Amending filing status from married filing separately to married filing jointly

[dogdoc76]

My husband and I both filed married filing separately for our 2021 taxes. We both received refunds. I am in the process of amending my 2021 tax return to married filing jointly. I understand that if I do this, he does not need to as the IRS will disregard his individual 2021 return.  The amended return reports a refund of about 10K. I can see on the 1040-X form on line 18 that my original refund is accounted for. What about my husbands refund? Does this need to get reported somewhere and does this decrease the amount of the amended refund? Turbo tax online doesn't seem to mention or ask for this anywhere.

Thanks!

[leeloo]

You are combining information from both return. Line 18 asks from amounts previously refunded.

Line 18—Overpayment

Enter the overpayment from your original return. If your original return was changed by the IRS and the result was an additional overpayment of tax, also include that amount on line 18. Don’t include interest you received on any refund. Any additional refund you are entitled to on Form 1040-X will be sent separately from any refund you haven’t yet received from your original return.

See the instructions for Form 1040x for more information: https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1040x

[NCperson]

@dogdoc76 note that the amendment has to be paper filed; efile is not acceted for a change in filing status.  Current backlog is 9-12 months for amendments, so just setting your expectation! 

to anyone else reading this:  filing MF-Separate is unlikely to be a 'good idea' - 96% of married couples file joint as the tax laws motivate this behavorial as the tax burden is less.  Unlikely to find a strategy where there is financial benefit to filing separate.  

[fanfare]

@dogdoc76 

In your case, your overpayment is the combined refunds you both already got.

Unfortunately, TurboTax doesn't help you to change this line item as required.

[Critter-3]

To make the change in line 18 you’ll have to be using the downloaded program so you can make direct form entry using the forms mode and an override. If you stay with the online program  you will need to make a manual entry on the paper form that you need to mail in. If you choose the manual route you’ll need to re-compute the rest of the 1040 X before mailing.