topic Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS in After you file

Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

filiokim — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:03:10 GMT

Hi Everyone,

So I accidentally filed for a joint return rather than a MFS. My wife’s parents are trying to claim her this year. We eloped and we don’t want them to find out that we got married.

I already sent my 1040x to grt it amended. I was just wondering if I did that, will it take her SSN off the system so they can claim her?
Thank you.

Re: Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:09:03 GMT

Amending will not take her SSN out of the system for 2019 tax returns. Your secret is coming out, as advised in your other post.

Re: Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

filiokim — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:24:39 GMT

It won’t? So there’s nothing I can do..

Re: Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:37:41 GMT

Sorry....now that your wife's SSN has been put into the system on a tax return, it will stay there for months. When someone tries to e-file and claim her as a dependent, their e-file will be rejected with an explanation that says the SSN has already been used. So, before that happens, sit down and talk with your wife and figure out the best way to tell her parents.

As for amending... if claiming her as a dependent for 2019 is still something they insist on, you can amend to MFS as long as it is done before the filing deadline of April 15, 2020. They do not have to wait for that; but they cannot e-file. They would have to print their return claiming her and then sign it and mail it in.

A tax return cannot be amended to change from a joint return to married filing separately after the filing deadline of April 15. You say you already sent in a 1040X---are you sure that is what you did? Did you use a 2019 Form 1040X form and print, sign and mail it? Where did you get it? An amended return cannot be e-filed. It has to be printed, signed and mailed. The 1040X for 2019 should become available later in February.

Re: Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

filiokim — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:47:42 GMT

I got the form from the irs.gov website. And yes I printed it, signed it and mailed it. And so they don’t do e-file. They have a guy do their taxes.

Re: Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:54:05 GMT

The "guy" probably e-files it. If he does, it will be rejected.

Re: Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

filiokim — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:59:00 GMT

But if they mail it, then it shouldn’t be a problem?

Re: Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 02:27:24 GMT

Most tax preparers use e-file. Good luck.

Re: Accidentally filed jointly instead of MFS

filiokim — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 02:32:20 GMT

Thank you