Horribly confusing message attempting to efile an amended return

[xmasbaby0]

@phraxos TurboTax has not told us whether e-filing past year amended returns will be possible for TurboTax users in 2024.  We can tell you that last year it was not possible to e-file a past year amended return using TurboTax.  We have no reason yet to expect this year to be different.   Paid tax preparers have different professional software that allows them to e-file past year returns, but users of do-it-yourself returns prepared using TurboTax have had to file past year returns by mail.   

It takes the IRS 4 to 6 months to process an amended return, so do not expect quick results from amending.

[donovanw1]

Hi, I use turbo tax online.  I e-filed my 2022 fed/state tax return back in early April 2023 and they were accepted back in April also.  Today is 2/3/24 and I just prepared my amended 2022 taxes using turbo tax online.  I got to the screen where I assumed I would start the e-file process.  And the screen that popped up stated that I would have to print and mail my returns.  I did talk to 2 different folks at turbo tax customer support and showed them my screen.  They both consistently responded that e-filing an amended return in Turbo Tax Online was never an option and this screen stating that I would have to print and mail my amended returns is the correct screen.  I didn't push the point about this.  So I just wanted to come back and verify that e-filing 2022 amended return is open in turbo tax (2/3/24) before I call back again.        

[xmasbaby0]

Only certain paid tax pros  using professional tax software can still e-file past year amended returns. You cannot e-file an amended return that you prepared yourself using TurboTax.  Your 1040X must be printed, signed and dated in ink, and then you need to mail it in.  Use a mailing service like certified mail so you will know the IRS received it, since you will have a long wait for it to be processed.

[mmcmahon14]

From where do you know this? Everything that I have seen published from the IRS and Intuit says that an amended return can be e-filed if the original return was e-filed. This is a link to a page from the IRS stating that: https://www.irs.gov/filing/amended-return-frequently-asked-questions

This from TurboTax Help:

"Your 2023, 2022, or 2021 federal Form 1040-X amended return may be eligible for electronic filing if the original return was successfully e-filed using TurboTax. However, there is a chance your return cannot be electronically filed. If this happens, you'll need to print and mail your tax return."

So, what gives. Why is it stated from two the main players, yet you, and others say it isn't so?

Intuit, if it really isn't possible to e-file an amended return with TurboTax, then why don't you just eliminate that as an option in the software? Aren't you the biggest tax software player in this arena? If anybody is able to do it shouldn't it be you?

[ww_94]

@phraxos I'm unfortunately also seeing the same issue trying to amend my 2021 and 2022 Tax Returns. It leads you through the steps of actually allowing you to select whether you want to e-file or mail and once you actually try to submit it, it errors with that the tax season is over.  What did you end up doing? 

Best of luck

[fanfare]

as mentioned elsewhere you have to wait for TurboTax to open for amendments which should be soon.

[mmcmahon14]

Nothing yet. It’s looking increasingly like I will have to file with paper in the mail.

[mmcmahon14]

As mentioned elsewhere, … by YOU. How do you know this? The TurboTax app gives no indication of this. A moderator in this thread stated:

”Yes, you should be able to efile the amended 2022 return in January. If you are seeing an issue at that stage, I encourage you to contact customer support directly to troubleshoot and report the issue.

‎December 27, 2023 1:21 PM.”

Why is this a secret, if it is true? Why are there conflicting “expert” opinions on the issue? I’ll go back to - why shouldn’t the app just tell you what the truth is, which would be something like “e-filing amended returns is not supported” or “you must wait until xxxx date until e-filing is allowed?”

[Opus 17]

@mmcmahon14 

The problem is that most of the people on this forum are volunteers ("Champs") and we don't get all the inside info unless we test the program ourselves.  At this time of year there are turbotax employees ("Experts") in the forum, and you may want to post a new topic with your questions, which will put it in the queue for the Experts to answer.

In the past, Turbotax could not e-file amended returns, and Turbotax Online could never even prepare an amended return for a past year (for example, you could amend 2020 during the 2020 season but to amend 2019, you had to get a special download from customer support to install on your own computer).  I believe that Turbotax Online added the ability to file past year amended returns, and I believe that Turbotax can also e-file amended returns.  But we have not been given an "official memo" on this, so we don't really know unless we test it. 

For 2023 returns, Amending is not currently available.  The programmers are focused on getting all the current year forms and instructions updated so people can file their main return.  It's also not recommended to file an amended 2023 return until your original return is filed, accepted, and any refund paid.  For these reasons, do not expect amended 2023 returns to be available until the end of February or mid-March.  But when 2023 amending is turned on, you will be able to e-file an amended 2023 return.

To amend a 2022 or earlier return, use these instructions.  If the program does not work as you expect, contact customer support or post a new topic so your question will go into the new question queue for the experts (employees) to answer.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/amend-tax-return/amend-2022-tax-return-c...

[fanfare]

"For 2023 returns, Amending is not currently available. "

@mmcmahon14 

OK I admit, I am making an assumption/observation

If you can't e-File 2023 returns, that means the 1040-x  e-file season ( last season) is still over.

