pay the tax but you need to submit more information. Sometimes, you don’t need to amend and you don’t need to pay the tax—the IRS made a mistake and they just need to have it pointed out to them. Before you start writing that check, get a professional opinion–you want to pay your fair share, not more than you owe.
Hi BC,
For $10, I wouldn’t do a 1040X. It won’t change your taxes.
Hi Taz,
If your son’s last name is listed incorrectly then the return should be rejected. Fix it and resend.
Hi Lauren,
If you got direct deposit of your refund, that won’t be as big of a problem. If you’re waiting for a check–that’s another story. Submit a change of address form to the IRS. Keep your eyes open for the check, and watch the “where’s my refund” page regularly.
I’d contact the IRS and see if you can inform them of the address change before the check is cut–but there might be nothing you can do.
Hi Lain,
You will probably get your refund and get it on time. But, you do need to amend your return or you will get a notice saying that you owe tax on your husband’s income (since it’s claimed as yours.) The IRS computer will see a W2 in your husband’s name, it won’t match the tax return and they’re going to ask you to pay the extra tax. So you need to amend!
Hi Jan, I have sat here and read all these comments, I greatly appreciate you answering as thoroughly, as i have answered other questions I had by reading them!
Anyway, my issue is that in 2012 I didn’t work much other than a single W-2 for a lousy ~420. I also worked painting housing getting paid by cash making $4300 (well check) and also did some computer system building for $950.
Hi Jan, I have sat here and read all these comments, I greatly appreciate you answering as thoroughly, as i have answered other questions I had by reading them!
Anyway, my issue is that in 2012 I didn’t work much other than a single W-2 for a lousy ~420. I also worked painting housing getting paid by cash making $4300 (well check) and also did some computer system building for $950.
I claimed my niece as my sister only gets SS benefits and she lives with me in my house. Because of this I am getting some amt of the EIC and additional tax credit.
My problem comes in the fact that I have always just had W-2′s, and while using Turbo tax, there was a section for miscellaneous income and I added both the 4300 and 950 and also working as a household member of $1278 as I worked at a friends mom’s house doing yard work. After reading into somethings, I believe I should have filed a Schedule C form and had self Employment tax taken out. I didn’t, used Turbo Tax Free edition and figured this would have been automatically taken out.
My refund is $2998 and I have done an amended return and it comes to 2266. I filed on Feb 1st and so did my dad, he received his Today (feb 8th) and mine still says processing.
Continued..
Hi Randy,
I suspect that’s what’s holding up your refund. I suspect they will take their money and will take their time about sending you your refund.
If you do get your refund and they haven’t taken the $500 out, you will need to amend and pay the $500 back.
Hi Kristi,
If the IRS hasn’t notified you that they are levying your refund, you don’t need to worry about it. But do file the 1040X for your 2011 return.
Hi Elizabeth,
You will send the amended return and any pages that have changed or been added. Do not send your original return with it. (They’ve already got that.)
Hi Shelly,
It’s really only a problem if you also purchased an IRA. If not, don’t sweat it.
Hi Denise,
First thing is, I’d contact the employer. It’s rare to get a W2 and a 1099 from the same company, but not impossible.
If the 1099 is legit, you’ll have to amend your taxes after they have been processed.
I don’t understand why people are submitting tax returns that cannot be accepted by the IRS before their time. The only people who win with this are the tax companies that are taking your money. It’s not just you, there are lots of people doing this. But then you’re stuck–and now you’re going to have to file an amended return on top of it. I’m guessing that you’ll have to pay extra for that too.
Hi Kyle,
probably nothing. If you already filed, the IRS accepted the return. If you haven’t filed, then wait until you get the corrected W2. Hang onto the notice with your tax return. If you get a letter from the IRS in the future, you’ll be able to prove there was a mistake.
Hey Megan,
What locality is you employer withholding tax for? Around here is would be St. Louis. Just type in what it is.
Hi Megan,
Your employer should correct your W2 first.
Hi Kris K,
I know how that goes. I recently had to amend several years of returns for a client with a similar problem.
Amend the returns. You won’t get any refund for years before 2009, but you’ll need to get your 2009 return before April 15th or you’ll lose that refund too.
Hi Jenn,
Most likely you will have to amend as soon as you get your refund. You’ll need to pay that money back.
Hi Stacy,
I’d wait this one out. If your name was wrong, it would have already rejected. The IRS said that refunds could take up to 21 days. Give them some time.
Eric,
you really do need to amend your return and claim the coffee shop income.
As a further clarification, my W-2s are correct; the information was just entered incorrectly into turbotax as his income instead of mine.
When I filed my taxes, I realized that my house number was left out. Only the street name was on there. What should I do? My refund was accepted on January 31 but still haven’t been processed.
Hi,
I e-filed my taxes today and they have already been accepted. After doing so, I noticed the my W-2 income was incorrectly listed as my husband’s (that is his name/SSN was on my W-2 income/info in the turbo tax worksheet). Our overall reported income is correct–my husband is a stay at home dad with no income, so the amount of refund we are due is correct–it is just reported as his income instead of mine. Do I wait for the refund and then file an amended return or will we not get a refund until this error is corrected? Thanks!
