I am filing by mail, paid my fee, printed but NOT MAILED my copies. I just noticed I made an error on one of my income entries. How can I go back and make that change?

[buzzy10]

There is no longer a link on the left margin to go back to "Income."  I don't want to have to start all over again and pay again. I don't even know if TT would allow me to do that.

[mesquitebean · Accepted solution]

buzzy10:

When clicking on "Add a state", if you hit a roadblock with an error message that it is too early too "amend", that is a known "bug."    This method of reopening the return is not "amending" a return, but for some reason TurboTax is erroneously popping  up that message to some users, and we've been reporting it to TurboTax.   Whatever you do, do not click on any link that says "amend."  

Some users are getting that message when they click "Add a state", while others aren't.  It seems to be random.  But it probably won't let you get back into your return until they "throw a switch" at the same time they enable amending.  This really has nothing to do with amending, so it's perplexing.  That has been the method to reopen the return for several years and is even in some of the TurboTax FAQs.

I have really nothing to suggest at this point other than waiting for TurboTax to enable it.  You can check after 2/22, but the date may have actually been moved to 2/28--at least that is when they are now scheduled to flip the switch on "amending"--even though this "Add a state" bug has nothing to do with amending.

We continue to report these to TurboTax, but so far there has not been a FAQ issued.

[buzzy10]

epo39b, thanks for the prompt and detailed reply.  I'm a devoted TT user, but I'm surprised that neither the rep on the phone or the rep who replied online seemed to grasp my problem, and neither mentioned that it's due to a bug.  You've given me peace of mind before I go to bed tonight.  My mistake that I need to correct was to the tune of around $25,000 in income.  Since TT online was in 2 places telling me my returns had already been filed and could only be amended at this point, I was worried about having to untie that knot with an IRS agent.  I'll give it until the end of the month.  I have to file by mail because I have to attached a "statement" explaining one component of my income, and I learned last year when I went through the mail that it takes FOREVER to get your refund back.  Keep up your good work!

[mesquitebean]

You're welcome.  Sorry there's nothing to do about it.   And it's perplexing why it only affects some users.   We don't know exactly what will happen when it opens up on 2/28.   Hopefully, it will not start an amended return.  If it were to, we can tell you how to cancel/undo an amended return.  

[buzzy10]

On a chance, I opened TT just now and hit Taxes on the left margin.  I don't remember the exact sequence, but this time I got a link to review and edit my 2018 return.  I corrected what I needed to correct.  I've printed the forms out and will mail them in.  Somebody somewhere must have switched something back on.

[mesquitebean]

That is good news.  But I don't know exactly what you did.   I don't have a way to test it.

[AnnetteB]

Since you have not yet mailed your return, you can still make changes to it.

However, since you chose to file by mail, TurboTax thinks that you are done with your return and any additional changes will require an amended return.  This is not true unless you did drop that return in the mail.

Use the following steps to re-open your return so that you can make changes:

·         In TurboTax Online, sign into your account.

·         Select Tax Home in the left menu.

·         Scroll down to Your tax returns & documents.

·         Select 2018, and then select Add a State (you're not actually adding a state, this just gets you into the right menu).

[buzzy10]

Thank you for the reply.  No, I have not put my tax returns in the mail.  I've tried the steps listed above several times.  I sign in, I select "Tax Home," but "Your Taxes and Documents"" does not appear.  All I get is "Previous Taxes."  When I select 2018, all I get is "Amend."  And when I select "Amend," I get this:

"It looks like your federal return can't be amended right now. This is a nationwide delay for all returns like yours, no matter who's preparing them.  You're going to have to wait until the tax form for amending a return (Form 1040X) is ready for processing.  Form 1040X will be ready on 02/22/2019."

I can assure you I did not go through the E-file tax return steps.  I have a page that says, "Way To Go, David! You filed your 2018 taxes."  But below that I've got this:

Filed Federal Tax Return
Filed with: TurboTax Premier
Return Status: Printed

Filed Georgia Tax Return
Return Status: Printed

A customer service rep I talked with a little while ago opened my account.  She confirmed that I haven't E-filed.  The "return status" above says "Printed" but doesn't mention "filed."  I hope that is correct.  The rep also said the TT system had locked me out until Feb. 23.

Your reply above makes it sound like I should be able to get in an make my corrections right now.

Please help me understand what the status is with my taxes at this point.

Thank you.
David Jones
A customer since 2011

[buzzy10]

PS to the above: When I clicked "Previous Taxes" I also saw the window for "Add a state."  But when I clicked it, I got the same dialogue box that says, "It looks like your federal return can't be amended right now...."  So (1) Why don't the steps you outlined work?  I'm not trying to be mean.  I'm just trying to figure this out.  (2) In the midst of all this, can someone assure me that the status indicated above is correct -- that while my forms have been printed, they have not somehow been E-filed?  I'm a long time customer and I intend to remain one.  I'm just puzzled that I'm getting different answers about what to do next, and the steps above definitely don't work.  I appreciate the help and look forward to another reply.