Can 1040-X show blank lines?

[lameri]

I did some tax returns with a TurboTax agent who was very detailed oriented. He guided me through the pages to print and sign. A total of 19 pages.

However, today when I went to the IRS office to drop off the amendment, the office person said: "you may not have them accepted." I asked why. The lady said, "because lines 1-15 are blank." After waiting almos half an hour just to have someone come to the counter, I had to go home because I didn't want any issues (I wondered if I had printed the wrong document).

At home I see that those lines indeed appear blank in the document. Is that OK? I believe my amendment may not have modified those lines and that is why, but I am not sure, because the columns do read

original amount / net change / current amount

as if they expected to see the amounts even if there was no change. 

Can TurboTax leave those lines 1-15 blank in a 1040-X?

Also, the lady said, "you don't need to give us a copy of the 1040 if you originally filed taxes that year, you just need form 1040-X." That was perplexing: how can you show the amounts that have been revised if you don't add a bunch of forms.

[Mike9241]

are all lines 1-15 blank. then there is something wrong with the form.  any that are n/a for original or amended can be blank 

[fanfare]

@lameri 

"how can you show the amounts that have been revised"

That goes in the lines that you are showing as EMPTY currently.

Columns A Through C
Column A. Enter the amounts from your original return.
However, if you previously amended that return or it was
changed by the IRS, enter the adjusted amounts.
Column B. Enter the net increase or decrease for each line
that you are changing.

Column C, enter the correct amount based on your revised tax return.

Explain each change in Part III. If you need more space,
attach a statement.

Attach any schedule or form relating to the change.

--

This does not include your old 1040, nor your new 1040.

The lady was correct.
Do not include your old 1040 nor your revised 1040 because the Form 1040-X reflects any changes there and becomes your new tax return.
--
The only time you can leave lines 1-23 EMPTY is if no dollar amounts are changing and you are filing 1040-X for some other special purpose.

[lameri]

I think the reason is that there are no changes in those lines, indeed.

My changes are very minor, only on Schedule E. And on the top of Schedule E, it reads "Attach to Form 1040" and that is why TurboTax wants me to print it.

I would still prefer to see the lines filled out with the same numbers (and a zero "net change"), so I am still hoping to get an employee response.

But again, my taxes were revised by a TurboTax "Enrolled Agent (EA), for 10 years"... so I would hope he knew what he was doing. He went page by page in the end just to tell me what to print and what not to print, and he didn't complain about those empty lines...

[fanfare]

maybe he just got tired or lazy.

when I said no dollar amounts are changing, that means everywhere. no refund, no amount you owe.

Schedule E

Line 25 goes to Schedule 1 Line 5

Schedule 1 goes to Form 1040 Line 8

That changes your AGI form 1040-X Line 1

Otherwise, what is the Explanation Part III reason to amend if these amounts are unchanged.?

[lameri]

I'd be surprised that "he got tired." My case stemmed from a TurboTax software bug, which resulted in multiple amendments, so a supervisor sent me this person.

Yes--there was no change in the AGI.