Why would someone receive a message from your State Refund to contact a live agent? If you owe past Court Costs, would that be a reason?
I filed tax on 1/30 and it was accepted, but everyone that filed in my family on same day with same program have already got their refunds. When I went back over the taxes i noticed that I did not put the 2008 First time home buyer on my taxes, I was supposed to pay the $500 for the credit each year, and all the other years we received a letter from irs to add. This year I did not get a letter and had taxes waiting for the form and seen that Irs was not sending out this year. I mistakenly submitted the taxs without putting on that info. How do I correct this?
I did not file 2 1099’s from 2011. I received them after filing taxes last year. I did not think I would need to file a 1040x, because it was oil and gas royalties suspense money from Inheritance. I was told by a family member this is not true and I need to hurry and file a 1040x. I have already filed 2012 and am waiting for refund. Will this slow my refund for this year?
I filed my orginal tax forms and already recieved my refund. I now amended my return since i did not included my education credits. All the paperwork is done and signed but do i mail out my amended tax form and the orginal or just the amended?
After my taxes had been completed and accepted, I realized that I failed to record the “checkmark” that I have in box 13 for my retirement plan. It is not an IRA, it is to a state retirement system. Do I need to complete an amended return? In a state of panic!!! Thank you!!!
After my taxes had been completed and accepted, I realized that I failed to record the ‘checkmark’ in box 13 for my retirement plan. It is not an IRA; it is a state teacher retirement system. Do I need to complete an amended return? In a state of panic!!!
Hi Jan, the comments on this article are so helpful, I hope you can answer this easy question too! I just mailed in an amended return to fix one straightforward mistake on my 2011 schedule A reported mortgage interest. I have prepared my 2012 taxes to reflect all the accurate info but have not efiled because I am not sure if I have to wait. Do I have to wait until my 2011 amended return is accepted, or can I also go ahead and e-file my 2012 taxes now as well? Thanks!
Hi Jan,
I filed my tax return electronically thru HR Block, but it’s in queue because i filed using form 8863 claiming the lifetime learning credit. I just received a 1099-MISC from an employer who also issued me a W-2. They filled box 7 for $5392.00. I have no idea what this is for. When I worked there, they took out my taxes bi weekly. I never received anything extra….what should I do?
I just filed my taxes and they were accepted, but today I got a letter from my employee saying the EIN was wrong on the W2 they sent. What do I do?
i filed my taxes and my sons last name is wrong will that effect my return and the amount of time it will take to get back?
Taxes were efiled and the next day a 1099 for $10 came in. Do the tax returns need to be amended?
Hi Jan, I have sat here and read all these comments, I greatly appreciate you answering as thoroughly, as i have answered other questions I had by reading them!
Anyway, my issue is that in 2012 I didn’t work much other than a single W-2 for a lousy ~420. I also worked painting housing getting paid by cash making $4300 (well check) and also did some computer system building for $950.
I claimed my niece as my sister only gets SS benefits and she lives with me in my house. Because of this I am getting some amt of the EIC and additional tax credit.
My problem comes in the fact that I have always just had W-2’s, and while using Turbo tax, there was a section for miscellaneous income and I added both the 4300 and 950 and also working as a household member of $1278 as I worked at a friends mom’s house doing yard work. After reading into somethings, I believe I should have filed a Schedule C form and had self Employment tax taken out. I didn’t, used Turbo Tax Free edition and figured this would have been automatically taken out.
My refund is $2998 and I have done an amended return and it comes to 2266. I filed on Feb 1st and so did my dad, he received his Today (feb 8th) and mine still says processing.
I am extremely worried that I am going to get fees or something that will delay my refund substantially. I read that if you forget to add a schedule form, that the IRS will do this for you.. Well the full amt of my wages went into the wages, saleries, line, not even the Self employment section.
Am I going to get information on Where’s My refund, or will I get my refund, then get a letter down the road? I also really had no expenses in my jobs as supplies were paid for by the person paying me, I only really claimed my car expense.
I am extremely nervous that I will get an audit or just not get my refund, or not even know what is happening if Where’s my refund doesn’t alert me, it still says Processing. I’m 23 and thought I knew what i was doing on Turbo tax, maybe not!
Thanks so much
Hi again!
I posted earlier with a different question and have now run into another issue –
Box 18 (local wages) is blank and box 19 (local income tax) is $24.20. When I tried to continue to the next step on the HR block website it said, ” box 18 cannot equal or exceed box 19″
What should I do?
Thanks again 🙂
-Megan
Hi!
I’ve got a quick question for ya please –
I got my W2 from my employer and the locality name (box 20) was wrong (we work in Missouri and the locality was listed as ‘Kansas’). Our boss knows about it and one of my co workers filed hers and it cost her like, $9.00 because of the mistake.
She didn’t seem to have any problems with her return but I wanted to double check before I filed, just in case. Could this effect my return? Would it mess anything up in the future?
Thanks so much!
