Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted May 31, 2019 5:45:14 PM

Can I write on a typed tax return before submitting or will they reject it?

0 21 13462
1 Best answer
Level 13
May 31, 2019 5:45:28 PM

There's no law - at least not yet - that every income tax return that's filed by mail has to be machine printed.   Plenty of income tax returns are still being mailed in filled out by hand, and I guarantee you that lots of those income tax returns have white-out all over them.

White-out what needs to be whited out and enter correct numbers by hand, recheck your math and you'll be fine.

Tom Young

21 Replies
Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:45:15 PM

They will probably miss any handwritten or typed notes on a mailed return.  What do you want to add?

Alumni
May 31, 2019 5:45:16 PM

You're still allowed to file a tax return written by hand...I guess it depends on what it is you want to add in.

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:45:17 PM

i dont have a printer and I'm being lazy. i realized that i should add my withheld refund in box 65 so it can be applied to what I owe them. so I was going to white out what is already there ( it is typed -- I did it on turbotax but then had to file by mail b/c of issues with my pin) and physically write in the new amounts. but i dont want to risk them rejecting it if it is partly written, partly typed. thank you!!

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:45:19 PM

Withholding goes in box 64.  Only estimated payments and a refund applied from last year go in box 65.  Why don't you want to efile (or can't you efile)?  Then you can go back in and add the missing info and efile.  You can switch to efiling from mailing.

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:45:20 PM

sorry, I meant box 65. I have a witholding that is more than I owe.

they won't let me efile. it is an issue with my PIN and some old fraud scam or something.

I still have the question of will the IRS accept a document that is part written, part typed?

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:45:21 PM

It is part typed....from turbotax....but there are 3 boxes I whited-out and hand wrote in. it is boxes 65, 74, 75 and 78. and my direct deposit.

do you think they will not accept my application because a part of it is handwritten ?

Level 15
May 31, 2019 5:45:23 PM

Oh, I guess based on the other questions you posted you made estimated payments that go on line 65.   I don't know but if it was me I would try that.  What's the worse that could happen?  They would mail it back?

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:45:24 PM

yeah and I have to wait another 5-10 weeks !!!!

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:45:26 PM

thanks for the help!

Level 13
May 31, 2019 5:45:28 PM

There's no law - at least not yet - that every income tax return that's filed by mail has to be machine printed.   Plenty of income tax returns are still being mailed in filled out by hand, and I guarantee you that lots of those income tax returns have white-out all over them.

White-out what needs to be whited out and enter correct numbers by hand, recheck your math and you'll be fine.

Tom Young

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:45:30 PM

Thank you So much ToM!! I even signed my first and last initual next to the white out. haha. thank you!

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:45:32 PM

tom- do I NEED to have a form 888 filled out in order to use direct deposit, or can I just fill out my routing and account number on the 1040 box 76b & d ?

Level 13
May 31, 2019 5:45:34 PM

If you just want you money back simply fill out the Form 1040 information.  If you want to use the refund to buy bonds using some or all of the refund, that's when you need Form 8888.

Alumni
May 31, 2019 5:45:36 PM

8888 is for splitting the refund into 2 different accounts, like half to checking and half to savings.

Level 2
Feb 20, 2022 8:59:10 PM

On a e prepared IT-201 tax form has "No Handwritten entries, other than signature, on this form". I was told to write No-Resident Alien in the area for my spouse's social security number, since he doesn't have one can, I still write this on the form, or should I just leave it blank?

(I'm filling Married filing separately)

Expert Alumni
Feb 21, 2022 5:15:32 AM

Yes you can make hand-written changes on a typed return if you are filing by mail.

 

In your case @Carmen256, leaving the box blank will could delay the processing of your return or cause it to be rejected.

Level 2
Mar 4, 2022 9:33:32 PM

Thanks, you for the clarification. However, I have one more problem; After printing my state returns (New York). Turbo Tax printed a page stating that "New York law requires tax returns prepared using software to be e-filed". Because of my filling status Turbo Tax is not allowing me to do this, should I still file by mail anyways?

Expert Alumni
Mar 5, 2022 5:53:53 AM

Mail your return anyway @Carmen256. New York says "You must e-file if your software allows you to e-file your return, or if you are a tax preparer who is subject to the e-file mandate."

 

Because you are adding a change you cannot e-file your return. You can explain this to New York if there's an issue.

Level 2
Mar 11, 2022 12:57:03 PM

Roger that

 

Thank you very much once again I've decided to mail it anyways, like you recommended. I'll let you know how it goes. But thank you @ErnieS0  for your help 🙂

Level 4
Jun 11, 2022 7:17:13 AM

@marvinakapercy , what was your experience with this return finally? Did they accept it, or they asked for a correction?

Or you ended up with re-printing?

Level 2
Jun 21, 2022 10:34:43 PM

So, after mailing it, there was a little adjustment made but NY state accepted it. I haven't heard back for my Federal Tax returns though