Question

To amend a return..only needing to make 1 change, do i fill it all out or just the area/question i need to amend?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
July 30, 2020
1 reply
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waiting for months on my stimulus check, KNOWING im eligible under all guidelines. Spoke w a woman thru IRS about month n hlf ago. She wouldnt look into my stuff sid not ask my name but told mr its just a waiting game. Spoke w a man couple wks ago he said i need to amend my return bc apparently when i done it thru turbotax i must've accidently checked "YES" to question 'can anyone claim you as a dependant?' When obviously meant to and should've checked "NO"! Clearly it was a mistake...you cant file taxes and be claimed unless you make under like 5 to 10 grand whole yr. Mine was over that. Anyway i printed the form i need but how do i do it? Do i redo all of it w all same info (bc its just the 1 question needing changed) or do i leave all blank just change the 1 question i had made the error on. Its obviously for this year...2019 return. Ive gotten both state and federal returns back in feb. No changes or anything just need to fix that 1 yes to a no in order to receive my stimulus. Idk how the IRS didnt catch this mistake anyway?

TurboTax Free Edition Online

T

Texas Roger

Employee

You are not eligible for the stimulus payment if you checked the box on your tax return that you can be claimed by someone else. You must check the box if you meet the requirements to be claimed by someone else even if they don't claim you. See this for whether someone can claim you or not: https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-deductions-and-credits-2/family/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent-7658/

If you do not meet the requirements to be claimed by someone else, you can prepare, print, and mail an amended return form 1040X to "uncheck" the box. DO NOT uncheck the box until you start the amended return. Here is a link to help you: https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894381-how-to-amend-change-or-correct-a-return-you-already-filed

You should use TurboTax to prepare the amended return. Page 1 of form 1040X needs to show that nothing changed on most of the lines but that you did receive the refund from the original return. On page 2 you need to enter an explanation for why you are amending the return. You could say something like: "I am amending my return because I mistakenly chose that I could be claimed by someone else on my original return and I do not meet the requirements to be claimed by someone else."

Amended returns must be printed and mailed. They can't be efiled. You must print and mail it yourself. In normal times, it takes the IRS about 16 weeks to process an amended return.

An alternative for you is to wait until you file you 2020 tax return and not check the box on that return. The stimulus payment is actually an advance on a credit claimed on your 2020 tax return. You could get it when you file your 2020 return.

Critter-3

Amended returns are taking about 6 months to process right now due to the 3 month Covid shut down period ... I highly recommend you simply wait until you file the 2020 return to get the stimulus credit. Mailing in a 2019 amended return may or may not get you the payment this year.

G

ggmarie88Author

Just now reading this reply. Wow 6 months to amend a return? Im still shocked and unsure as to how turbotax wasnt and never caught the mistake...let alone notify me so I could have fixed it right on the spot before even sending my original return in??! Astounding really. Beyond frustrating that Ive been waiting expecting and checking the IRS stimulus webiste since day 1... When had I known could've possibly had this done taken care of MONTHS back! Not to mention that i paid an extra $70 to Turbotax, just for the extra help,back up,& for them to be available ANY time needed for questions etc. And yet even though the covid19 ordeal, it's all via online yet couldn't and still cannot get Abby help nor replies from them??! Amazes me. I DEF know better for years to come.