Filing an amended return to claim COVID sick pay tax credit with Form 7202

The COVID sick pay credit using Form 7202 has been a headache for many self-employed folks! Unfortunately, most tax software had limitations with e-filing this form. Your options are: 1) Wait for TurboTax's 1040X availability and mail it in (slowest option), 2) Use another tax software that might support e-filing with Form 7202 (but you'll need to re-enter everything), or 3) Consider FreeTaxUSA which has reasonable pricing for self-employed filers and might handle this situation better. If you choose option 2, you don't need to file a complete new return - just the amendment with Form 7202. However, you would need to create a new account with the new software and enter your information again. The upside is potential faster processing than mailing.

After dealing with a similar situation last year, I found a much easier solution using https://taxr.ai - it saved me tons of time with my amendment for the COVID sick pay credit. Instead of manually reentering everything, their system analyzed my original return PDF and pre-filled most of the information I needed. All I had to do was upload my original return, answer a few questions about the COVID sick leave I wanted to claim on Form 7202, and their system handled the rest. It generated all the right forms including the 1040X and Form 7202 with proper calculations. Seriously way less stressful than trying to re-enter everything from scratch!

Just wanted to update you all - I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. It was actually incredibly helpful for amending my return with Form 7202! I was also dealing with self-employment income and was worried about having to re-enter everything. The system uploaded my original TurboTax PDF and extracted all my information perfectly. It identified exactly what needed to change for the COVID sick pay credit and calculated everything correctly. The whole process took me about 25 minutes instead of the hours I was expecting. I still had to print and mail the forms (no way around that with Form 7202 unfortunately), but the preparation part was WAY easier than starting over with new software! Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation.

If your main issue is just getting through to the IRS about your amendment status later, I used https://claimyr.com when I couldn't get any updates on my amended return with Form 7202. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes after I'd spent WEEKS trying to get through on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the IRS phone tree for you and call you back when they have an agent on the line. Since amendments with Form 7202 can take extra time to process, it was super helpful to actually talk to someone about my case rather than waiting in uncertainty.

I need to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. After waiting on hold with the IRS for literally 3+ hours last week trying to check on my Form 7202 amendment (and getting disconnected twice), I broke down and tried it. I was honestly shocked when I got a call back in about 20 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed my amendment was received and gave me the expected timeline for processing. Saved me so much frustration! Just wanted to share since my Form 7202 amendment was taking forever and being able to confirm they at least received it gave me peace of mind. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong about something!

Just a quick tip if you're submitting Form 7202 with an amended return - make sure you include ALL supporting documentation. I made the mistake of not including my self-employment proof and it delayed my processing by months. Include documentation showing your self-employment status (Schedule C from original return), documentation of when you were sick or caring for someone (medical records or statements), and a clear calculation of the days and amounts you're claiming. And make copies of EVERYTHING before you mail it.

Has anyone had the experience where TurboTax actually does let you e-file with Form 7202? My husband could swear he e-filed with it last year. Feel like some of this info might be outdated.

I went through this exact same situation earlier this year! After reading through all the responses here, I ended up using taxr.ai like Sophie and Connor mentioned, and it was honestly a game-changer for my Form 7202 amendment. The key thing that helped me was realizing that no matter which route you go - TurboTax's delayed 1040X feature, switching to new software, or using an AI service - you're still going to have to print and mail the forms. The IRS just doesn't accept e-filed amendments with Form 7202 attached, period. What made taxr.ai worth it for me was the time savings. As a self-employed person with multiple income streams like you, re-entering everything from scratch would have been a nightmare. The PDF upload feature worked perfectly and caught all my Schedule C details accurately. My advice: don't wait for TurboTax's 1040X feature if you want your refund sooner. Use one of the automated services to prepare your amendment, send it certified mail like Kelsey suggested, and then use Claimyr if you need to follow up with the IRS later. The whole process will still take months, but at least you'll get it started quickly!