topic Filing late - not amended in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:10:09 GMT

My daughter completed her state taxes in TurboTax but never mailed the return. Now, she's adding a little more information and TurboTax is filling out an amended (1040X) return . But she doesn't need to file an amended return; she needs to file a regular (1040) return. How is she supposed to get TurboTax to let her just file a regular return?

Re: Filing late - not amended

VolvoGirl — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 23:29:20 GMT

But what happened with your original Federal 1040 return? Did you file it? Did you click on Amend to let you back into your return?

You should Click on Add a State to let you back into your return. If you clicked on the amend button you might need to undo that first. How to delete an Amended return in the Online version

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/amending/help/how-do-i-cancel-or-undo-an-amended-return-in-turbotax-online/00/26315

To change a return If you haven't mailed or efiled yet, see

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/i-want-to-change-a-return-i-ve-printed-but-haven-t-mailed/00/27616

Re: Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 04:29:51 GMT

She's using the installed, not online version.

She did e-file her Federal return, but she never filed her state return altogether. That was all back in April.

Today, she opened TurboTax and - yes - clicked "file an amended return". Now that she's at this point in TurboTax of it assuming she wants to file both an amended Federal and state, how does she file an amended Federal return but a first-time state return?

Does she need to pull up a backup of the .tax2021 file (from before today) and start over? That seems a bit extreme, but she could do it if necessary.

Re: Filing late - not amended

fanfare — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 04:57:52 GMT

@Eli923

Reverting to a backup file is actually the easiest way to unwind from such an error,

assuming you know how to do it.

Re: Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:05:17 GMT

I was able to restore the original file from backup.

That file contains:

Federal - already submitted via e-file
state - never submitted

OK, so starting from that restored file, how does she now:

Federal - file an amended return
state - file a regular (albeit late) return

Thank you!

Re: Filing late - not amended

fanfare — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:27:26 GMT

File the state return first, assuming it is correct and complete.

@Eli923

Re: Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:30:38 GMT

So...

Finish modifying the state return - then file it
Go to the beginning and click "start an amended return"
- don't open state
- modify federal - then file it
Save and close TurboTax

Re: Filing late - not amended

fanfare — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:39:29 GMT

you need first to determine whether your 1040 amendment is going to impact the state return.

@Eli923

Re: Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:40:48 GMT

It will: she's correcting her income and adding 1099-DIV.

Re: Filing late - not amended

fanfare — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:57:06 GMT

After amending 1040, you should then be able to File updated state return, before submitting 1040X amendment.

If not (TurboTax can be tricky), consider printing and mailing state return, then delete state return.

States don't have the paper backlog that IRS has,

Re: Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 22:41:52 GMT

Sorry, I'm really unclear as to exactly what steps she needs to take. Could you please list out each step? Sorry, I'm just not getting it... Thank you!

Re: Filing late - not amended

Hal_Al — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 12:05:34 GMT

I don't think TurboTax (TT) is capable of doing what you need. You'll have to use a work around.

Here's how I would do it:

Update your federal return with the changes, but don't tell TT it's an amendment. Everything, including the changes will transfer to the state return. Complete the state return. Print and mail it. Save a copy of the state PDF for your records. Then close the program, but DON'T SAVE. Then re-open the program and do your federal amendment, re-entering the changes.

Re: Filing late - not amended

fanfare — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 13:27:26 GMT

Using the steps noted above, since the 1040 was e-Filed, you should be able to e-File the state return also.

this is another fuzzy area in TurboTax.

@Eli923

Re: Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 17:10:58 GMT

Thanks, @Hal_Al , very clear!

Next year, when TT opens the file that was (actually) saved (according to your instructions), will it have the correct information from 2021 to build off of for 2022 - or will she have to go in and start making "surgical" updates to get an accurate output for 2022?

Re: Filing late - not amended

Hal_Al — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 18:28:06 GMT

Q. Next year, when TT opens the file that was (actually) saved (according to your instructions), will it have the correct information from 2021 to build off of for 2022?

A. Yes. But, since you didn't save the actual filed state return (except as a pdf), you will have go go thru the state program and amend it too. That should restore your state data, to what you file. Although, depending on what state you filed, the forms may not look the same as the actual file form.

Re: Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 22:36:31 GMT

Wow. Let me see if I got this right...

Update federal return
Complete state return
Save state return as PDF, print, and mail it
Without saving, close TT
Reopen TT, begin amended federal return, reentering all changes. Save as PDF, print, and mail.
Close and save TT file

So regarding this part

@Hal_Al wrote:
But, since you didn't save the actual filed state return (except as a pdf), you will have go go thru the state program and amend it too. That should restore your state data, to what you file.

Does that part need to happen

when she starts doing her taxes with TT next year for 2022? Meaning she'll fill out federal then state (like normal) then make manual adjustments to the state numbers to correctly reflect numbers from 2021? (Are the previous year's W-2 and income amounts even mentioned on the next year's state return?...)
or
blended somehow into the 6 steps I wrote just above?

Thanks... 😢

Re: Filing late - not amended

Hal_Al — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:00:24 GMT

Yes, you have it correct.

Q. Does that part need to happen when she starts doing her taxes with TT next year for 2022?

A. No. It's all done on the 2021 return in the 2021 software. It can be done anytime before you start your 2022 tax return, in 2023, by transferring the 2021 data. I would go ahead and do it now while it's fresh in your mind.

Q. Are the previous year's W-2 and income amounts even mentioned on the next year's state return?

A. No. For most people, the changes are probably not needed for your 2022 return. But it's best to have it updated. One item that sometimes makes a difference is the amount of your refund or the amount due*. But, you're given a chance to verify/correct those items in the 2022 program. The W-2 info (employer name and EIN etc) transfer to next year's return, but no amounts.

*The amount of state tax paid, during the year, is deductible on the federal return, if you itemize deductions. The state tax refund MAY be taxable, on the federal return, if you itemize

Re: Filing late - not amended

Eli923 — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 01:06:38 GMT

So then it looks like this?

Update federal return
Complete state return
Save state return as PDF, print, and mail it
Without saving, close TT
Reopen TT, begin amended federal return, reentering all changes. Save as PDF, print, and mail.
Close and save TT file

I really cannot figure out where - into the steps above - I am supposed to complete this part (in red):

@Hal_Al wrote:
But, since you didn't save the actual filed state return (except as a pdf), you will have go go thru the state program and amend it too. That should restore your state data, to what you file.

Sorry, I just cannot figure out this puzzle. Please tell me where exactly that red part goes... So frustrating. Thank you!!!

Re: Filing late - not amended

fanfare — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 02:05:23 GMT

@Eli923

If you delete the federal Form 1040-X, TurboTax will not be able to submit it along with your state amendment.

Re: Filing late - not amended

Hal_Al — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 11:41:33 GMT

Which state? The software varies. But typically, you will reach a screen titled "A few things before we wrap up your state taxes". Scroll down to Other Forms / Amend a tax return.

The format may vary for other states, but you will eventually reach a screen that will ask if you want to amend.