After you file

HI ThomasM125 - I appreciate your helpful answer, however that does not change the fact that I was told the wrong thing and now my 3rd stim is delayed. My tax return for 2019 was filed and accepted when I used the Stimulus tool. Then-- when I tried to submit a regular 1040 (again via Turbo) for my true income-- it was rejected due to the IRS already having a 2019 return on file for me. Turbo informed me my return was not accepted and I needed to do 1040x by US Mail. I did so, and now you guys are telling me this is wrong.  I was able to do 1040x for free on Turbotax, then print it and send it in.

It was a confusing time, and I realize rules and deadlines were changing often and quickly. However, Turbo told me my 1040 with correct income was NOT accepted due to IRS already having a 1040 return for my Social Sec # for 2019. (This is because the Stimulus Tool was not just a Stimulus Tool, It was a tax filing from Turbo to IRS for a $1 income. That must have been the "work-around" Turbo figured would work best to deliver stimulus direct deposit-- but at that time, it was accepted as a valid return.) It blocked me from filing my real, valid 1040. I was then indeed instructed to send an adjusted return. 

Here is the Message From TurboTax I got when I submitted my real 1040 for 2019 (screenshot is avail if you'l like me to send it to you, just give me an email where I can send it). Here's what it says:

"Your transmission did not go through. 

 We could not efile your return for the following reason:

Duplicate Social Security Number: A tax return with the same Social Security number has already been submitted.  In other words - it appears as though you are trying to submit your return twice. If you need to change your return, you'll need to file an amended return, on paper, by mail. ..."

I followed those instructions, but now IRS has informed me this is wrong. They informed me only after I did some major digging on their website. I had been checking my IRS account repeatedly (the IRS account where you check to see if they rec'd your payment and you can order transcripts if you need them). They got my payment for 2019 immediately, according to my account, but no other paperwork was noted.

Finally, I searched "amended return status" on IRS website. (No I did not think to do this earlier, because all my info is typically found on my account page.) There, it showed they have a separate "amended return tracker" which showed they had rec'd the 1040x in July 2019 and hadn't yet processed it--not saying why.  It said "sorry for the inconvenience" and gave the customer service phone number on the page.  (This info was never noted on my IRS account page, nor did I get a letter saying I did anything wrong in filing my 2019 taxes.)

When I called the phone number given, the IRS rep said I should either wait for a letter from IRS (after already waiting nearly 1 year) or send a plain old 1040 for 2019--as you just advised me.  (Keep in mind, the 1040x they have in their hands already has my whole 1040 attached to it!)

1040x made sense to me at the time, because 1) it was what the message from Turbo said to do and 2) because I was indeed correcting my $1 IRS-accepted tax return, because I did not make $1 in 2019. When you correct tax returns, you use 1040x, generally. At least that is what us non-professionals think. 

But I will send another copy of the  2019 1040 now, (without a 1040x attached) as you and the phone rep advise.  Still, there has been a big delay and lots of anxiety on my part. (And it would be nice if IRS would just make a note on the 1040x form they have about the Covid confusion), place it in back of the 1040 documents it already has from me, and process the 1040. Or if they had noted the 1040x as received in my IRS account with all my other info, payment, etc. Or if they had sent me a letter about my "error". Or if they had done all this a year ago. )

IRS sent me (via direct deposit) the December stimulus, only 2 days after the President signed the order -- so I was really surprised this one was/is such a problem. 

I only hope, that when IRS gets my 1040 for 2019 in a few days, they don't reject it saying "you should submit 1040x."

Thanks for reading this long note--(I have a disability which causes memory problems, so I tend to write a lot, take a lot of notes and screenshots, etc.) And thanks for your assistance.