My 1040x has a negative number on line 19. What does that mean? How do I know if I owe money for my amended return?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
July 18, 2020
1 reply
14 views

I amended my return to add a 1099-int for HSA distributions that were used for medical expenses and used turbo tax to create the amended return. Line 19 indicates if less than zero, see instructions. Line 20 has nothing on it which would indicate to me that I owe nothing. Did turbo tax do this correctly?

TurboTax Premier Online

Critter

Level 15

First ... do NOT amend the return before you have received the original refund !!!

Then ... Look at the form 1040X …

Column A should have the figures from the original return, Column C the corrected figures and Column B the differences between the other 2 which needs an explanation on page 2 of the form 1040X.

If you completed it correctly you will see an entry on either line 16 OR 18:

On line 16 should be the amount you paid with your original return.

On line 18 should be the amount of your original refund you received.

Then you will see your extra refund on line 22 OR the new balance due you need to pay on line 20.

Instructions for Line 19—Amount Available To Pay Additional Tax

If line 18 is larger than line 17, line 19 will be negative. You will owe additional tax. To figure the amount owed, treat the amount on line 19 as positive and add it to the amount on line 11. Enter the result on line 20.

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1040x

bassshAuthor

Level 2

I have not turned in my amended return yet and I have already received a refund. My amended return that turbo tax created only has info on three lines. There is a zero on line 16. Line 18 has the amount of my return (844). Line 19 has a negative number which is the negative amount of my return (-844) From your instructions this would indicate that I owe the amount of my refund which is confusing. I only amended the return to add the 1099-SA that shows my HSA distributions which were all used for qualified medical expenses. These distributions should not be taxable. So I don't understand why the 1040-x would indicate that I do owe taxes. If I have misinterpreted this I would greatly appreciate help understanding it. Thank you.

Anonymous

Line 19—Amount Available To Pay Additional Tax
If line 18 is larger than line 17, line 19 will be negative. You will
owe additional tax. To figure the amount owed, treat the amount
on line 19 as positive and add it to the amount on line 11. Enter
the result on line 20.

you may have done something wrong on the amended return. the only way 19 can be negative is if your refund (line 18) was greater than your total payments. (line17). if your original return reflected a refund of $844 that should be the amounting line18.