topic Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

E-File Amended 2021 Return

SandyOH — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:33:18 GMT

I need to amend my 2021 return as I filed in 2022 before TurboTax had been updated with form 8915 and did not realize that the covid retirement distribution I took in 2020 did not pull into my return so I could pay tax on 1/3 of the distribution. I entered all the information and got to the point where I get a message: Federal return ready to e-file and state return ready to print and mail, however, Turbotax won't actually let me e-file. I cannot enter today's date to make the payment as it does not like the date and seems confused that I owe money since my amended return is also a refund, just a few hundred dollars less. Does anyone know if Turbotax should be allowing this or if I need to print and mail my federal amended return?

Thank You!

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

DanaB27 — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 13:28:23 GMT

Please be aware, that you cannot e-file for years prior to 2022, you'll need to print and mail your amended return. Please see How do I amend my federal tax return for a prior year? and Can I e-file my 1040X to amend my return for additional information.

To verify, when you started your amended return the refund counter stated $0, correct? If the amended return states you are getting a refund after making changes, it seems it calculated a refund and you might want to check your entries.

Login to your TurboTax Account
Click on "Search" on the top right and type “1099-R”
Click on “Jump to 1099-R”
Click "Continue" on the “Review your 1099-R info” screen
Answer "Yes" to the "Have you ever taken a disaster distribution before 2021?" screen
Answer "Yes" on the "Did either of you take a disaster distribution at any time between 2018 and 2020?" screen

Please sure you enter the amount from Form 8915-E, line 9 twice (if it was not from an IRA) or enter the amount from Form 8915-E, line 17 twice (if it was from an IRA). This amount should be 1/3 of your 2020 COVID distribution.

If you have a balance due then you can also pay on the IRS Payment site.

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

SandyOH — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 00:45:48 GMT

Thank you for the information. Yes, my refund starts at zero when I begin and when I finish my refund is a few hundred dollars less than my original return so it rightly shows as a balance due. It seems like I have to mail the payment as the spot in TurboTax that does not reflect that I owe money is on the screen to set up direct debit date. This must be a glitch since the advice given is that I cannot e-file the amendment even though TurboTax initially gives me that option.

I am not sure about the instruction to enter the amount from form 8915 line 9 twice. Shouldn't I enter the amount as is which represents 1/3 of the distribution? I had a $6k withdrawal, I claimed $2k in 2020, should have claimed $2k in 2021 and will claim $2k in 2022.

Thanks!

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

RobertB4444 — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 17:53:37 GMT

You'll enter it twice in order to have the system register the correct amount of repayment due in 2021.

@SandyOH

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

fanfare — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 18:06:11 GMT

@SandyOH

yes you want an extra $2,000 on line one. this comes from 1040 Line 4b or 5b depending on the type of account.

also note IRS wants the 8915-F worksheets attached to Form 8915-F.

I recently noticed this requirement in the Instructions.

you have to file a 2021 amendment by US Mail.

Do not include your old 1040 nor your revised 1040 because the Form 1040-X reflects any changes there and becomes your new tax return.

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

SandyOH — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:59:05 GMT

Ah! thank you. My eyes just were not catching that I was being instructed to enter Form 8915E line 9 amount in two different spots. So I have entered $2,000 in both the first line in the Qualified Disaster (Other than IRAs) and the third line and left the line 10 spot blank. Does that seem correct?

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

SandyOH — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 15:24:24 GMT

Thank you. This is very helpful. I have completed the returns and am ready to mail. Is there a way for me to calculate whatever federal and state penalty I will be accessed and pay with my amended return rather than wait to receive a separate bill from fed/state?

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

fanfare — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 12:45:03 GMT

"Does that seem correct?"

No.

For 2021, the 8915-F Part I is completely EMPTY.

In Part II check the NO box on line 8 and skip to Line 12.

Penalties:
Subtract any penalty from the amount you owe reported on original 1040.
Don't try to include, but ignore, any new or changed penalty.
IRS will calculate your new penalty on their own and will bill you.

@SandyOH

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

SandyOH — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 15:29:13 GMT

Yes, that is exactly how I completed form 8915-F.
I will let the IRS bill separately for any penalty.

Thanks so much!

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

fanfare — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 15:48:29 GMT

once received, your 1040-X should show up under "Where's my Amended Return" after three weeks.

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

dmcmtax — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 01:22:00 GMT

Under Can I e-file my 1040X to amend my return the first sentence reads

"Your 2022, 2021, or 2020 federal Form 1040-X amended return may be eligible for electronic filing if the original return was successfully e-filed using TurboTax." Since I have the same issue with not being able to enter today's date for my signature, it appears that either TurboTax 2021 has a bug or the person who wrote the article on e-filing an amended return is wrong.

