Do updates affect my filed taxes?

[Don-TT]

HI all, I have wondered about this for awhile. I have a utility that scans for updates to apps on my Mac, so I get updates pretty quickly. For example, today it flagged an update to Turbo Tax 2023 - not the first since April 15.

My question is this - without knowing what the changes are, how would I know if a change to an old version of TT affected my filed taxes and should trigger an amended filing? I have seen updates this summer for 2022 and 2021 as well.

I realize most of those updates could be pretty obscure stuff. But how would I know? I hope I don't have to drag out my filed returns and compare line by line!

Thanks!

[Bsch4477]

Good question which was addressed here. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/mandatory-updates-when-opening-turbo-tax/00/27893...

[Don-TT]

Unless I missed it that wasn’t quite my question. Should I infer from that it will modify my file if there is a change? I have 2 tax files, mine and my mom’s. So I have to load copies of the files and see if it changes them?

[Bsch4477]

Yes. If the update changes a calculation that uses that data or updates where that data flows, then the program will use your existing data in the new calculation or data flow. You should keep a pdf of your return that you filed and compare that with what you see after an update. 

[supertaxpert007]

These are crazy responses (the ones on that link) . What if the tax calculation has changed after filing due to a bug in turbotax and the tax amount has changed??? You cannot just stop preventing updates . Intuit needs to address this ASAP and allow customers to file free updated returns if there was a bug in the software that affected the return amounts or taxes due or refundable. 

[VolvoGirl]

Yes you may have to file an Amended return.  Turbo Tax should email you if there are  any updates that will change your return after you file.

[Don-TT]

Thank you @VolvoGirl , assuming that's correct that's crucial. No one is going to keep re-loading their tax file(s) after submission, seeing if there was a software update and trying to determine if an amended return is warranted. From what I have seen, updates can come even a year or two after the tax season supported. Intuit needs to tell customers if an update affects or potentially affects their return, for sure!

[fanfare]

Amended return Form 1040-X is already available for no charge.

Email is sent when an issue affect many customers, such as Congress changes the law in mid-season.

Otherwise you are on your own. Fortunately for most taxpayers, the probability is very low.

@supertaxpert007 

[fanfare]

Turbotax and other tax programs I'm familiar with have stopped documenting the "reason for update"

It would show how buggy their software really is.