I just filed a 6 year old tax return - can I still amend it for estimated tax payments?

I recently submitted a tax return from 6 years ago (something I should have done back then, I know). The thing is, after I sent it in, I suddenly remembered that I had made estimated tax payments that year and completely forgot to include them on the return I just filed. I've heard there's a 3-year limit on amending returns, but I'm confused about how that works in my situation since I just now filed the original return. Does that 3-year rule still apply? Or since I just filed the original return, can I still submit an amendment to include those estimated payments? Part of the reason I didn't file back then was because I thought I didn't owe anything. Now I remember why - I had made those quarterly estimated payments throughout the year! So now I'm wondering if I can fix this or if I've permanently lost the chance to claim those payments.

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19 comments

Liam Sullivan

•8M

You're in luck! The 3-year limitation applies to claiming refunds, but it's measured from when you filed the return, not from the tax year itself. Since you just recently filed the original return, you can still amend it to include those estimated tax payments. The IRS allows you to file Form 1040-X (Amended Return) within 3 years from the date you filed the original return or within 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. Since you just filed, you're well within that timeframe. I'd recommend filing the amendment as soon as possible. Make sure you have documentation of those estimated payments from 6 years ago - bank statements, canceled checks, or any IRS notices confirming the payments. You'll need to submit those as proof with your amended return.

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Liam Sullivan

•8M

The 3-year statute of limitations for claiming a refund starts from the later of: when you actually filed your return OR the due date of the return (including extensions). For claiming credits for tax payments you've already made, you generally have 3 years from when you file. So yes, if someone filed a very old return today, they typically have 3 years from today to amend it. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they can claim all refunds - there are limitations on how far back you can go for certain types of claims, especially for very old returns.

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Giovanni Colombo

•8M

After dealing with a similar issue last year, I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much trouble with my old returns. I had filed several years late and then realized I had documentation for deductions I hadn't included. Their system analyzed all my tax documents and found several errors in my original filing that would have caused problems with my amendment. The coolest thing was how it checked my estimated tax payments against IRS records to make sure everything matched before I amended. It confirmed exactly which estimated payments had been received and applied to my account, which was super helpful since my records from 5+ years ago weren't perfect.

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Giovanni Colombo

•8M

It works with returns regardless of age - the IRS maintains records well beyond 6 years. The system pulls your tax transcripts through official IRS channels after you authorize it, which shows all payments received under your SSN including estimated payments from years ago. For verification, it uses the same secure access methods tax professionals use - it's not bypassing any security. It's basically automating what you could do manually by requesting tax transcripts, but it organizes everything clearly and highlights discrepancies. I was skeptical too until I saw my full payment history laid out with dates and amounts matching my bank records.

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StarStrider

•8M

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after my skeptical comment and I'm honestly surprised. It actually worked exactly as described for my 2017 return that I filed late. It pulled up all my estimated payments including two I had completely forgotten about! The transcript showed everything - dates, amounts, and even where the payments had been applied. Saved me from having to call the IRS and wait on hold for hours trying to track down these old payments. I was able to file my amendment with the correct information and even discovered I was owed a refund instead of owing more. Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with old returns.

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Dylan Campbell

•8M

If you need to talk to the IRS about those estimated payments before amending, I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS about some old payments that weren't showing up correctly in my account. Kept getting disconnected or told to call back later. Then I found Claimyr through a YouTube video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent was able to look up all my old estimated payments and tell me exactly what was in their system before I filed my amendment.

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Dylan Campbell

•8M

They don't call for you - they use technology to navigate the IRS phone tree and hold systems, then call you when they've secured a place in line. You take the call directly with the IRS agent, so it's still you talking to the IRS, not a third party. It works because they've optimized the calling process - they know the best times to call, which menu options to select, and their system can handle the hold times automatically instead of you having to sit there for hours. I was skeptical too but getting through in 20 minutes when I'd wasted days trying was absolutely worth it. The IRS agent had no idea I'd used a service to connect - to them it was just a regular call.

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StarStrider

•8M

Okay I need to eat some humble pie here. After being skeptical about Claimyr, I was desperate enough to try it when my amended return got rejected with some cryptic message. I couldn't get through to the IRS after trying for three days straight. Claimyr actually got me connected to an IRS agent in about 30 minutes. The agent confirmed my estimated payments from 7 years ago were in their system but had been applied to the wrong tax year! She fixed it on the spot and explained exactly how to complete my amended return so it would process correctly. I would have never figured this out on my own, and I'd still be trying to get through on the phone if I hadn't used their service. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good.

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Dmitry Sokolov

•8M

Something nobody has mentioned - make sure you file your amendment on paper! The IRS doesn't allow e-filing of amended returns for tax years that old. You'll need to mail it in with copies of any documentation you have for those estimated payments (canceled checks, bank statements, etc). Also, keep in mind that while you can amend and potentially get credit for those estimated payments, any actual refund might be limited by the statute of limitations. But at minimum, you should be able to apply those payments to any tax you owed for that year.

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Rajiv Kumar

•2M

Just went through something very similar! Filed a 2018 return late last year and then realized I'd forgotten about estimated payments I'd made. The good news is you can definitely still amend since you just filed the original return. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you have solid documentation of those estimated payments before you amend. I thought I remembered making four quarterly payments but when I dug through my old bank records, I'd only made three. The IRS will want to see proof like canceled checks or bank statements showing the payments went to the Treasury. Also, don't stress too much about the timing. Since you just filed the original return, you have plenty of time to get the amendment right. Take a few weeks to gather all your documentation and double-check everything before sending in the 1040-X. Better to be thorough than to have to amend your amendment!

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