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

HillsideBruce — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 07:13:34 GMT

I am getting the same error when I try to e-file my amended 2021 taxes...

Ran into the same signature date problem as @dmcmtax reported... Ended up using the date that I e-Filed the original 2021 taxes - and maybe as the OP says, that is the problem that caused a validation error. In my error statement it says had problems with validation, and also TurboTax reports:

- E - File for this agency and filing type is no longer available. Please file any pending returns on paper.

SO, to echo @dmcmtax - is the problem the signature date? Or is the problem that it is too late to e-File 2021 amended taxes? Inquiring minds want to know... Am hoping there is a fix/workaround to get the taxes e-File'd... will save time, and $$s...

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

SandyOH — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 10:51:07 GMT

I printed and mailed my amended returns. I accepted the answers that my question received. I could never successfully get past the date issue no matter if I used today's date or the original file date so I believe it is too late to e-file.

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

HillsideBruce — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:07:34 GMT

yeah, I will probably have to print and mail in the amended return as well... but the info from Turbo Tax is misleading - it sounds like in 2021? they started allowing the amended returns to be e-File'd... and Turbo Tax lets you almost e-File the return and errors out at the stage right before it is transmitted... almost like it leads us on, and then slams that door shut... I am hoping that the date of the signature is the problem, and that it can be fixed... we'll find out soon enough, I guess (I hope)...

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

SandyOH — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 17:26:54 GMT

I had the same issue. It appeared as if I could e-file but could not. TurboTax should definitely remove the checkbox to e-file your amendment if the date has passed and that option is no longer available.

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

HillsideBruce — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:43:36 GMT

found this interesting thread on another Intuit Community forum, for Accountants... there is a solution to the problem of not being able to file a amended 2021 taxes - in the software that they (professional tax preparers) use - a way to switch off the verification during the eFile... NOW, if only we could get the same feature in Turbo Tax (Premier - what I use), but I am guessing the reason Intuit might not want to do this would be that it might let through taxes with errors that should be fixed by the user prior to filing... BUT STILL - it is a solution that would be OH SO USEFUL for our situation, where the tax file already passed the validation during the review/check for errors... that could be a way that they implement it - the switch on Validation checking during eFile can be turned off, ONLY if the taxes have passed the review/check for errors...

https://proconnect.intuit.com/community/proseries-tax-discussions/discussion/re-error-primary-signature-date/01/254546#M136731

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

HillsideBruce — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 06:52:48 GMT

I decided to byte the bullet and snail-mail a hardcopy version of my taxes (seems so archaic versus E-Filing... I am so spoiled by E-Filing)... cost me a hefty amount of postage (via DHL, from overseas, and it was about 50 pages (what a waste of paper)), but figured I'd rather get it DONE and stop having it on my mind; and furtherMORE since it involves a nice sized refund - the sooner it gets to IRS, the sooner I will receive the refund for the Amended 2021 taxes... and at least with DHL, I can track the parcel, and after getting to IRS, I will be able to track it on the IRS web site => where's my (freakN) refund?

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

kaydee — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:29:13 GMT

It sure would be nice if TurboTax fixed this issue. They clearly state (in multiple places) that if you e-filed the original return, you can e-file the amended, with TurboTax. The date bug needs to be fixed!!

Can I e-file a Form 1040-X?

Yes, the IRS began accepting e-filed amended returns for 2019 and later tax years. However, for an amended return to be electronically filed, your originally filed tax return has to have been electronically filed as well.
.....
Can I e-file my federal Form 1040-X amended return?
Your 2022, 2021, or 2020 federal Form 1040-X amended return may be eligible for electronic filing if the original return was successfully e-filed using TurboTax.

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

kaydee — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:46:57 GMT

I went thru the process of trying to e-file the amended return, which TT says I should be able to do in the final review step of the software, and I too got the date error and then that the e-file window is closed for a 2021 amended return. Ugh, wish TurboTax would finally fix this date issue since the software clearly states e-file of amended is an option!!

I then went back to the file process and chose file by mail and TT is saying "The following returns have been transmitted. Don't file returns by mail that have already been transmitted electronically".

So.... did the amended return actually get e-filed?? Guess I have to wait and just check the IRS Where's my amended return? website page to see if TurboTax sent it??

Re: E-File Amended 2021 Return

fanfare — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:13:29 GMT

There are some indications on the forum that TurboTax just recently turned on e-File of 2021 amended tax return.