First of all do not amend until your first return is fully processed and you get the first refund or pay the tax due. Yes save your original 1040 return first - go to File - Save As and give it a different name.
Then when you hit Amend and it resets your return to zero, you just go through entering the changes and delete and add your items just like you did the first time.
Then 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.
