Can't eFile 2019 amended tax return (1040x)

[mbone36]

Hey TurboTax, what is the status on being able to e-file the 1040-X?  A couple weeks ago (02/06/21) when I tried I got this message (I use desktop version Turbotax Premier):

"Amended Returns Can't be E-Filed.  The IRS doesn't allow amended returns to be e-filed.  Just select Continue, print your amended federal return (Form 1040X), and send it to the address provided in the filing instructions"

So I came online and found this thread, and decided I would try again after Feb 12th as noted.

Tried e-filing in TurboTax today and get this message:

"E-filing is Closed for the Season, You Can File by Mail.  You can still file this return, but you'll need to walk through printing and filing by mail.  TurboTax e-filing is closed for the tax season on October 15, 2020."

If the IRS is accepting e-filing of the 1040X, then why can't we e-file it through your software?  Or can we and I just don't know how to do it?

[mbone36]

Gosh.  Since I have posted his I have gotten a dozen emails from TurboTax congratulating me on all my badges, cheers, etc.

Who Cares! This isn't kindergarten where I need to be made to feel special with participation awards.

How about an answer to my question?

[DoninGA]

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@mbone36 wrote:

Hey TurboTax, what is the status on being able to e-file the 1040-X?  A couple weeks ago (02/06/21) when I tried I got this message (I use desktop version Turbotax Premier):

"Amended Returns Can't be E-Filed.  The IRS doesn't allow amended returns to be e-filed.  Just select Continue, print your amended federal return (Form 1040X), and send it to the address provided in the filing instructions"

So I came online and found this thread, and decided I would try again after Feb 12th as noted.

Tried e-filing in TurboTax today and get this message:

"E-filing is Closed for the Season, You Can File by Mail.  You can still file this return, but you'll need to walk through printing and filing by mail.  TurboTax e-filing is closed for the tax season on October 15, 2020."

If the IRS is accepting e-filing of the 1040X, then why can't we e-file it through your software?  Or can we and I just don't know how to do it?

---

TurboTax closed e-filing of all 2019 tax returns after October 2020.  You will have to print and mail the 2019 amended tax return.

[mbone36]

Thanks for the reply.  

If the IRS allows e-filing of the 1040-X, why doesn't TurboTax allow e-filing of this through it's software?  Why would TurboTax shut down e-filing at all on prior year returns, regardless of it being an original or amended return?

If the IRS allows a 1040-X to be filed electronically, how does one go about doing that?  If Intuit, one of the largest companies in this space doesn't do it, then who does?

[jwmowich]

Dear Fanfare --

It sounds like you know more than the rest of us.  Is it normal that we cannot e-file (electronically file) previous tax season amended return in February? 

I e-filed my 2019 return on time in May 2020 during covid.  Foolishly I didn't check that it had been accepted by the IRS.  I've been using TurboTax for 15+ years and never had an e-filing rejected.  When my second EIP didn't show up last month I starting digging in and found my return had been rejected way back in May for typo in my birthday.   I've made the correction but cannot e-file the amended return.

Also I cannot figure out how to speak to a human being at TurboTax to help me.  At this point I don't mind spending money to get help.  Does anyone know how to get telephone assistance??

Thanks.

Jeff W.

Renton, Washington

[DoninGA]

@jwmowich You do Not amend a rejected tax return.  You file the 2019 original tax return.  Since it was rejected for a DOB that is no longer an issue since the 2019 tax return can only be printed and mailed.

To access your prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

A 2019 tax return can only be printed and mailed, it cannot be e-filed.

Print, sign, date and mail the tax return to the IRS.  Include with the mailed return any forms W-2 and 1099 which have taxes withheld.  Go to this IRS website for mailing addresses - https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment

There are no penalties for filing a tax return after the due date if filing for a tax refund or there are no taxes owed.

[cerpico]

I am having the same problem. I amended my 2019 tax return and am trying to efile it as that is now supported by the IRS. I originally filed my 2019 taxes before April 15, it was accepted, and I received my refund. Now I am trying to efile the amendment and I am being told I need to "Correct My Signature Date"

What needs to be done so this amendment can be efiled? USPS has gone downhill and I would rather not rely on their inefficient service.

