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Miranda Singer

Do I Need to Mail in an Amended Return? TurboTax Not Showing Option

Hey tax friends! Need some quick advice on filing an amended return: • I originally filed through TurboTax for my 2023 taxes • Realized I missed reporting some gig income from a side hustle 🤦‍♂️ • Trying to amend now but TurboTax doesn't seem to give me an option • Do I seriously have to mail a paper form? I thought everything was electronic these days This is my first time amending and I'm trying to avoid any penalties. Any TurboTax users know if I'm missing something obvious?

Unfortunately, most amended returns (Form 1040-X) still need to be filed by mail even in 2024. TurboTax should have an amendment option under the Tax Tools section, but it will ultimately generate a PDF that you'll need to print and mail. The IRS began accepting e-filed amendments in 2020, but many tax software providers haven't fully implemented this functionality across all situations. Keep in mind that amended returns take significantly longer to process - typically 16 weeks compared to the standard 21 days for electronic filing.

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This is like being told your GPS works great but you still need to mail in your route corrections! If I use TurboTax to generate the amendment, do they at least pre-fill all the information from my original return? Or am I basically starting from scratch with this paper form?

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I had to amend my 2022 return due to a missing 1099-MISC. The Form 1040-X terminology is quite specific - you need to complete columns A (original amounts), B (net change), and C (corrected amounts). My tax professional advised that approximately 20% of amended returns experience processing delays due to technical errors in form completion.

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Thank you so much for explaining this! I've been wondering the same thing and was getting really confused about why everything else can be e-filed but amendments seem stuck in the paper age. Really appreciate the clear explanation! 💯

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Have you tried going to the "Tax Tools" section and looking for "Amend Return" option? Isn't there a section specifically for this? I remember having to dig around in TurboTax last year when I needed to amend, but eventually found it buried in some menu. Why do they make these things so unnecessarily complicated when we're already stressed about fixing our taxes?

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I went through this exact nightmare scenario last April. Found the amend option in TurboTax but then got completely confused with the process. Ended up spending three hours on it, printing everything out, and then waiting nearly 6 months for processing. The kicker? They still sent me a notice saying I had calculated something wrong, and I had to call them anyway.

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TBH has anyone actually found the amend option in the new TurboTax interface? I swear they redesigned everything this year and now I can't find half the features that used to be there. Looked everywhere in Tax Tools but nada.

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I had the same issue. Called IRS directly. Waited 97 minutes. Agent confirmed paper filing requirement. Electronic amendments are limited. Process is frustrating. I used Claimyr.com to reach an agent quickly. Saved hours of hold time. Agent walked me through exactly what forms I needed. Confirmed my specific situation required paper filing. Very helpful service for complicated amendment questions.

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I've seen Claimyr mentioned before, but I'm always hesitant about these third-party services. I've had bad experiences with companies that claim to help with government services. Did they actually get you through faster? I've tried calling the IRS three times already and gave up after being on hold for over an hour each time. My previous experience with similar services is they just automate what you could do yourself.

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I had to amend my return last year, and compared to regular e-filing, it was like going back in time! You'll need to download Form 1040-X, and unlike regular returns where the software calculates everything automatically, you'll need to manually fill in three columns showing original amounts, changes, and corrected amounts. TurboTax should help generate this form, but similar to how H&R Block handles it, you'll ultimately need to print and mail it. Don't forget to attach any supporting documents that relate to your changes!

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I'm concerned about this whole process. Mailing important tax documents seems risky. • What if it gets lost in the mail? • How will you know the IRS received it? • What about proof of filing on time? • Will this trigger an audit since it's a manual process? Seems like the IRS should have fully electronic amendments by now. This paper process seems designed to create problems.

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I sort of understand your concerns, but the mail system is generally quite reliable for important documents. You should probably send it certified mail with tracking, just to be safe. The IRS might be somewhat behind technologically, but they do have fairly robust systems for processing paper returns. Millions of people still file paper returns every year, so it's not exactly an unusual situation. The main downside is mostly just the longer processing time, which can be frustrating but isn't necessarily problematic.

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Absolutely agree with sending via certified mail! I amended my 2022 return last summer and used USPS certified mail with return receipt. Cost me exactly $7.35 but gave me 100% peace of mind knowing it was delivered. The IRS received it on June 14th and I finally got my additional refund on October 3rd - almost 16 weeks to the day. The tracking number saved me so much anxiety during the waiting period!

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I just went through this exact process 23 days ago! TurboTax has the amendment feature but it's weirdly hidden. Go to Tax Tools > Amend a Return (not under the regular filing section). It will walk you through creating the 1040-X but then surprise you at the end by saying you need to print and mail it. I was shocked that in 2024 we're still mailing tax forms! My amendment took exactly 19 weeks and 3 days to process last year - way longer than the 16 weeks they claim on the website.

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Thanks for the specific instructions on finding the amendment feature! I've been clicking around TurboTax for an hour trying to find it. 19 weeks is absolutely insane though - that's almost 5 months! Did you have to follow up with them at all during that time or did it just eventually show up? I'm worried about my amended return getting lost in their system somewhere.

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@Edison Estevez That s'incredibly helpful finding the exact location! I was starting to think TurboTax removed the feature entirely. 19 weeks is brutal though - did you get any status updates during that time or were you just waiting in the dark? I m'planning to amend for some missed cryptocurrency transactions and really hoping it doesn t'take that long. Did you call to check on the status at all or just wait it out?

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@Edison Estevez Thanks for the detailed walkthrough! I m'dealing with the same situation right now - found the amendment option exactly where you said it would be. Quick question: when you mailed your 1040-X, did you include copies of all the supporting documents like (the missing 1099s or) just the main form? And did you use regular mail or spring for certified? I m'trying to decide if the extra cost for tracking is worth it given how long this process takes anyway.

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Just wanted to share my recent experience since I literally just went through this exact situation last month! I missed reporting some freelance income and had to amend my 2023 return through TurboTax. Here's what I learned: • The amendment feature IS there but super buried - go to Tax Tools then look for "Amend a Return" • TurboTax will help you fill out Form 1040-X but you'll still need to print and mail it (so frustrating!) • I sent mine certified mail for $8.50 - totally worth it for the tracking and peace of mind • Include copies of any new forms (like that missing 1099) with your amendment The whole "electronic age but still mailing tax forms" thing is ridiculous, but at least TurboTax does pre-fill most of your original return info so you're not starting completely from scratch. Currently at week 12 of waiting for my processing, so buckle up for the long haul! Pro tip: Keep digital copies of everything and your certified mail receipt - you'll want that tracking number for your sanity during the endless waiting period.

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