E-filed Fed but cannot e-file State (NYS). I accidentally clicked Amend and I am unsure how to revert or proceed

[tyler-]

I thought I messed something up on State and mistakenly clicked to Amend my past State filing. Now when I go to edit State, it asks why I am amending and I don't have a reason. I am also unable to start over my state filing. All this because I was trying to figure out why it would let me e-file Fed and not State. My Fed was accepted (within 15 minutes) and therefore I cannot start over.

I went to Tools>Delete a form and tried to delete everything for State in hopes of regaining a fresh slate to file State but that did not work.

This is only my 3rd year filing and I don't know the ramifications of an incorrect filing and want to be sure it's all correct. I was in a small panic as to why I couldn't e-file State and thought I messed up bad, and now it feels like I made it worse. I should have just printed and mailed it...but TT was saying mail-in is not recommended (but it was the only option)...

I am using web version of TurboTax on a Mac if that helps.

[tyler-]

I just put reason for amend as 'mistakenly clicked amend' and now I am able to print and mail to file, but I am still unsure why I can't e-file...I never actually filed State for 2020. 

[tyler-]

I just realized my new State return is almost half as much as it was before I messed it up. Is there any possible way to fresh start State??

[tyler-]

I fixed my amendment to recognize my tuition discount so I am back at my expected State refund, but in the download to mail in, the page literally says 

"New York State requires this income tax return to be filed electronically. New York State law requires income tax returns prepared using software to be e-filed. Because this New York State tax return was prepared using software, you MUST file it electronically. Besides being the law, e-filing has many advantages:..."

SO I know NYS is a circus but will I have any problems mailing it in? I don't mind waiting 12-16 weeks it says it will require to process but this seems so unnecessary for reasons unknown...I e-filed 2018 and 2019 with no issues.

[KathrynG3]

No, it is acceptable to mail the state. If the software used for the state return will not allow the state to be e-filed, this is a valid exception that New York state will accept for paper filing.

Before you print however, first select Cancel Amend in the left menu to stop the amended state filing. Since it has not yet been filed, it should not be amended.

Next, to verify that you must paper file, Try to change from paper filing the state to e-filing, using these steps:

• Return to the File section of the return and adjust your entry. 
• On the Just one more step screen, follow steps 1 and 2 if you haven't already.
• Select the Start button to the right of Step 3.
• On the Let's get ready to e-file screen, select I want to e-file.

Check the explanation for why you cannot e-file New York State. New York does have a higher standard for identity verification. See: Why do I have to provide my driver’s license to file a New York state return?

Regarding your tuition credit, New York state allows the credit only for full-year New York State residents completing undergraduate studies. For more information, see: Instructions for Form IT-272 Claim for College Tuition Credit.

Also, 

Check your input for the Driver's License. There is a higher standard than other states and this may be the cause if everything else went fine during the state Review. 

Also, try returning to your Jobs (W-2) screen. To do this, inside TurboTax, enter W2 in the search box. Select the Jump to link in the search results.

• Once at the W-2 Input, select the W-2 and click Continue.
• The next screen will have the box 14 input for W-2. If you have an entry in “Box 14 – Category” that says “New York IRC 414(h) NY tax exempt,” then
  • For the corresponding input for “Box 14 – Description”, append the phrase “NOT” to whatever their current text is in that field.
  • For example, if EXP is entered, change it to read EXPNOT

This workaround will provide you with the option to e-file.

[Edited 03/31/2021 | 11:55 AM PST]

@tyler-

[tyler-]

@KathrynG3 My NYS Return says it has been printed and there are 5 amendments for some reason. Is there a way to unamend it even if it has been printed?

[KathrynG3]

Yes, as long as it has not been mailed in, you can change it by Canceling the Amends. It is possible that you will have to cancel the amend five times to get back to the original filing. 

First, select Cancel Amend in the left menu until it is no longer available in the menu.

To check that there are no more Forms IT-201-X in the state tax return, follow these steps:

• From the left menu, select Tax Tools.
• Select Tools.
• Select Delete a Form.
• Scroll down to the state and search for Form IT-201-X. If there are any listed, select Delete, and Delete Selected Form, and Continue.

For more information, see: How do I e-file my state after I already filed my federal?

2020 New York Form IT-201 Instructions

[tyler-]

@KathrynG3 I dont currently see and never have seen an option called Cancel amendments.

I tried deleting all NYS documents but it won't let me clear all of them, they just stay in the list of documents. 

Now when I try and "Clear & Start Over" my NYS return, I am told I can pick up where I left off but I can't start over because my Fed was Accepted. But it says to continue with my amendment. I have already gone through this a few times and it will just add another Amendment to my returns list.

[tyler-]

@KathrynG3 I have gone through NYS again and I am back up to my (what I think is) correct return dollar value, but it keeps bringing me back to:

"

Check This Entry

IT-201-X Pg 1-2 -- IT-201-X Pg 5-6: Reason(s) for amending your return must be selected. Check all applicable boxes.

"

And I still don't see any options to remove the amendment. Should I choose "Other" and type in "Mistaken amendment"??

[tyler-]

@KathrynG3 Also, under "Change filing method", it says "E-file is not available because your original return was not e-filed."

Which I have no clue why it wouldn't have e-filed the first time. I think it glitched when I was inputting my Driver's License info. But I can't recall since it's been such a headache.

[MaryM428]

If the original return did not efile, then you will have to print and mail the return.  When you print the return, there will be a cover sheet with directions for what to include with the return and the address to mail it to.  New York state does not like to receive paper returns, but they will accept and process them.

[tyler-]

@MaryM428 Thanks for clarifying. I wish I knew why it wouldn't e-file though...Seems like a big hassle over nothing...

[KathrynG3]

It probably ties back to New York's higher standard for identity protection if there were otherwise no concerns when reviewing the contents of the state return.

If you are  not using TurboTax Online, then there will not be a Tax Tools section to access to delete Form IT-201-X. 

For TurboTax CD/Download, go to Forms mode. There will be a left menu with a title Forms in My Return. Select Open Forms and in the search box, enter IT-201-X and select Open Form in the lower right corner of the pop-up window.

When this opens, look for Delete Form in the lower left corner. 

The good news is New York did not get the state return yet because it has not been mailed in; the bad news is Form IT-201-X should not be generated or included and must be deleted. 

[tyler-]

@KathrynG3 so I have to download the actual TT Software to be able to remove IT-201-X? Will it let me delete all the extra amendments? DO I need to mail in the original filing and all the amendments? If so, I Can only print the latest amendment so I am not sure how to proceed...

[AmyC]

Did you ever file the original return? It sounds like you have not filed anything yet for NY. You can file an original return electronically instead of doing an amend if that is the case. It would be easier to download the software to your computer so you can delete the stuff you don't want. The forms mode in the desktop program has more flexibility than online.