Amended return help after receiving IRS letter

[Angkb76]

I filed my return via TurboTax, it was accepted but then I received a letter from the irs stating that there is an issue that they need to review. I have the option to amend so I figured out what I’d done wrong and fixed it. The problem is that my refund is less than the original refund which I never received and when I started to file the amended return it shows that I owe the difference even though I didn’t receive the refund, and according to the IRS unless the problem is resolved I may not ever receive it. How can I file the amended return without paying the difference?

[DoninGA]

Look at your amended tax return, Form 1040-X, on Line 18.  If there is an amount entered on Line 18 that is the amount of the refund from the original tax return you filed.  If Line 21 on the amended return shows a refund amount, then that is in addition to the amount already reported on the original tax return.

[Vanessa A · Accepted solution]

Since you did not yet receive the refund, you do not need to include payment as long as this is ONLY due to paying back some of the refund you already received and NOT because you would have had to pay in to start with.  If this amount is higher than what you would have had refunded to you, then you will need to pay that amount with the amended return. 

Generally, one should wait until the return is processed and then they already received the refund so they can just send some back.  In your case, you are being told they are not processing your refund without the error being corrected.  Once they receive your amended return, they will give you the lower refund amount.  

If the amended return is giving you the option, you can choose mail paper check.  This will allow you to submit without payment.