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New Member
posted Jun 7, 2019 5:08:37 PM

How do I amend my 2018 tax return

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:58 PM

Are you saying that you already actually submitted your 2018 tax return by clicking on the big orange Transmit Return Now button within the program? Yesterday afternoon was the first day TurboTax began accepting returns.

If you have actually already filed your 2018 tax return, you have a long wait. Your return was sent to the TurboTax servers where it will sit for weeks until the IRS begins accepting tax returns. That has historically been the end of January but they have not announced a date yet for 2018 returns. The IRS must then either accept or reject your tax return as filed. If it is rejected, you can fix the reason for rejection and resubmit it.

If it is accepted, you must then wait until the IRS processes it and you receive a refund if you are getting one and then prepare, print and mail an amended return form 1040X. The 1040X will probably not be available until the end of February or later. 

24 Replies
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:38 PM

Do you mean your 2017 tax return? You can't even file 2018 yet, so there would be nothing to amend at this time.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:40 PM

Yes

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:42 PM

I completed it last night but I forgot to add my $700 in car taxes I paid 2018

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:43 PM

Actually yesterday was the first day and I did file and I do need to fix something

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:45 PM

Once you transmit your return to TurboTax for filing, it's like putting it in the box at the post office. You can't get it back. See my answer for what the process is from now on to fix the problem.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:46 PM

Always put your printed final tax return in the drawer for two days before filing. When you come back inevitably you will find something wrong or omitted.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:48 PM

Thanks for stating the obvious lol

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:49 PM

My question has already been answered

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:50 PM

I assume you are aware that sales tax paid on a car is an itemized deduction. You may get a tax benefit if you take the sales tax deduction instead of the state income tax deduction and if your total tax deductions are less than $10,000 before adding the car sales tax and if the total of all your itemized deductions is more than the standard deduction. With the big increases in standard deduction for 2018, it is estimated that a high percentage of taxpayers who itemized in past years will not get a benefit from itemizing on their 2018 tax return.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:52 PM

Basically, for someone filing single or MFS, until itemized deductions exceed $12K, they don't matter. For a married couple filing joint, until they exceed $24K they don't matter. With one exception, in all the years I"ve been filing joint I've never had itemized deductions exceed our standard. I'm not even bothering "checking it" this year, because I know we won't even come anywhere close. So there's no sense in me wasting my time entering it all.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:53 PM

Thank you Carl - so I should just leave as is? I claim zero all year but was told I should’ve put 1 when I file and of course the $700 I paid in car taxes ... do you think either matter? This year I made the most money and I’m getting the least amount back lol

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:53 PM

Did you itemize deductions on your tax return that you filed? If you did there would be a Schedule A included with your tax return. If you did not, you probably don't have enough total itemized deductions for the $700 to make a difference. If you are getting a small refund, that means you did a good job of estimating how much to have withheld from your pay and you didn't let the IRS have a tax free loan of your money all year.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:55 PM

"I claim zero all year but was told I should’ve put 1"
If you're referring to the W-4 here, you're mixing oranges with peanut butter. What you claim on your W-4 that you provide to your employer, has nothing to do with itemizing deductions. Regardless of what you claim on your W-4, if your itemized deductions do not exceed your standard deduction, then itemizing is not best for you tax-wise. Taking the standard deduction would be best for you.
What you claim on the W-4 is used by your employer, and only your employer, to determine how much tax to withhold from each of your paychecks. It has nothing to do with your "itemized" deductions.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:56 PM

completed preliminary 2018 return information and need to add wages earned

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:58 PM

Are you saying that you already actually submitted your 2018 tax return by clicking on the big orange Transmit Return Now button within the program? Yesterday afternoon was the first day TurboTax began accepting returns.

If you have actually already filed your 2018 tax return, you have a long wait. Your return was sent to the TurboTax servers where it will sit for weeks until the IRS begins accepting tax returns. That has historically been the end of January but they have not announced a date yet for 2018 returns. The IRS must then either accept or reject your tax return as filed. If it is rejected, you can fix the reason for rejection and resubmit it.

If it is accepted, you must then wait until the IRS processes it and you receive a refund if you are getting one and then prepare, print and mail an amended return form 1040X. The 1040X will probably not be available until the end of February or later. 

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:08:59 PM

I disagree with Texas Roger. I filed my 2018 taxes on January 11th and they were "Accepted" a week ago.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:09:01 PM

Then it's obvious your return got pulled by the IRS for testing their systems prior to their official start date of Jan 28th. So even if accepted before the 28th, they won't be processed any sooner or any faster than if submitted and accepted on the 28th.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:09:02 PM

Okay, but I'm already able to track my return, so...

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:09:04 PM

well, today is the 28th. It very well may show "processing" or something similar at this point.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:09:05 PM

It shows "Accepted" as I said, and provides an estimated receipt date. I'm not a tax person, but I do know how to read.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:09:07 PM

I am reluctant to file my 1040 because it is not yet known if 2018 PMI can be deducted or not.  I haven't found the answer yet on Turbo Tax but I imagine there will be an additional fee to file the amendment, so I guess I'll just wait until Congress etc. actually does something to file my 1040 so I don't have to amend it later.  Assuming Congress does something before the filing deadline.  :(

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 5:09:08 PM

There are multiple posts from multiple different people on this thread. If you didn't start it, please start your own separate post if you have a question you want answered.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 5:09:10 PM

I already have my refund in progess also. So I think the IRS is doing better than we're giving credit!

New Member
Jun 24, 2019 4:43:15 PM

NOT helpful at all - i submitted a return on 05/02/2019 via efile, it was accepted within an hour

I need to amend this return -