Why do I show owning money in a tax return amendment that was only to change the dependent?

[laraak2]

I have an agreement with my ex that one would claim one daughter and I would claim the other. I accidentally claimed the wrong daughter but when I tried to create an amendment only changing the dependent, it now says I owe $1700...

[VolvoGirl]

What are their ages?  Is one daughter under 17 and one 17 or older?

[laraak2]

The daughter I claimed is over 17 and the one I am switching to was 16. 

[Critter-3]

Was the age of the child you originally claimed less than 17 and the one you are claiming now over 16 ? 

[VolvoGirl]

Hmmmm, that should give you a refund not a tax due.   Delete both of them, then add the 16 year old in again.   You might have answered a question wrong.    Then I don't know, someone else will have to reply.   

Did you have a refund or tax due on the original return?   Did you wait to amend until the first return was done processing and you got the refund or paid the tax due?   

The amended return is only for the difference you get back or owe.  I think the cover sheet shows what the original return WOULD have been if you did it right the first time.

Go by the actual 1040X.  Line 18 should be your original refund amount and line 22 should be your additional refund.  If you paid on your original return it will be on line 16.  If there is an amount owed with the amendment, it will be on line 20.

If you have a tax due, do not send the 1040V.  Just include a check with the 1040X.  Ignore the 1040V.  That is for the original return or what the original return would have been if it didn’t need correcting.  Don’t pay the amount on the 1040V.  Pay the amount on the actual 1040X.

[laraak2]

in 2020 my daughters were 16 and 21. They are now 17 and 22. I want to claim the youngest