Note: TurboTax user interface (user friendliness) is not the greatest.

Note: Many answers here posted by users marked EXPERT are just wrong.

[mmcmahon14]

@fanfare,

Thanks for that.

That was one of my points: if you’re going to say something as fact, then tell us how you know that the information is different than what the app is indicating. Otherwise, proceed it with something like “IIRC,” “I think,” “it used to be,” “I could be wrong, but,” or something like that. I get that most f the answers are not from TurboTax employees and that people are just trying to help. Just don’t put out bad info.

So far in this thread, there’s been answers like “no, you can’t e_file,” “you can e-file but just not yet,” “only certain professionals with certain software can e-file” all from experts. Even the moderator doesn’t seem to have the correct answer, but then again, maybe they do - hard to tell.

I haven’t yet started a different thread because this one is pretty much about my issue already. We all know certain forum police love to chide people for not using the search function. I think now I’ll just give it a try to see if I can get a definitive answer. Look for. Something like “Can I e-file and amended 2022 return via TurboTax desktop as of 12 Feb, 2024?”

[mmcmahon14]

@Opus 17 ,

Thanks for your response. I guess I wanted to nudge some of these volunteer responders into citing a source or backing off from their certainty.

As for me, my 2023 return has been done and e-filed. I’m trying to amend and e-file a 2022 return. The 2022 TurboTax desktop version allows for amended returns and prepares them. Mine is done. It even leads you down the road of e-filing but then doesn’t finish. I’ve read and followed instructions gleaned from this forum and TurboTax. Everything that I have found in print indicates that e-filing and amended, originally e-filed return is possible. I’d rather not print and mail it if there is a possibility of e-filing but I’m close to giving up as there doesn’t seem to be any consensus or definitive answer on the validity of e-filing.

[Opus 17]

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@mmcmahon14 wrote:

@Opus 17 ,

Thanks for your response. I guess I wanted to nudge some of these volunteer responders into citing a source or backing off from their certainty.

As for me, my 2023 return has been done and e-filed. I’m trying to amend and e-file a 2022 return. The 2022 TurboTax desktop version allows for amended returns and prepares them. Mine is done. It even leads you down the road of e-filing but then doesn’t finish. I’ve read and followed instructions gleaned from this forum and TurboTax. Everything that I have found in print indicates that e-filing and amended, originally e-filed return is possible. I’d rather not print and mail it if there is a possibility of e-filing but I’m close to giving up as there doesn’t seem to be any consensus or definitive answer on the validity of e-filing.

---

At this point, based on your experience, I would say you can't e-file your amended 2022 return with Turbotax and you should print, sign and mail it.  This answer is based on the following knowledge:

1. Turbotax can e-file amended returns during that year's filing season (until October 20, 2023 for a 2022 return)

2. Professionals can e-file more types of returns and with greater scheduling availability than consumer-level software.  This is a limitation that is imposed, at least partly, by the IRS, but might also be partly due to design choices by Turbotax. 

3. The IRS closed all e-filing for everyone (including professionals) from December until January 29, 2024, so they could program their system for 2023 returns.

4. The IRS e-filing system is open again.

5. Story time. A few years ago, I needed to use the desktop program to file an amended return.  I can't remember which year, and I can't remember if I amended during the same season or after.  I do remember that I was required to e-file the NY state return because, by law, if you e-filed your main return, you must e-file your state return.  But I don't remember if I e-filed the federal return.  I can try and look it up tonight if I remember.  But the point is that in that case, New York might have forced Turbotax to include a feature that was not necessarily included for other states. 

By inference, if the IRS e-filing system is open but Turbotax desktop 2022 can't e-file an amended return, then there is probably an issue with Turbotax that prevents it from e-filing an amended 2022 return in 2024.  That might be a programming error, or a design choice, or a limitation by the IRS.  Or to put it another way, no matter why you can't e-file the amended return today, you probably won't be able to e-file it if you wait until tomorrow.

[mmcmahon14]

I don’t have a state return because I live in Florida, so that’s one complication that I don’t have to deal with.

It’s all good discussion but still not a definitive answer. If all that was true, wouldn’t”t it be nice if TT simply spit out a message that said, “we’re sorry, but you can no longer e-file this amended return as the deadline was Oct 31, 2023. You can only mail it in.” Instead it says:

"Your 2023, 2022, or 2021 federal Form 1040-X amended return may be eligible for electronic filing if the original return was successfully e-filed using TurboTax. However, there is a chance your return cannot be electronically filed. If this happens, you'll need to print and mail your tax return."

So, … hmmm, there’s a chance, … ugh.

[donovanw1]

Hey, just wanted to post an update here. 

I went into Turbo tax online on 3/3/24 and somehow magically I was able to efile my amended 2022 Fed and state returns.  Within hours I received notification that both the Fed and State were accepted.  

For the record, I did call turbotax help quite a few times and the consistent response was that TurboTax does not support efiling amended returns.  That didn't make sense to me since why would the tool give you the option to efile.  So I guess I just happen to hold out long enough and maybe something happened on 3/1/24 that opened efiling back up again.