Can I amend my 2016 tax return to take the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion instead of the Foreign Tax Credit?

[melisvik]

I lived abroad for 7 years and filed for the foreign earned income exclusion every year. In 2016 tax year however, I filed the Foreign Tax Credit instead. For 2017 tax year, I have discovered that I would benefit more from taking the foreign earned income exclusion after all. But I know I'm not supposed to take it for 5 years after "revoking" for one year. Can I amend my 2016 return to take the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion instead of the Foreign Tax Credit, so that I can qualify to take the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for 2017?

[KarenJ]

No, once you file using FTC only, you cannot take the foreign earned income exclusion until the 6th year after the revocation was effective.  Your initial choice of the exclusion on Form 2555 can be made with an amended return Amended returns generally must be filed by the later of 3 years after the filing date of the original return or 2 years after the tax is paid.

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p54

Choosing the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion 

[Edited 03.24.20 | 2:26 pm]

[melisvik]

Thank you, but is it not possible to even amend the previous year's return?

[sjunk]

I have the same question.  What did you end up doing?