Need help filing 2020 Amended Return - stuck on Form 1040X for Recovery Rebate Credit
I initially filed my taxes early this year since I only had one W-2 and wanted to get everything done quickly. This is my first time filing as an Independent after being claimed as a Dependent in 2019, which meant I was eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit since I never got any stimulus checks last year. I think I may have filed TOO early though because my initial credit only included $1200 for the first stimulus. I don't think the system even gave me an option to say I hadn't received the second check when I filed. I owed about $320 in taxes, but my total withholding for 2020 was around $850, which gave me a refund of about $530 on top of that first credit - making my initial refund around $1730. I e-filed through H&R Block, their accuracy check said everything looked fine, and I submitted. The IRS accepted it about 5 weeks ago, but I haven't heard anything since. I recently discovered I should have claimed the second stimulus check too, so I started filing an amended return. I added the additional $600 Recovery Rebate Credit, which brings my total refund to about $2330. But now I'm completely stuck on a page in Form 1040X and don't know how to proceed. Has anyone gone through this process before? Really need some help figuring out this amended return.
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Liam Fitzgerald
I've helped several people with amended returns for the Recovery Rebate Credit. The 1040X can be tricky, but it's manageable if you take it step by step. For the 1040X, you'll need to complete three columns: Column A shows the figures from your original return, Column B shows the net change for each line, and Column C shows the corrected amounts. Since you're only changing the Recovery Rebate Credit, most lines will stay the same. Make sure you're marking the tax year as 2020 at the top of the form. In Part III of the 1040X (Explanation of Changes), clearly write that you're amending to claim the second Economic Impact Payment (stimulus) of $600 that you were eligible for but didn't receive. Keep it simple and straightforward. If you e-filed your original return, you should be able to e-file the amendment through H&R Block as well. The IRS began accepting e-filed 1040X forms in 2020, which makes the process much easier than the old paper method.
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Amara Nnamani
•Thanks for the info! Quick question - if the amendment is just for the Recovery Rebate Credit, do I still need to attach any schedules or other forms to the 1040X? And roughly how long do amended returns take to process? I've heard horror stories about waiting 6+ months.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•You generally don't need to attach any additional schedules if you're only amending for the Recovery Rebate Credit. However, you should include a copy of your original return for reference. Processing times for amended returns are definitely longer than regular returns. Currently, the IRS is taking about 16-20 weeks to process amended returns, but it could be longer due to IRS backlog issues. The pandemic has caused significant delays in all IRS processing. You can check the status of your amended return using the "Where's My Amended Return" tool on the IRS website after about 3 weeks of filing the amendment.
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Giovanni Mancini
Just wanted to share my experience! I got stuck in a similar situation with my Recovery Rebate Credit and had a nightmare trying to figure out the 1040X form. I discovered this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which really helped me through the process. I uploaded my original return and it instantly highlighted what sections of the 1040X I needed to focus on for the Recovery Rebate Credit amendment. It was super helpful because it showed exactly what numbers needed to go in which columns for my specific situation. The best part was it did a side-by-side comparison so I could clearly see what was changing between my original and amended return. It also provided an explanation I could copy for Part III that clearly stated why I was filing the amendment, which the IRS seems to be picky about. Definitely made the whole process less stressful!
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NebulaNinja
•I'm looking at the website now - can it handle other amendments too? I realized I forgot to claim some education credits and I'm wondering if this would work for that situation too.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Does the tool actually file the amended return for you or does it just help you figure out what to put on the forms? I'm always skeptical of these tax tools because they sometimes charge hidden fees at the end.
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Giovanni Mancini
•It can definitely handle education credit amendments too! It recognizes most common tax situations and guides you through the specific areas you need to modify. The comparison feature works for any type of amendment, showing before and after figures. The tool doesn't file the amendment for you - it just helps you understand exactly what to put on each line of the 1040X and generates the explanation text for Part III. You still need to submit the amendment yourself either through your tax software or by printing and mailing it. There's no hidden filing fee since it's just a guidance tool, not a filing service.
