Need to amend 2021 state for unemployment after filing using free version

[JD631]

I filed using free IRS online version in 2020 and now need to amend my state return to add back $10,200 in unemployment.  When I access my 2020 state return under Your tax returns & documents, and click 

Amend (change) 2020 return, a message stating, "Amending a prior year return is not currently supported by IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax" is provided.  How can I pay for the option to amend my 2020 state return?

[JD631]

This should read that I need to amend my 2020 state return for unemployment after filing using free version.

[KrisD15]

To clarify

Which state?

How were you able to report the unemployment on your 2020 federal return and not on your original 2020 state return? 

[JD631]

Turbo Tax reduced my unemployment earnings by $10,200 on my federal return.  This flowed through to my state return.  Colorado does not allow the decrease in unemployment income.  Thus, I need to amend my 2020 state filing to add it back.

My real question is:  how do I upgrade Turbo Tax to do a state amendment after filing with the free IRS version?

[ZoltanB45 · Accepted solution]

You would need to purchase the desktop or download version to do this. Here is a link to the prior year downloaded TurboTax.

prior year Turbo Tax 

1. bring the original return into the program-prepare it like you did last year so the numbers match
2. once done entering everything choose to print and mail the return, so the system thinks this is the return that is being paper filed
3. then go back in and select "amend a filed return"

There is one issue. Turbo Tax may have already updated it's Colorado return so it knows that they didn't follow the federal guidelines of dealing with the unemployment income. Meaning, if you enter everything in the same manner as last year, Turbo Tax might now include the $10,200 of unemployment as Colorado income. Then there would be nothing to amend. To get around this, do not include $10,200 of unemployment when filling in the original return. Then in the amended just add it, print the state and mail it in.