Do I need to amend my federal tax return if I already amended my state return?

The state won't automatically notify the federal government about your amended state return. The IRS and state tax departments operate independently, even though they may share some information. If the error that prompted your state amendment would also affect your federal tax liability, then yes, you should file an amended federal return (Form 1040-X). Even though the IRS processed your original return without issues, they could discover the discrepancy later during a review or audit, which could lead to penalties and interest if you owe additional tax. However, not all state tax issues affect federal returns. For example, if the error was related to a state-specific credit or deduction that doesn't exist on your federal return, you might not need to amend federally. The key question is whether the error changes your federal tax liability at all.

I went through something similar last year where I had to amend both returns. I spent hours trying to figure it out until I found this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much time. It analyzed my tax documents and flagged that I definitely needed to amend my federal return too since the error affected both returns. The tool walked me through exactly what forms I needed and what numbers needed to change. I was surprised how easy it made the whole process compared to the nightmare I was expecting. I think it uses AI to compare your original and amended state return to determine if your federal return needs changing too.

Just wanted to update everyone. I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was actually really helpful for my situation. Turns out I DID need to amend my federal return because the error on my state return was about income that wasn't reported correctly. The tool analyzed both returns and showed me exactly what was wrong and how to fix it. Would have been completely lost without it since this was my first time dealing with amended returns. Just submitted both my amended returns and feel much better knowing everything is correct now.

If you've been trying to call the IRS to ask about your amended return, good luck! I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to them recently. Then I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. They have this demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was skeptical at first but I was desperate after waiting on hold for hours with no luck. They called the IRS, navigated all the automated menus, waited on hold FOR ME, then called me when they had an agent on the line. The agent answered all my questions about my amended return and confirmed I was doing everything correctly.

Well I'm eating my words. I tried Claimyr today after seeing it here and it actually worked. I've been trying to get through to the IRS for THREE WEEKS about my amended return, and within 45 minutes of using this service, I was talking to a real person. The agent confirmed that I did need to file the federal amendment since the income reporting error affected both returns. They also told me there's currently a 20-week processing time for amended returns, which I had no idea about. Saved me from checking the "Where's My Amended Return" tool every day for the next 4 months.

I dealt with a similar situation last year. If the mistake is related to income reporting, deductions, or credits that would affect BOTH returns, then yes, you absolutely need to amend your federal return too. Don't wait for the IRS to catch it. I made that mistake and ended up paying a lot more in interest and penalties than I would have if I'd just filed the 1040-X right away. Better to be proactive!

Quick question - do you mail the 1040-X or can you e-file an amended federal return now? Last time I had to do this it was paper only and took forever.

From my experience as a tax preparer, whether you need to amend your federal return depends entirely on the nature of the error. If it was something like a state-specific deduction or credit that doesn't appear on your federal return, you're probably fine. But if it involved income, federal deductions, or anything that flows through to both returns, you'll definitely want to file that 1040-X. One thing I always tell my clients: when in doubt, amend. The IRS won't penalize you for correcting an error voluntarily, but they will charge interest and penalties if they catch it first. Since you already received your federal refund, if the amendment shows you owe additional tax, you'll need to pay that plus interest from the original due date. But if you act quickly, the interest should be pretty minimal. Also, keep good records of both your original and amended returns. The IRS sometimes sends notices years later asking about discrepancies, and having everything documented makes those situations much easier to resolve.