turbotax icon
turbotax icon
cancel
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

Yes No

Fixing a Tax Return: Do I Really Have to Amend?

KarenL
Employee Tax Expert
Employee Tax Expert
‎March 20, 2025 2:17 PM
1 0 743
‎March 20, 2025 2:17 PM

Community Amend blog.pngIt’s hard to believe, but some people just don’t find joy in tax preparation. And if a mistake is caught or there are missing documents, that makes for an even less joyful task! If that’s you, you’re probably also wondering if you really even need to amend. Can you just skip it? The truth is not all changes require filing a tax amendment (Form 1040-X). 

It’s a happy surprise to many that if there’s a change that doesn’t affect your tax bottom line, you really don’t need to prepare and file that amended tax return. As a matter of fact, the IRS prefers you don’t (in most cases). Whew!

You also don’t need to amend if you received an IRS or state taxing authority “love letter” telling you they adjusted your tax return. Instead, follow the instructions on the letter. Of course, always verify the letter is authentic and any corrections they made are accurate to your situation.

Here are few other reasons you don’t need to file an actual tax amendment - but still need to take some action to resolve a possible incorrect tax filing:

  • You made a mistake on your tax return but didn’t file yet. Don’t panic. First confirm that you haven’t filed yet. If not, you can go back into the TurboTax software, make the corrections, then e-file as usual. Simple fix!
  • If you filed, but your tax filing was Rejected, you can also just go back into your tax return, make the fix, and e-file again. There’s no tax amendment needed in this situation because the IRS never Accepted your tax return for processing. Makes total sense, right?
  • Another reason why you wouldn’t amend is if the incorrect bank info is on the tax return. Instead follow the instructions on what to do if you entered the wrong bank account.

Now that we have the reasons to not file an amended tax return out of the way, it’s time to share when filing an amended return is required, or at least highly recommended, to either mitigate potential tax penalties or increase your refund. For example:

  • You forgot to include income or received a corrected tax form (W-2, 1099, etc.) that affects your tax outcome.
  • You filed using the wrong filing status (Head of Household, Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Qualified Surviving Spouse).
  • You claimed dependents, deductions, or credits that you shouldn’t have.
  • You forgot to claim dependents, deductions, or credits that you should have. (This one is usually a bit more joyful than adding income.)

If you expect a larger refund, keep in mind you only have three years from the date you filed your return or two years after you paid the tax due (whichever is later) to file an amendment to get those additional funds in your bank account.  

PRO TIP: Always make sure your tax return has been fully processed by the IRS before amending.

If you’re at the point where you know it must be done, here’s How to File an Amended Tax Return with the IRS. And remember to amend your state tax return too, if needed. As always, TurboTax will help you every step of the way!

How do I…
How do I amend my federal tax return for this year?
How do I amend my state tax return?
How do I amend my federal tax return for a prior year?
How do I cancel or undo an amended return in TurboTax Desktop?