Form 1040-X: Negative Numbers in Parentheses

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
June 19, 2021
3 replies
53 views

Bottom left of page 10 of the IRS instructions for Form 1040-X: "Note. Show any negative numbers (losses or decreases) in columns A, B, or C in parentheses."

TT Deluxe used minus signs instead of parentheses. Is there a way to remove the minus signs and use parentheses instead, or do I have to print a blank 1040-X and complete it with a pen?

Thank you.

jtax

Level 10

I would use what TT prints and ignore the instructions.

Publication 1167 section 6.2.8 (page 30) https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1167.pdf

says for the following for all "substitute forms" (I think a tax form printed by software is probably a "substitute form" as it is not a printed form from the IRS)

Negative (or loss) amount entries should be enclosed in brackets or parentheses
or include a minus sign. This assists in accurate computation and input of form
data. The IRS preprints parentheses in negative data fields on many official
forms. These parentheses should be retained or inserted on printouts of affected
substitute forms

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glerbnik84Author

Level 4

Excellent! Thank you for your reply, and for digging up the info in Pub 1167.

Much appreciated!!

macuser_22

Alumni - Champ

The instructions are for hand filing the form on paper. Before the TurboTax software can be distributed to the public all forms had to be submitted to the IRS for their approval. The IRS has no problem with the way TurboTax does it. (Formats and specifications for electronically prepared tax forms are defined in IRS furnished "schemas" that can be different than the published instructions for paper forms - everything on the form must be exactally as the schema defines it or the IRS computer will not be able to read it. )

**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**