Should I amend my Federal Return? (Form 8885 / 8962, HCTC / PTC mixup)

[tomsygrl]

When using the CD version of Turbotax Premier, I mistakenly answered that I was eligible for the HCTC (Health Care Tax Credit). I was confusing it with the Premium Tax Credit through Obamacare. In the EasyStep walkthrough, I indicated that I was eligible for the HCTC for all 12 months (a mistake) which then added form 8885 to my return and filled out Part I accordingly. In the questions related to Part II of the form, I left everything blank, or as $0, because I knew I had not paid any money directly to my healthcare plan since I'd been benefitting from the PTC. So to recap, my form 8885 looks like this: It has Jan-Dec all checked in Part I and is totally blank in Part II. I went on to enter my 1095-A correctly in Form 8962 and proceeded to e-file since the program detected no errors in the check. I realized I'd made a mistake when form 8453 printed out and said I had to mail Form 8885 in to the IRS separately. I've been waiting for Form 1040X to become available so I can amend my return, but in the meantime it's already been accepted by the IRS and my return has been deposited into my bank. I'm wondering now if the amendment is necessary. Since Form 8885 was included with my e-filed return and correctly shows that I didn't pay any money that should have benefited from the HCTC, do I have to continue with the amendment?

[BMcCalpin · Accepted solution]

If I understand you correctly, when you look at form 8885 on your original return, there is no dollar amount at the bottom on line 5.

If so, then you do not have to amend the return in the sense that your tax was done incorrectly. The IRS computers may eventually be curious about you filing an 8885 but were never authorized by the government to receive the credit, but this may be unlikely.

Just write down what you did and include it with your 2018 tax file so that in case the IRS ever writes you, you will know the answer. Note that if you get such a letter that when you reply that you didn't mean to file it and would they delete it, that the agent running the letter audit (that's what these letters are called) may just offer to remove the form (so no amendment needed). Let the agent guide you, if it ever comes up.

[ma2kandm]

So what, if anything, am I required to mail in? I did the same thing, mistaking form 8885 for 8962.

[fawnallen118]

Ditto. same problem but I am authorized for the credit on 8885.  Why does TurboTax NOT fill in the 8885 form? Why must we mail in these form if they are already included in our e-filed return?....including 8962?

[fawnallen118]

Ditto. same problem but I am authorized for the credit on 8885.  Why does TurboTax NOT fill in the 8885 form? Why must we mail in these form if they are already included in our e-filed return?....including 8962?

[amandacvejanovic]

Same problem here... didn't even open this tab to fill it out, but when I went to review TT insisted I fill in all these check boxes but wasn't clear about which form it was so I thought it was referring to the APTC that I took each month, then at the end printed 8885 with all the months checked but nothing filled out in Part II. Very frustrating that they spring this on you at the end and aren't clear about which form it is. Then they want me to mail this in, but it's also included in the online filing doc, and I can't delete that now that I've filed. Ugh.