[Mrs-D]

I'm in the same boat - can't efile an amended 2019 tax return.  If the IRS will accept an efiled amendment for 2019, why can't TurboTax do it? I'm about to try printing out the amendment and entering all of the info in another free efile site to see if they will do it.  It really upsets me that TurboTax won't provide this service when I paid good money for several years now to file my taxes.

[HaKe]

It's 3/1/21 and I have the same exact problem.  Can anyone confirm if this is an IRS issue or a Turbo Tax issue?

Also, this question has been marked as "Solved."  It has not been solved.

[HaKe]

I just finished a chat with TurboTax chat agent who said YOU CAN NO LONGER E-FILE AN AMENDED 2019 RETURN. He said the 3/25/21 date (which was mentioned by a Turbo Tax "expert" in response to a similar question) is for filing a 2020 return ONLY. Note: The chat agent was emphatic about this. He said mail in is the only option for 2019. Someone at Turbo Tax needs to monitor these question and answer boards to make sure the correct answers are given by Turbo Tax employee "experts."

[fanfare]

IRS says:

"E-filing is available for amending 2019 and 2020 returns that were originally e-filed."

Obviously, you must wait until your software provider opens up for 1040-X.

Otherwise file on paper.

E-Filing may be faster, but don't count on it.

It should be more accurate (fewer filing boo-boos ).

AND, no getting lost by the Post Office.

[whodiini]

This is absurd.  Turbotax help provides instructions how to efile an amended return for Turbotax desktop.  Yet when people try to efile it, it provides an endless error loop saying you need to "Correct your signature date" to 2020. Can someone from turbotax either FIX the erroneous instructions or fix the error that prevents efiling amended returns.  If turbotax officially says that it cant be efiled, Im OK with that, but dont say it can be done and then prevent it in the software.

[HaKe]

Absolutely.  I spoke to TurboTax three times on the phone and once in the chat about this specific issue.  I got conflicting information each time.  I sent the last person I spoke to links to the multiple times this issue has been mentioned in the TurboTax forums.  He said he would pass them on to his Tier 2 and Tier 3 so they could correct the issue or the instructions.  That was probably about 4 days ago. But the net net was, the Tier 3 responded back to his Tier 2, who said that the March 25th 1040X release WILL NOT include tax year 2019, just 2020.  Thus, amended 2019 taxes have to be mailed in.  So I mailed mine in. 

However, if the release on the 25th does include 2019, then I will be a very unhappy camper.

[whodiini]

I spoke to Turbotax support today and they confirmed that the posted information by turbotax is FALSE : https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/after-you-file/amend-your-return/08?product=TurboTax%20Online

You CANNOT efile an amended return. 

Also when you amend and put a date to submit, it comes back with an error that the date is not in 2020.  So then you need to put another date in 2020 to get around that error. 

Bottom line - amending a return in turbotax 2019 is FULL of errors. Since not that many people amend returns, it means it is low in priority to fix.

The reason I am amending a return is because of a bug in turbotax 2018 that they did not fix until after April 15, 2019 filing date. Running turbotax 2018 with the updates changed the return, which of course was too late to be input into 2019 return.  Which leads me to this recommendation:  before you import your 2019 tax return into turbotax 2020, run turbotax 2019 and get the updates, then check to make sure that the tax hasnt changed and then import the most recent file into 2020.  That way you get the most correct info into your tax return.

[vud]

I, too, was told by TurboTax support that you could no longer e-file a 1040-X for 2019 using TurboTax (even though the IRS says e-filing is available for 2019 and 2020 amended returns).

If you end up mailing your 1040-X please google "Where to File Form 1040-X" or "Instructions for Form 1040-X."  The mailing  addresses for people living in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Washington, and Wisconsin have changed beginning Calendar Year 2021.

The address shown on my File by Mail instructions from TurboTax for my 2019 amended return is no longer correct.