Watch Related Videos
comments
If you have sent in personal income tax returns and then discovered that you made some kind of a mistake, then the only option that remains for you is to file what is known as an amended personal income tax return. Having to file an amended personal income tax return is not automatically going to cost you any money, because it is perfectly okay for you to make changes to a return, especially if you are looking to capture a particular tax break that you originally missed the first time you filed your tax return.
Step #1. Determine If Changes Can Be Made
Once you have gone forward and dropped your income tax paperwork into the mailbox or sent it off using the Internet, that return is no longer capable of being altered in any way. There is only one exception, which is that if you e-filed your tax return and it is rejected, and then you will be given an opportunity to make changes before you send it in once more.
Step #2. Fill Out a 1040X Amended Tax Return
If you want to make changes to your filing after you have filed your original tax return, then what you are going to have to do is to file an amended tax return which can be done using a special form known as the 1040X. What you will do is to go about entering in the necessary changes and then explain why you need to make the amendment to your original tax form. You do not have to replace your entire tax return form, either, you are only going to need to show what changes are necessary, making the necessary adjustments to your tax liabilities accordingly.
Step #3. Consider Using Tax Preparation Software
You can use tax preparation software in order to file a 1040X amendment on your federal income tax return. One of the software options that allows for this is TurboTax.
Unfortunately, the IRS is not currently set up to accept amended tax returns through electronic sending or e-filing. What you are going to have to do is to fill the amendment paperwork out online or through your software, print it out and then mail it normally in order for it to qualify.
Step #4. File for Amending State Taxes
If you want to amend your state taxes as well as your federal taxes, you are going to want to get the federal part out of the way first. Fill out the amended federal income taxes first, and make sure that it is corrected properly. Once this is done, you can request the proper forms from your state so that you can amend your state return as well. Your state is going to require a special form just like the IRS does. Many states will also have an X suffix just in the same way that the IRS does for the federal income tax amendment form.
Make sure that your amended federal return form, 1040, is attached when you send in the paperwork for your amended state return.
Step #1. Determine If Changes Can Be Made
Once you have gone forward and dropped your income tax paperwork into the mailbox or sent it off using the Internet, that return is no longer capable of being altered in any way. There is only one exception, which is that if you e-filed your tax return and it is rejected, and then you will be given an opportunity to make changes before you send it in once more.
Step #2. Fill Out a 1040X Amended Tax Return
If you want to make changes to your filing after you have filed your original tax return, then what you are going to have to do is to file an amended tax return which can be done using a special form known as the 1040X. What you will do is to go about entering in the necessary changes and then explain why you need to make the amendment to your original tax form. You do not have to replace your entire tax return form, either, you are only going to need to show what changes are necessary, making the necessary adjustments to your tax liabilities accordingly.
Step #3. Consider Using Tax Preparation Software
You can use tax preparation software in order to file a 1040X amendment on your federal income tax return. One of the software options that allows for this is TurboTax.
Unfortunately, the IRS is not currently set up to accept amended tax returns through electronic sending or e-filing. What you are going to have to do is to fill the amendment paperwork out online or through your software, print it out and then mail it normally in order for it to qualify.
Step #4. File for Amending State Taxes
If you want to amend your state taxes as well as your federal taxes, you are going to want to get the federal part out of the way first. Fill out the amended federal income taxes first, and make sure that it is corrected properly. Once this is done, you can request the proper forms from your state so that you can amend your state return as well. Your state is going to require a special form just like the IRS does. Many states will also have an X suffix just in the same way that the IRS does for the federal income tax amendment form.
Make sure that your amended federal return form, 1040, is attached when you send in the paperwork for your amended state return.