I file my taxes and yesterday was looking over it and notices some how I put in that I had federal tax withheld, when I didn’t. Will my refund b delay or would I just need to amend my taxes after I get my refund.
Thanks
Hi,
I filed my tax return for my current job on which i started to work on October 2012.
However, before my current job, i worked at a small coffee shop for 2 months and made a total income of 1100.
i received my w2 for the coffee shop AFTER i filed my return already for my current job, which the total income for year 2012 was 11,000.
Do i still need to file a 1040x form for my coffee shop w2?
if i dont, will the only thing i would be losing is my refund from the coffee shop?
is it mandatory and required for me to file my tax return for the coffee shop?
Thank you.
Hi. I changed my last name in sept. and did get my new card. I e filed my tax returns and haven’t gotten anything yet. IRS says being processed and state says not processed. I filed on 1/30/13. Then I remembered trying to rent furniture and when they put my name a ssn in they didn’t match up until he tries my old name. Could the IRS be having this problem too?? And what do I do. I did all the right steps
Hi,
I just discovered that I had made a mistake entering info into Turbo Tax, on our home that we started renting out, in 2007. The error has since been brought forward each year with TT. The short version is the land & the building/house value were transposed on Sch E thereby we were only taking a straight line depreciated (over 27.5 yrs) value of $189/year when it should have been approx $5000/year. So the Schedule E form was messed up initially. I don’t even know where to begin to rectify it. Please advise/help 😉 I am thinking this also affected our state returns too….and we had several being active military most of those years. Man….I feel sick!!!
Hi Toiya,
You were right to spell your name correctly on your taxes. You should have your employer fix your name but you filed the right way.
Hi Marquita,
For just a CP2000 letter, you need to amend but it doesn’t mean that the IRS has started levy action so your refund should still be okay.
Jessica,
You’re asking me if it’s worth your money to go to H&R Block. I think it’s worth it to pay me. I’ll withhold judgement on them. Sorry.
Most likely, our refunds are going down because your income is increasing and you’re losing EIC. (At least, that’s a pretty common explanation.) But you won’t know if you don’t get a second opinion.
Hi Erica,
No problem. The IRS doesn’t even know about that 1099 yet. The IRS says to expect to wait 21 days. Some people got their refunds fast but it means nothing that you didn’t. No worries.
Hi Travis,
I’ve never used Snap. It might be a “security” measure fake social security number used for your protection. I’d call Turbo tax just to be safe.
Hi Ann,
A couple of thoughts: First–I want to make sure you understand the meaning of “support”. Because there’s real life, and there’s the IRS definition. If you claim your in-laws, there are two things. One, they can’t make over $3800 in taxable income. Now social security isn’t taxable income so if they’re getting that–you’re probably okay. But there’s another part–you have to pay for more than half of their support–as in–if they make $12,000 in social security, then you have to pay over $12,000 toward their support. So–you’ve also got that. And the final thing is–if they are married and filing a joint tax return–then you can’t claim them. So you’ve got three issues above and beyond the fact that someone else claimed them. Could they have filed and claimed themselves?
Now, if everything fits and you have a right to claim them–then you can paper file and it will get the IRS audit rules working. (But remember, you’ll be audited for claiming them too so make sure you can before you try.)
Now about the cell phone and internet–what percentage of your cell phone and internet use is for business? 50%, 30% or 80%? So you would figure the percentage and claim that expense. That said, it’s probably not enough to make a difference you your return unless you have other expenses to add to it. Employee business expenses have to be over 2% of your income before they begin to qualify plus it goes on your Schedule A so if you don’t have other itemized deductions then it won’t help.
Hello, I filed my taxes last Thursday my employer spelled my name Toyia but it’s really spelled toiya so when I filed my taxes I spelled it the way it is on my social security card. Do u think the irs will reject it due to that mistake?
i gotten a cp2000 letter tax person did amendment and also filed my 2012 taxes will i still get a refund. irs recieve my taxes but my amendment is still being process. what will happen now
Hi! Our tax preparer called today to let us know she was done with them, and gave us the total state & federal return amount. We think its a bit low. Nothing has really changed from last year to this year, except my husband made a little more, but we’re getting less than last year. We seem to be getting less & less each year. H&R Block makes going to them for tax prep look tempting because they do the double check for the last 3 years. We’ve had our tax preparer do our taxes for the last 8 or 9 years. We’ve considered going to a big tax business like H&R Block but they charge more and well…is it worth that extra cost?
I filed on the 30th and got accepted and just received a 1099 for 995 dollars that I forgot about. WMR says its still processing. I’m freaking out that I won’t get my refund. I am going to file an amended return but are they going to reject my refund? I know a bunch of people who filed on the same day as me and received their refund already. I’m scared
Hi Jan, thanks for taking out your time to answer us. I e-filed my taxes using turbotax snaptax on my smartphone. When i preview my e-filed tax return forms it shows there is no name on the federal and state forms and the social security on the forms is 222-111-2222 which is nothing close to mine. They have already dropped the federal return money in my bank. Will i need to amend this or no biggie?