Do I need to file an amended state return after changing my federal return?

This is actually a good question that comes up fairly often. Generally speaking, if you amended your federal return but there are no changes to your state tax liability, whether you need to file an amended state return depends on your specific state's requirements. Some states require you to file an amended state return whenever you file an amended federal return, even if there's no change to your state tax situation. This is because they want documentation showing why the federal and state returns now appear different in their system. Other states don't require it if there's no change to your tax liability. For Virginia specifically, they do recommend filing an amended state return if you've amended your federal return, even if there's no change in tax liability. This creates a record that explains any discrepancies between your original and federal returns that might come up later.

I went through something similar last year and found taxr.ai incredibly helpful for this exact situation. https://taxr.ai actually has a tool that analyzes your federal amendment and tells you if you need to file a state amendment based on your specific state's rules. I was in the same boat - amended federal but no change to state numbers. I uploaded my returns and it confirmed I needed to file the state amendment even with $0 change because my state (not Virginia, but similar rules) requires it for record-keeping. What I appreciated most was that it explained WHY I needed to file it even with no changes - basically to keep the records straight between state and federal systems. Saved me a call to the state tax office and potential headaches later.

I just wanted to follow up on my earlier skepticism about taxr.ai - I decided to try it after getting a notice from my state tax department. Turns out you actually DO need to file in most states even with $0 change! The service at https://taxr.ai analyzed my situation in minutes and explained exactly why my state requires the filing (something about maintaining audit trails between federal and state records). It even highlighted which forms I needed to submit. Really straightforward process and gave me confidence I was doing the right thing. Definitely saved me from potential penalties down the road.

For anyone struggling to get a clear answer from their state tax office - I tried calling my state tax department 8 times about this exact issue and kept getting disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes each time. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and they got me through to a real person at the state tax office in just 20 minutes! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The state tax agent confirmed that I DID need to file the amended state return even though my numbers didn't change at all. Apparently it's about keeping your records consistent between federal and state systems. Said if I didn't file it, their automated system might flag my account for review later because the records wouldn't match up. Definitely worth the call to confirm!

Ok I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment yesterday, I tried calling my state tax office myself about an amended return question. Sat on hold for TWO HOURS before giving up. Out of frustration, I tried the Claimyr service and got connected to an actual human at the tax office in 35 minutes without having to sit there listening to the horrible hold music. The agent confirmed that yes, for my state (Illinois), I absolutely need to file the amended state return even with zero changes because it keeps their records consistent with the IRS database. Consider me converted - sometimes things that sound too good to be true actually work!

I work for a tax prep company (not naming which one) and here's what we tell clients: If you amended your federal return, ALWAYS file the amended state return even if nothing changed. Here's why: 1. Most states require it for record-keeping 2. It prevents automatic flags in their system 3. It creates documentation showing you were aware of and addressed any potential state impact 4. It costs you nothing but a stamp and might save you headaches later Trust me, I've seen clients get notices 2-3 years later when they didn't file that $0 change amended state return.

Quick tip from someone who's been there: make sure you MAIL the amended state return even if you e-filed your original returns! Most states don't accept e-filed amended returns and will reject them if you try. And definitely keep a copy of everything you send.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my amended federal return two weeks ago and TurboTax is telling me I need to file the state amendment even though literally nothing changed. I'm in California and was hoping to avoid the hassle, but reading all these responses it sounds like I really do need to file it. The part about creating a paper trail makes sense - I'd rather spend the stamp and time now than deal with notices later. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, especially the tax prep professional's insight. Going to mail mine out tomorrow with a copy of my 1040X attached. One question though - should I include any kind of cover letter explaining that there are no changes, or just send the forms as-is?

I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! As someone who went through this same situation last year, I can confirm that filing the amended state return (even with zero changes) is definitely the right move. I was in a similar boat - amended my federal return but it didn't affect my state taxes at all. I initially thought "why file paperwork showing nothing changed?" But after reading advice similar to what's shared here, I went ahead and filed it. Sure enough, about 6 months later I got a routine notice from my state tax department acknowledging they had received and processed my amended state return. The notice specifically mentioned that it was filed "in conjunction with federal amendment" - which told me their systems definitely do track this stuff and cross-reference with IRS data. The whole process was painless - just filled out the state amended form with the same numbers as my original return, attached a copy of my federal 1040X, and mailed it certified mail. Took maybe 30 minutes total and cost me about $8 in postage and fees. Small price to pay for peace of mind and avoiding potential headaches down the road. @Tyrone Johnson - definitely go ahead and file that Virginia amended return. Better to be proactive than deal with notices later!