Filing late - not amended

[Eli923]

My daughter completed her state taxes in TurboTax but never mailed the return. Now, she's adding a little more information and TurboTax is filling out an amended (1040X) return . But she doesn't need to file an amended return; she needs to file a regular (1040) return. How is she supposed to get TurboTax to let her just file a regular return?

[VolvoGirl]

But what happened with your original Federal 1040 return?   Did you file it?   Did you click on Amend to let you back into your return?  

You should Click on Add a State to let you back into your return.  If you clicked on the amend button you might need to undo that first.  How to delete an Amended return in the Online version

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/amending/help/how-do-i-cancel-or-undo-an-amended-return-in-turbota...

To change a return If you haven't mailed or efiled yet, see

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/i-want-to-change-a-return-i-ve-printed-but-haven-t...

[Eli923]

She's using the installed, not online version.

She did e-file her Federal return, but she never filed her state return altogether. That was all back in April.

Today, she opened TurboTax and - yes - clicked "file an amended return". Now that she's at this point in TurboTax of it assuming she wants to file both an amended Federal and state, how does she file an amended Federal return but a first-time state return?

Does she need to pull up a backup of the .tax2021 file (from before today) and start over? That seems a bit extreme, but she could do it if necessary.

[fanfare]

@Eli923 

Reverting to a backup file is actually the easiest way to unwind from such an error,

assuming you know how to do it.

[Eli923]

I was able to restore the original file from backup.

That file contains:

• Federal - already submitted via e-file
• state - never submitted

OK, so starting from that restored file, how does she now:

• Federal - file an amended return
• state - file a regular (albeit late) return

?

Thank you!

[fanfare]

File the state return first, assuming it is correct and complete.

@Eli923 

[Eli923]

So...

1. Finish modifying the state return - then file it
2. Go to the beginning and click "start an amended return"
   • don't open state
   • modify federal - then file it
3. Save and close TurboTax

?

[fanfare]

you need first  to determine whether your 1040 amendment is going to impact the state return.

@Eli923 

[Eli923]

It will:  she's correcting her income and adding 1099-DIV.

[fanfare]

After amending 1040, you should then be able to File updated state return, before submitting 1040X amendment.

If not  (TurboTax can be tricky), consider printing and mailing state return, then delete state return.

States don't have the paper backlog that IRS has,

[Eli923]

Sorry, I'm really unclear as to exactly what steps she needs to take. Could you please list out each step? Sorry, I'm just not getting it... Thank you!

[Hal_Al]

I don't think TurboTax (TT) is capable of doing what you need.  You'll have to use a work around.

Here's how I would do it:

Update your federal return with the changes, but don't tell TT it's an amendment.  Everything, including the changes will transfer to the state return. Complete the state return.  Print and mail it. Save a copy of the state PDF for your records. Then close the program, but  DON'T SAVE.   Then re-open the program and do your federal amendment, re-entering the changes.

[fanfare]

Using the steps noted above, since the 1040 was e-Filed, you should be able to e-File the state return also.

this is another fuzzy area in TurboTax.

@Eli923 

[Eli923]

Thanks, @Hal_Al , very clear!

Next year, when TT opens the file that was (actually) saved (according to your instructions), will it have the correct information from 2021 to build off of for 2022 - or will she have to go in and start making "surgical" updates to get an accurate output for 2022?

[Hal_Al]

Q. Next year, when TT opens the file that was (actually) saved (according to your instructions), will it have the correct information from 2021 to build off of for 2022?

A. Yes. But, since you didn't save the actual filed state return (except as a pdf), you will have go go thru the state program and amend it too.  That should restore your state data, to what you file.  Although, depending on what state you filed, the forms may not look the same as the actual file form.