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AmendTaxReturn.Com
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How To Amend A Tax Return
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The question "how do I amend my tax return" gets asked thousands of
times every year. Correcting errors after your tax return has been
filed is referred to by the term "amend tax return" which in most
cases can be a fairly simple process to complete, though it could delay any refund
you have coming.
Should you discover that you made an error after your return has been mailed, you may
need to amend your return. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) service center may
at times accept tax returns with certain schedules or forms left
out, as well as correct some errors for
income tax calculations
on your tax return. In these instances you should not amend your return!
However, you will need to file an amended return if your stated
income, filing status, deductions or credits were incorrect.
You can make changes or an adjustment to a tax return you’ve already
filed by filing an amended return.
Top 10 things you should know about
amending your federal income tax return:
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To
amend your tax return you need to use
Form 1040X,
Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Form 1040X is
used to correct previously filed 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040NR and
1040NR-EZ Forms.
This form can also be used to correct an
electronically filed (efile)
tax return.
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You generally do not need to file an amended return for errors
in math calculations; the IRS will automatically make these
types of correction for you.
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You generally do not need to file an amended return if you
forgot to include your W-2s or schedule tax forms. In this case
the IRS will normally send a request asking you to submit those
documents.
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You can only amended your
federal income tax return by mail with
a paper copy of your amendment file (not digital or electronic).
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You should file an amended return if your total income, filing
status, dependents, deductions or credits were reported
incorrectly on your original return.
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To
amending more than one tax return, you will need to prepare a
separate 1040X for each one. You will then need to mail them to
the IRS campus in separate envelopes directed to the area in
which you live. The 1040X instructions will list the addresses
for each campus.
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If
your tax return changes involve another schedule or form, you
must attach it to your 1040X.
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Be
sure to enter the tax year of the return you are amending at the
top of your Form 1040X. You are generally required to file the
Form 1040X within three years from the date that you filed your
original federal income tax return or within two years of the
date you paid that years taxes, whichever is later.
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If
you find that you owe additional taxes on your Form 1040X you
should file it as soon as possible and pay the additional taxes
right away to limit penalty and interest charges. Interest is
charged on any tax amount not paid by the due date of the
original return, regardless of extensions.
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When filing to claim an additional refund you should wait until
you have received your original refund before filing Form 1040X.
You can cash that check while waiting for an additional refund.
Use Form 1040X Amend U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for changes
to forms below:
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 Form
1040
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Form 1040A
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Form 1040EZ
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Form 1040NR
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Form 1040NR-EZ
If you
owe additional taxes you need to amend
tax return documents by filing Form 1040X and pay the
additional taxes due by April 15 of the following year to avoid
penalties and interest. For due dates falling on a Saturday, Sunday,
or legal holiday, your taxes are due the next business day.
The Form 1040X has been redesigned
with just one column where the Correct Amount is the only figure you
need to enter making it easier to make changes to previously filed
returns. Do not include any interest or penalty corrections on Form
1040X; they will be adjusted automatically by the IRS as needed.
Additional Notes for Amending Your Tax Return:
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When amending tax returns, attach copies of any W-2 forms received after the original
return was filed as well as other forms or schedules that are
being changed as a result of the amendment.
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There is an area on the front of the form
where you can explain why you are
filing the Form 1040X.
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Returns
filed before the due date (regardless of extensions) are
considered filed on the due date.
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Processing
for amended tax returns usually takes 8 to 12 weeks from the
date of IRS receipt.
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Your
state tax return liability may be affected by any changes
made on your federal income tax return.
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For information on how to correct your
state tax return, contact your
state tax agency.
The Internal Revenue Service will usually correct math errors and
let you know of any changes. In these instances, you don't need to
amend tax return forms yourself.
However, you should file an amended return if you discover that any
of the following were reported incorrectly (before the IRS does).
If you send the IRS a corrected tax return in these instances, you
might be able to get more money back.
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