topic Federal return in After you file

Federal return

kennabug13 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:53:31 GMT

I had submitted my federal return but not my state yet when I went to do my state it caught a mistake in my federal for the child tax credit then it let me fix it and changed my whole return amount. Once I went to pay the $39.00 and refresh my screen my federal didn’t change to the amount that it was when I paid the $39.00 fee. I just called and he said their website is having issues to refresh later but I’m afraid something messed up

Re: Federal return

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:15:55 GMT

You cannot make any changes to your federal return while it is in pending on the server. If you e-filed the federal return, you have to wait until the IRS accepts or rejects the return. If they reject it you can make changes and re-file. If they accept it, you have to wait until the return has been fully processed and amend it.

The IRS will begin to accept/reject returns on January 29. Sometime on 1-29 or after, you will get an email telling you if the return was accepted or rejected.

If it is accepted -- You have to be able to work from that return exactly the way it was when it was e-filed originally. You will need to use a form called a 1040X.

Meanwhile, DO NOT go in and start changing anything on your return in the system, or you will make a mess for yourself. Sit tight and wait until you see what the IRS does with the return you just e-filed

Re: Federal return

kennabug13 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:18:04 GMT

It did let me change it though like my federal return number went up from 2,000 something to 6,000 before I hit submit but when I refreshed it it didn’t change

Re: Federal return

kennabug13 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:20:20 GMT

When I went to file the state it said wait we noticed something in your federal and it went to the child tax credit I fixed my answers and my child tax credit went on there then it let me file the state

Re: Federal return

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:21:50 GMT

If you made a change after you e-filed, that change did not go to the IRS and will not transmit to the e-filed return. You might be seeing the change on your screen, but it went nowhere.

If you have to amend----and we do not know yet if your return will be rejected or accepted--- you have to work from the return exactly the way it looked BEFORE you e-filed it. Do not touch another thing on that return until you know if it has been accepted or rejected. Then post back sometime when you know.