Amended Federal Return

[tah0476]

OK, I am confused about something.  I e-filed my original return yesterday in TurboTax and it was accepted by the IRS.  I noticed today that I forgot to include a 1099-INT for the interest on Series I savings bonds.  First of all, no additional state tax is due because it is a savings bond.  Even though TurboTax gave me the option to send an amended state return in (for Virginia) I did not do that.  That is the state question.

So, for the federal question.  A "Step 1, Step2, Step3" screen came up in TT and Step 2 said this:

Step 2:  Print and mail your amended returns (Returns other than VA, must be mailed).

I continued on and it allowed me to e-file the Federal Amended Return where I confirmed my original banking account information to pay the additional tax owed from the 1099-INT that was missed.

Then it tried to get me to e-file the Virginia state return again even though there was no change.  I unchecked the option to file the VA state return.

What gives.  This step 2 seemed to indicate and cannot e-file the federal amendment, but it allowed me to continue on and transmit it.

[LeticiaF1]

You can efile amended federal returns, but it is usually not recommended to amend a return until the original return is completely processed.  Hopefully, filing your federal return won't cause any issues. 

If there was no change on your state return, you can do what you did and uncheck the box to file a VA amended return.

Do I need to amend?

[tah0476]

Now that last comment has me really concerned......about not filing an amended return before the original one completely processes.  The original return as accepted, but the tax payment was not processed through my bank account yet.  Today I just did the amended return that resulted in an additional $200 being due.  Now when I open the TurboTax file, the only Federal Tax due that is showing is the $200, and when I click on Current Status is just shows me that the amended return is accepted.  It does not say anything about the original, even though I have a previous email/text saying the IRS accepted the original.

However, when I look at the actual form 1040 and 1040-X behind the scenes in TurboTax, it does show the original tax due as paid on like 16 of the 1040-X and the additional amount owed to the amendment as $200 on line 20.  On form 1040, line 37 "Amount you owe" shows the total amount from the original and the amendment.  So, that seems all in order to me.  But still.  Will they process both the original debit and the amended amount from my bank account?  If they don't, then the system has a huge flaw.  It should not have allowed me to amend at this time.

[tah0476]

So what happens if you do e-file an amended federal return before the original return is completely processed and taxes are paid?  Seems like it should work.  To me this is a common scenario where people submit and realize they forgot something.  And if this does cause issues why wouldn’t TurboTax pop a message (at least a warning) for you to not proceed with the amendment until the original is fully processed.  

[tah0476]

It worked like it should.  I am not sure it is necessary to tell people to wait until the original return is fully processed until filing the amended return.  Worked exactly like it should and both payments were sent to the IRS.

[KrisD15]

We suggest people wait since an original return and an amended return can cross in the IRS computerized system if filed to close together. On the other hand, tax is due by April 15, 2025, so we don't want people to pay their tax late. 

Even if the original and amended returns cross and create some confusion, it can all be sorted out, but much better to avoid a problem than to fix one especially when dealing with the IRS. 

Since you did file the amended return, all you can do is wait for everything to be processed.