Got Refund But Amended

[iamconfused]

Okay so my husband and I tried filing together this year but found some mistakes and decided to amend and file separately. When we filed the first time, we put my bank account info for our refund to be sent to. We amended and my husband put his bank account on his individual return and I put my bank account on my return. My question now is how does the money work? I know normally they don’t take the money back from you, but I got the entire payment from our first return before we amended.So should I send my husband his half of the return or do I just hold onto it for now? 

[xmasbaby0]

The IRS does not make direct deposits for refunds when you amend a tax return.  They will only mail a check.  So entering your banking information for an amended return is not necessary.   

[iamconfused]

Oh okay. They asked for it so we just entered it. But what would I do with the money I already have then?

[xmasbaby0]

Any additional refund you receive from amending is separate from the refund you already received.   How you and your spouse share the "already received" refund is up to the two of you as a married couple.  

[xmasbaby0]

Your questions are making me wonder if you amended from a joint return to separate returns correctly.   Did you follow the instructions in this link?   And did you use Form 1040X for each of you?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2895311-how-do-i-switch-from-filing-jointly-to-filing-separately

And when you prepared those separate returns did you follow the strict rules about both of you itemizing or both of you using standard deduction?   It cannot be one of each.   You both have to file the same way.

[iamconfused]

Yes we did complete the 1040X and we made sure to take the same deductions. My husband just initially forgot to add Louisiana to our joint return so when we amended, we decided to file separate due to us having the two separate states of income. I did not need to file an Indiana return, but technically had one submitted since he sent our joint return in. Nothing else changed other than our filing status and we took the same deduction and I was then able to submit my Louisiana return.  I’m now just trying to explain to him that we’ve already received our federal refunds from the initial joint return and we won’t be getting separate federal refunds at this point, right? I’m just afraid we got sent too much money and we’re going to get in trouble or something haha. Sorry this is so confusing, he messed this all up and I’m trying to make sense of it. Next year I will be taking care of taxes with an expert -_-

[mvftwtt]

In this link item #7 says that: Have your spouse create a new return for themselves, if they're also filing this year 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2895311-how-do-i-switch-from-filing-jointly-to-filing-separately

But you said that the spouse should also make an 1099-X. I'm going to file an Amended return now. I will make the 1099-X, but should my spouse make a1099-X or a new return, not a1099-X?

[KrisD15 · Accepted solution]

To switch from filing Married Filing Jointly to Married Filing Separately (which must be done before the tax filing due date):

The person listed first on the original Married Filing Jointly federal return will need to file an amended federal return (1040X) and change their filing status to Married Filing Separately. 

The person listed second will file their own original federal return filing Married Filing Separately. The secondary Taxpayer needn't file an amended return for this since it is as if they had never filed once the primary Taxpayer amends. 

@mvftwtt

[mvftwtt]

Thanks for the Update. I also read that by switching from Jointly to Separate, you can NOT E-File. You Must mail it in. Is that correct?

[CarissaM]

There is nothing showing in the FAQ here that says it must be mailed. When you go to file the return if it must be mailed, you will be prompted to mail the return. 

If you need additional assistance, please let us know.