Which 1040X version should I use for amending my 2021 tax return?

You should use the most current version of Form 1040X, which would be the Rev 2-2024 version you mentioned. The IRS generally wants taxpayers to use the most recent revision of a form, even when amending prior year returns. Since your tax liability isn't changing, this should be a relatively straightforward amendment. Just make sure you clearly mark which tax year you're amending (2021) in the appropriate section of the 1040X. You'll also need to include any supporting documentation that relates to the correction you're making on the 1099-R, along with the corrected Form 8606. Remember to sign and date the return, and if you're mailing it, keep a copy for your records and consider using certified mail so you have proof of when you submitted it.

After struggling with a similar amendment issue, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) incredibly helpful for figuring out exactly which forms I needed and how to complete them correctly. I was confused about which version of the forms to use and how to report some corrected investment income, and the service actually analyzed my original return documents and provided step-by-step guidance specific to my situation. What I liked is that it showed me exactly what needed to be entered in each field of the 1040X based on my specific amendment needs. Saved me hours of research and worry about potentially making more mistakes on my amendment.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here, and it was seriously helpful for my amendment. I was completely stressed about my missed 1099-MISC and how to calculate the changes correctly. The system analyzed my original return, showed me exactly where the new income would affect my tax calculations, and gave me line-by-line instructions for completing the 1040X. It also caught that I needed to adjust my qualified business income deduction too, which honestly would never have occurred to me! Now I feel confident that my amendment is accurate instead of wondering if I'm creating an even bigger mess. Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with amendments.

After spending DAYS trying to get through to the IRS about an amendment question similar to yours, I finally tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and actually got through to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes. I couldn't believe it worked! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I had questions about which fields on the 1040X needed explanation and whether I needed to attach my original return. The IRS agent was actually super helpful once I got through. Saved me so much frustration compared to the hours I wasted trying to call directly and just getting disconnected.

I have to eat my words here... I was the skeptic about Claimyr a few comments up, but I was desperate about my amended return status so I tried it. To my complete shock, I was connected to an IRS representative in about 20 minutes! The agent confirmed my amendment was still processing (it's been 11 months!) and actually gave me useful information about what was causing the delay and what I could do to check on it again in the future. I spent weeks trying to get this info on my own with zero success. For anyone doing amendments like the original poster - being able to actually speak with the IRS and confirm you're using the right forms can save months of delay if they reject it for a technical reason. Definitely using this service again when I need to call about my 2022 amendment.

I made a similar mistake on my 2020 return that I had to amend last year. One thing to be aware of is that paper amendments are taking FOREVER to process right now. I filed my amendment in March 2023 and it still shows as "processing" on the Where's My Amended Return tool. If you're expecting a refund from this amendment, be prepared to wait potentially 8-12 months or even longer. If you owe additional tax, they'll process it much faster in my experience!

Has anyone actually received their amended return refund recently? I filed a 1040X for 2021 back in August 2023 and still nothing. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool just says it's been received.

One thing I learned the hard way with my amendment last year - make sure you double-check all your math on the 1040X, especially in columns A, B, and C. I made a calculation error that caused a 3-month delay while they sent me a notice asking for clarification. Also, since you mentioned your tax liability isn't changing, make sure you write a clear explanation in Part III about what you're correcting and why. Something like "Correcting Form 8606 reporting for 1099-R distribution - no change to tax owed." The clearer your explanation, the less likely they are to have follow-up questions that slow down processing. Good luck with your amendment! At least you caught the error and are fixing it properly.