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How do I amend my 2021 Illinois state return to claim the Earned Income Credit?

by TurboTax• Updated 6 months ago

Some Illinois customers might not have claimed the Earned Income Credit on their 2021 state taxes, which may have caused an overpayment of their Illinois taxes.

To find out if you’re owed an additional refund, compare your refund/balance due amount from your original return with what you see now in TurboTax. Sign in to the TurboTax account you used to prepare your 2021 tax return. If your refund/balance due amount has changed, we recommend you amend your state tax return.

To amend your return, follow the instructions below.

  1. Note the original refund or balance due amount for your Illinois income taxes. We recommend you check the paper/PDF copy of your return, or your banking records, to verify the correct amount.  
  2. Sign in to the TurboTax account you used to prepare your 2021 return.
  3. In Tax Home, find Your tax returns & documents, and choose 2021.
    • If you have not already done so, we recommend that you print a copy of your original 2021 tax return for your records by selecting Download/print return.
  4. Select Amend (change) return and then select Amend Using TurboTax Online.
  5. On the OK, let’s get a kickstart on your 2021 amended return screen, choose TurboTax sent me an email, then Continue.
  6. Compare your refund/balance due on your Illinois state return.
    • If the state amount is the same as you noted in step 1, no state amendment is needed. No action is required and you may stop here. 
    • If the state amount is different, you will need to amend your state tax return. 
  7. On the What did we contact you about? screen, choose Something else, then Continue.
  8. On the Tell us which 2021 return(s) you want to amend screen, select 2021 Illinois return. Then Continue.
    • Your state refund/balance due tracker will usually reset to $0. This is normal.
  9. On the Let’s get your state taxes done right screen, select Continue.
  10. On the Let’s amend your state taxes screen, select Amend next to Illinois.
  11. On the Let’s Amend Your Illinois Return screen, select Yes, let’s amend and get it done (Recommended), then Continue.
  12. Select Yes, I’ve entered everything and let’s review on the Let’s Make Sure You’re Ready to Review screen, and Continue.
  13. On the Let’s check your Illinois return and make sure it’s good to go screen, select Continue.
  14. Continue through on the Ok, looking good. But before we move on… screen.
  15. On the Check This Entry screen, enter TO CLAIM EARNED INCOME CREDIT as the explanation. Then select Continue.
  16. Select the IRS no box and Continue.
  17. Select the State change box and Continue.
  18. Enter the date you filed your original Form IL-1040, then Continue.
  19. Continue on the Not Eligible for Electronic Filing screen.
  20. On the Nice! Your Illinois return is in great shape screen, select Continue. Then Continue again.
  21. Select Check my info on the We’ll run a completecheck scan to finalize screen.
  22. On the You’re just about ready to file. But first… select Continue.
  23. Select Review and make any final changes on the Let’s take care of these details now screen, and Continue.
  24. On the We still have a couple details to button up screen, select Continue.
  25. Continue on the Here are the numbers for your amended return screen.
  26. On the Great job so far! screen, select Continue.
  27. On the Just one more step and we’ll file your return screen, select Start next to Step 3, then continue through the screens to print and save your Illinois amended return.
  28. After you've printed, you need to sign, date, and mail the amended return. The mailing address and refund amount are included on the File by Mail Instructions for your 2021 Illinois Amended Tax Return.
  29. Be sure to Print and Save the amended return for your records.
  1. Note the original refund or balance due amount for your Illinois income taxes. We recommend you check the paper/PDF copy of your return(s), or your banking records, to verify the correct amount.  
  2. Launch TurboTax and open your 2021 return.
  3. Before you make any changes, select File and Save As... then add Amended 2021 return to the file name to preserve your original return.
  4. Select Online and Check for Updates. Allow the program to update if any are available.
  5. Compare your refund/balance due on your Illinois state return.
    • If the state amount is the same as you noted in step 1, no state amendment is needed. No action is required and you may stop here. 
    • If the state amount is different, you will need to amend your state tax return. 
  6. Select the Federal Taxes tab, (Personal tab if you’re using Home & Business), and then select Other Tax Situations. You may be asked to answer a few preliminary questions before you see a list of categories. Scroll down to Other Tax Forms and select Start next to Amend a Return.
  7. On the We’ll help you change (amend) your return screen, select Continue.
  8. On the Did you already file your return? screen, select Yes, I’ve already filed my return. Then select I was contacted by TurboTax and told I may need to amend for some other reason. Then select Continue.
    • The refund meters will reset to -0-. This is normal.
  9. On the What do you need to change on your return? screen, scroll down to the bottom and select Update next to State Return.
  10. On the Let’s work on your state return screen, select Continue.
  11. On the Your State Returns screen, select Edit next to Illinois.
  12. On the Let’s Amend Your Illinois Return screen, select Yes, let’s amend and get it done (Recommended), then Continue.
  13. On the Let’s Make Sure You’re Ready to Review screen, select Yes, I’ve entered everything and let’s review, then Continue.
  14. On the Check This Entry screen, select the IRS no box, and Continue.
  15. Enter the date you filed your original Form IL-1040 and Continue.
  16. Enter TO CLAIM EARNED INCOME CREDIT as the explanation, then Continue.
  17. Select the State change box and Continue.
  18. Continue on the Review Your Return screen.
  19. On the Run State Review Again screen, select Run Review Again. Make any corrections that are needed.
  20. On the Smart Check Complete screen, select Continue.
  21. On the You’re Done with 2021 Illinois screen, select Done With States.
  22. On the Let’s make sure your taxes are correct screen, select Continue. 
  23. On the Let’s Check These Entries screen, the federal 1040-X will appear. Select Continue then Done and Continue again. No changes are being made to the federal return.
  24. On the You’re Done! Print and Mail Your Returns screen, follow the instructions to print and save your amended Illinois return.
  25. After you've printed, you need to sign, date, and mail the amended return. The mailing address and refund amount are included on the File by Mail Instructions for your 2021 Illinois Amended Tax Return.
  26. Be sure to Print and Save the amended return for your records.

TurboTax has experts available to answer your questions by calling 844-333-2161 (Monday–Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM CT). When you speak with an expert, just mention Illinois Earned Income Credit so they know exactly what you’re calling about.

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