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NebulaNinja
Just wanted to update everyone! I ended up trying taxr.ai after getting stuck on my own amended return. It was actually really helpful - I uploaded my original return PDF and it immediately showed me exactly what lines needed to change for my education credits. The explanation it generated for Part III was super clear and professional sounding. I was able to e-file my amendment through TurboTax using the guidance from taxr.ai and just got confirmation that the IRS received it. The comparison view really helped me feel confident that I wasn't messing anything up. Glad I gave it a try instead of continuing to bang my head against the wall trying to figure out the form on my own!
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Dylan Mitchell
If you're still waiting on your original return to be processed, you might want to consider calling the IRS to check on the status before filing an amendment. I tried calling them for weeks about my missing stimulus payment and could never get through - constant busy signals or disconnections after waiting for hours. I found a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real IRS agent in about 20 minutes! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent I spoke with told me that filing an amendment before my original return was fully processed would actually delay things even more. They were able to look up my account and add the missing stimulus payment to my existing return without needing to amend. Saved me a ton of headache and I got the full amount of both stimulus payments with my regular refund about 2 weeks later.
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Sofia Morales
•How does this even work? The IRS phone lines are impossible to get through. Are they using some kind of bot to keep calling or something?
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Dmitry Popov
•Yeah right, as if this would actually work. I've spent HOURS trying to reach the IRS. There's no magic solution to get through their phone lines. Sounds like a scam to take advantage of desperate taxpayers. I'd be very cautious about using services claiming to solve IRS phone problems.
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Dylan Mitchell
•It uses a system that navigates the IRS phone tree automatically and holds your place in line so you don't have to sit there listening to the hold music for hours. When it reaches a real person, it calls your phone and connects you directly to the agent. No bot calling - it's just a sophisticated way of waiting on hold for you. I was skeptical too, but I was desperate after trying for weeks to get through. I was honestly shocked when I got the call back saying an agent was on the line. The IRS agent I spoke with was super helpful and saved me from having to file an amendment at all. They told me a lot of people are unnecessarily filing amendments for the stimulus when they could just call instead.
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Dmitry Popov
I have to eat my words and apologize to Profile 18. I was so frustrated with the whole IRS situation that I was overly skeptical about Claimyr. After another week of failed attempts to reach the IRS myself, I decided to give it a try. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 45 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed that my original return was still processing, and filing an amendment now would just cause more delays. They were able to add a note to my account about the missing stimulus payment so it would be included with my original refund. They also told me the IRS is currently prioritizing original returns over amended returns, so calling was definitely the right move in my situation. I should be getting my full refund including both stimulus payments in the next couple weeks. Sorry for being so cynical before!
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Ava Garcia
Just a heads up from someone who works in tax prep - if your original return is still processing (which it sounds like it might be since you filed so early and haven't heard anything), you should definitely wait before filing an amendment. The IRS is still working through a massive backlog from 2020, and adding an amendment to the mix could potentially delay your refund by months. The Recovery Rebate Credit is one area where the IRS has been automatically correcting returns if they see you were eligible for more than you claimed. Check your IRS transcript online (you can create an account at irs.gov) to see if they've made any adjustments to your return already before going through the amendment process.
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Mei Lin
•Thank you everyone for the advice! I checked my IRS transcript like you suggested and it looks like my return is still being processed. I think I'll try the Claimyr route to speak with someone before filing the amendment. One question - if I do end up needing to amend, should I wait until I receive my original refund first or can I submit the amendment while the original is still processing?
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Ava Garcia
•Definitely wait until your original return is fully processed and you receive your refund before filing an amendment. Filing an amendment while the original is still in process creates a high risk of the two filings conflicting with each other, which can lead to significant delays or even trigger unnecessary review flags. When you call the IRS, ask them to check if they're already planning to adjust your Recovery Rebate Credit automatically. Many taxpayers are finding that the IRS is fixing these stimulus payment issues without requiring an amendment. The agent should be able to tell you if you need to amend or if they can handle it on their end.
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StarSailor}
Has anyone noticed that the "Where's My Amended Return" tool is basically useless? I filed my amendment for 2020 back in March and it still just says "received" with no other update. Called IRS twice and got different answers each time about how long it would take.
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Miguel Silva
•I had the same experience with my 2019 amended return. The tool showed "received" for almost 8 months before finally updating to "adjusted." If you need a more accurate status, you'll have better luck calling and speaking with a representative. They can see more detailed status info in their system than what shows on the public tracker.
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