For your own peace of mind, I recommend that you create a schedule starting with the original credit amount, then subtract the amounts you have claimed since then. That way you have a schedule backing up the carryover amounts for the various years since 2014 and you will know for sure how much should be reported on your 2017 return.
If the only information that needs to
be changed is the carryforward amount, you can delete the adoption forms and worksheets and then
re-enter the information.
The amount of carryforward would be reported as Carryforward from 2014.
(See the screenshot below)
To delete the Adoption Credit Carryforward amounts and worksheets
- Click on Tax Tools in the left column
- Click on Tools
- Click on Delete a Form
- Click Delete beside the form you want to delete
- Confirm that you want to delete
You need to delete Form 8839, the Adoptive Child Worksheet and the Adoption Carryover Computation Wksht.
If you were using the CD/Download version you could override the amount of carryforward.
This is not recommended because it voids the TurboTax Accuracy Guarantee.
If you need to amend prior year returns for incorrect information, please take a look at the information below (you may need to go further back than 2016 - if you used the same tax file for the other years, just go to the earlier years and follow the same instructions).
To amend your 2016 return:
- Log into the TurboTax account you used to prepare your 2016 tax return.
- You will be on your Tax Home page.
- Click Show beside Your tax returns & documents
- Under 2016, click on "Amend (change) 2016 return".
- You will be instructed to Download your .tax file, which is further below Amend (change) 2016 return
- Then "download TurboTax Desktop 2016" (If you used the free version of TurboTax you will be prompted to pay)
- Once the software is downloaded and installed, double-click on your .tax file and it will open in the TurboTax software. Or you can click on Find a Tax File and your computer will search for the file.
Once your 2016 return is open, type amend in the search box, then click on the Find button.
- Click on the Jump to amend link.
- You will be taken to "What do you need to change on your return?"
- Click on the button beside Deductions & Credits
- Click on the button beside Adoption Credit
- Continue through the screens for the Adoption Credit making any necessary changes.
- There might not be a tax effect to this amendment - it may just change the amount of credit carryforward.
- When you are through making changes to your amended return, click the Done button
- Work your way through the screens. On the Why did you need to amend your return? page, enter the reason for amending your 2016 return
You will need to print, sign and mail your amended return.
