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If you are amending more than one tax return, prepare a 1040X for each year. You should mail each year in separate envelopes. Note the tax year of the return you are amending at the top of Form 1040X.
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If you use other IRS forms or schedules to make changes, make sure to attach them to your Form 1040X.
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If you are due a refund from your original return, wait to get it before filing Form 1040X to claim an additional refund. Amended returns take up to 16 weeks to process.
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If you owe more tax, file your Form 1040X and pay the tax as soon as you can to avoid possible penalties and interest from being added to your account.
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You can track the status of your amended tax return three weeks after you file with ‘Where’s My Amended Return?’ It is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Russian. The tool can track the status of an amended return for the current year and up to three years back. If you have filed amended returns for multiple years, you can check each year, one at a time.
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It is not mandatory to file an amended return, but if you do, you must correct everything that needs corrected. Form 1040X is a three column (Columns A, B & C) format. The first entry is a check box indicating the tax year the taxpayer is amending. These boxes cover the four most current years. There are also check boxes to list another year and/or a fiscal year which is for fiscal year filers.
It is very important to list your name (or names) as it/they appeared on the original return and in the order (primary, secondary) it appeared on the name line of the original return. If the names are reversed or do not match IRS records the claim can be delayed or sent back to the taxpayer incomplete. The social security number is equally important because this is how taxpayers are identified on IRS records. Incorrect, transposed numbers will result in an incomplete claim and the entire claim will be returned to the taxpayer for correction.
If filing Form 1040X for a deceased taxpayer, enter “Deceased,” the deceased taxpayer's name, and the date of death across the top of Form 1040X, page 1. |
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If you are filing a joint return as a surviving spouse, enter “Filing as surviving spouse” in the area where you sign the return. If someone else is the personal representative, he or she must also sign. Currently direct deposit of refunds is not available on an amended return.
Although the taxpayer’s phone number is not required, it is recommended. In certain situations the IRS might have a simple question that could be answered by a phone call as opposed to corresponding with the taxpayer.
You should make sure that the correct required forms are attached to the 1040X and are completed. If you have a claim involving dependents/ exemptions should have correct SSNs/ITINs or it will be an incomplete claim.
It is mandatory that the figures placed in Column A are the original figures or the original figures as changed by the IRS. Using any other numbers will cause the amended return to be incorrect and could cause delays in processing the 1040X.
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Part III Explanation of changes is a key element in processing the 1040X. This is your chance to explain why and what is being changed and it can provide the tax examiner a clear view of what you are trying to accomplish.
The amended return cannot be processed unless it is signed by you under the “SIGN HERE” area.
Form 1040X will be your new tax return, changing your original return to include new information. The entries you make on Form 1040X under the column headings Correct amount and Correct number or amount are the entries you would have made on your original return had it been done.
Like the IRS, your state uses a special form for an amended return. Many states also use the X suffix for the form number. You should get the proper form from your state and use the information from Form 1040X to help you fill it out.
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Although all this may not seem too complicated, don’t underestimate the value of professional advise in all your dealings with the IRS. |
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