How to Amend

[Gzerox5]

I need to amend both my daughters and my tax returns to remove her as my dependent (she's over 18).  This will help with college financial aid.  When I submitted her return, an error occurred and it did not save correctly.  Essentially, what did save has none of her data.  Basically I have to start over.  I requested, a transcript so I should have most of the information.  Do I go down the "amend" path and enter everything again (including the changed dependent status), or do I need to do anything else?

[VolvoGirl]

She can still be your dependent if she is under 24 and a full time student.  In fact on her return she has to say she CAN be claimed on someone else's return even if you do not claim her. So I don't think you need to amend.

Are you using the Desktop installed program or the online version?  The return should be saved.  How did you try to save it?   Online automatically saves returns unless you do another return in the same account then it only saves the last return.  Online is only good for 1 return.

If you used the Desktop CD/Download program you should have a file ending in .tax2020 on your computer.  We can help you find it.

[VolvoGirl]

And no, if you don't have the original file to amend you first have to recreate the original retun again.  Then when it matches each line that you really filed you have to tell Turbo Tax you will mail it so it thinks it was filed.  Then you can amend it.

if you are using the Online version it might be in another account.  It's common to end up with multiple accounts. First LOG OUT of whatever TurboTax account you're logged into right now. Then use this TurboTax account recovery website to get a list of user ID's for an email address. Run the tool against any email addresses you may have used
https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery/

If you used the Desktop CD/Download program then the only copy is on your computer and not saved or stored online.

You can also request a transcript from the IRS
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

[Critter-3]

Check with the college but they have rules on trying this kind of manipulation to get more scholarship money ... if the student is under the age of 24 and is not self supporting thru working then they will still need your information for the FASFA forms.

Even if you will not claim the child on your return ... if they are technically your dependent they must mark that on their return which has nothing to do with the FASFA rules.