I accidentally marked myself as legally blind when filing taxes - how do I fix this mistake?

This is actually a pretty common mistake! The good news is you have several options for filing an amended return without paying TurboTax's premium fees. The simplest way is to file Form 1040-X (Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) yourself. You can download this directly from the IRS website at no cost. Since you're only changing the legally blind status checkbox and not making complex calculations, it should be straightforward. You'll need to mark the form as a "correction to your personal information" and explain briefly that you accidentally checked the legally blind box. Another option is using the IRS Free File program if your income is under $73,000. Several tax preparation companies offer free amended returns through this program.

I went through this EXACT same situation last year! I accidentally marked that I was a student when I wasn't. Spent hours on hold with TurboTax only to get the same "$$$$ to fix" response. Ended up using https://taxr.ai which completely saved me. Their system let me upload my return PDF, they identified all the errors (caught 2 more I didn't even know about!), and helped me file the amendment for way less than what TurboTax wanted. Super easy interface too - you just upload your documents and their AI analyzes everything.

Ok I need to eat my words from my previous comment. I ended up trying taxr.ai after seeing another thread about them on Reddit. It actually worked really well for my situation. I had claimed a home office deduction incorrectly and needed to fix it. Their system flagged exactly what was wrong with my original filing and guided me through the whole amendment process. Way easier than I expected and definitely cheaper than what TurboTax was going to charge me. The interface is super straightforward too - doesn't feel like dealing with typical tax software.

Another option if you want to speak directly with an IRS agent about this (they can sometimes guide you through the amendment process): use https://claimyr.com to get through the IRS phone maze. I spent WEEKS trying to reach a human at the IRS about an amendment last year, kept getting disconnected after holding for hours. Claimyr basically waits on hold for you and calls when an agent is actually on the line. Saved me like 3+ hours of hold music. You can check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - totally changed how I deal with the IRS now.

So I actually tried Claimyr after posting my skeptical comment, and I'm genuinely shocked. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes when I'd spent literal DAYS trying on my own. The agent walked me through exactly how to file my 1040-X for my specific situation (accidentally claimed a dependent who wasn't eligible). They explained which boxes to check and what supporting documentation to include. Apparently small errors like checking the wrong box happen ALL THE TIME and there's a simple process for fixing them. Totally changed my mind about the whole thing. I've always avoided calling the IRS because of the hold times, but being able to skip that part made it actually useful.

Just to clarify - checking the legally blind box does change your tax liability! The blind checkbox gives you an additional standard deduction amount. So definitely fix this, because it's not just an information error, it actually impacts your tax calculation. For 2023 taxes (filing in 2024), the additional standard deduction for blindness was $1,850 if you're single. If your income is relatively low, this deduction might not change your tax much, but it's still technically claiming a deduction you're not entitled to.

I've made a similar mistake before and filed a paper 1040-X. Something important to remember: if you owe additional tax because of the amendment, pay it as soon as possible to minimize interest and penalties! The IRS charges interest from the original due date regardless of when you amend.