How to submit 1040-X for year 2020 if form only shows up to 2019?

I'm in a bit of a panic right now trying to amend my 2020 taxes and hitting a wall. I grabbed the 1040-X form to file an amendment, but when I looked at it, the form only has checkboxes up to 2019! There's no option to select 2020 anywhere on the form. I've searched the IRS website and other tax sites but can't seem to find an updated version that includes 2020. I recently discovered I missed claiming a significant business expense (about $3,800) that would have reduced my self-employment taxes substantially. I need to get this fixed, but I'm completely stuck on which form to use since the 1040-X I downloaded doesn't seem to be the right one for 2020 returns. Has anyone dealt with this before? Is there a special form for amending 2020 taxes that I'm just not finding? Or am I supposed to use this same form somehow even though it doesn't have 2020 as an option? Any help would be so appreciated!

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19 comments

Ava Johnson

•8M

The 1040-X form you're looking at is probably an older version. The IRS updates these forms periodically, but sometimes they're hard to find on their website. For amending your 2020 return, you should be able to download the current version of Form 1040-X from the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040x). The current version should have an option for 2020. If you still can't find it, try looking for "Form 1040-X (Rev. January 2022)" or later, as this version includes tax years through 2021. If you're still having trouble finding the correct form, another option is to use tax preparation software, which will have the most up-to-date forms. Most tax software allows you to prepare amended returns, and they'll automatically use the correct version of Form 1040-X.

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Ava Johnson

•8M

You're right about the time limit - generally, you have 3 years from the original filing deadline to submit an amended return. Since the 2020 tax deadline was extended to May 17, 2021, you should have until May 17, 2024 to file an amendment. So unfortunately, if you're reading this in 2025, you may have missed the window to amend your 2020 return. As for tax software versus paper filing, software definitely makes the process easier and reduces errors. Most major tax programs can prepare amended returns, and some can even e-file them now, which is much faster than paper filing. If you do use software, just make sure it can handle the specific tax situation you're amending.

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Zainab Ahmed

•8M

I had this exact same problem last year when amending my 2019 taxes. After struggling to find the right form, I ended up using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it saved me hours of frustration. Their system automatically pulled up the correct 1040-X form with all the right year options, and their AI helped me figure out exactly what sections needed to be amended. The best part was that it actually reviewed my original return and pointed out another deduction I'd missed that I didn't even know about! I was able to get back about $1,200 more than I originally thought I would from my amendment.

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Zainab Ahmed

•8M

Yes, taxr.ai definitely handles self-employed situations! I actually used it for my side gig photography business. It walks you through all the Schedule C corrections and automatically updates any related forms that are affected by the changes. Regarding accuracy, I was skeptical at first too, but their system is actually trained on thousands of IRS documents and tax code sections. It doesn't just make guesses - it shows you exactly which tax regulations apply to your situation. For business expenses specifically, it asks detailed questions about the expense nature and timing to determine deductibility according to IRS rules.

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Yara Abboud

•8M

I need to apologize for my skepticism about taxr.ai in my earlier comment. I decided to give it a try for my own amendment situation, and I'm honestly impressed. The system was much more thorough than I expected. When I entered my business expense issue (similar to what the original poster described), it asked very specific questions about the nature of the expense, when it was incurred, and how it related to my business. Then it showed me the exact IRS guidelines that applied to my situation. The best part was that it automatically found the correct version of Form 1040-X with the 2020 option and guided me through exactly which lines needed to be changed. Saved me from the form hunt nightmare the original poster described. Just wanted to report back since my amendment is now successfully submitted.

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PixelPioneer

•8M

If you're still struggling with your 1040-X situation, you might want to try calling the IRS directly. Of course, we all know how that usually goes... busy signals, hours on hold, disconnections. I spent TWO WEEKS trying to reach someone at the IRS about my amended return. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - they have this service that gets you through to an actual IRS agent, usually within 15-45 minutes instead of waiting for hours or days. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c When I finally got through, the agent explained exactly which version of the 1040-X I needed and even told me where to find it on their website. They also gave me specific instructions for my situation that I couldn't find anywhere online.

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PixelPioneer

•8M

It's actually pretty ingenious how it works. They use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When it's about to connect to an agent, you get a call and are transferred directly to that agent. So you don't have to sit around listening to hold music for hours. No, it's definitely not a scam. They don't ask for any personal tax information - they just connect you to the IRS and you handle everything directly with the agent. They're basically just solving the phone queue problem. I was skeptical too until I actually tried it and was talking to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes after weeks of failed attempts.

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Paolo Rizzo

•8M

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I've been trying to reach the IRS about a similar amendment issue for my 2021 return. I was honestly shocked when I got a call back in about 20 minutes telling me they had an IRS agent on the line. The agent was able to confirm that for my 2021 amendment, I needed the January 2022 revision of Form 1040-X, and explained exactly how to handle the year selection (you're supposed to write in the year if it's not listed in the checkboxes). For the original poster's 2020 issue, I asked about that too - the agent said that while the deadline for 2020 amendments is likely passed now in 2025, there are occasionally exceptions if you can show reasonable cause for the late amendment. Worth asking about your specific situation if you call.

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Amina Sy

•8M

Another option nobody's mentioned is to consult a CPA or tax professional. Yes, it costs money, but they deal with amendments all the time and have access to professional tax software with all the current forms. I had a similar issue with an amendment last year and my CPA handled it all - found the right forms, calculated everything correctly, and even represented me when the IRS had questions. For something that might involve substantial money (like that $3,800 business expense OP mentioned), the peace of mind might be worth the professional fee.

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Amina Sy

•8M

For a relatively straightforward amendment like yours, most CPAs would charge somewhere between $200-500 depending on your location and the complexity of your overall tax situation. If your $3,800 business expense would significantly reduce your self-employment taxes (which can be 15.3% of your net earnings), you could potentially recover $500-700 or more, making the CPA fees worthwhile. Plus, they'll handle all the paperwork and respond to any IRS inquiries, which adds value beyond just the monetary return.

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Oliver Fischer

•8M

Last I checked, FreeTaxUSA does support preparing and e-filing 1040-X amendments, even in their free version for federal returns (though state amendments might have a fee). Credit Karma Tax (now Cash App Taxes) has been a bit behind on amendment e-filing support, but they might have added it by now. One important thing to note is that you can only e-file an amendment if your original return was also e-filed. If you filed by paper originally, you'll need to submit your amendment by paper too.

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