By
eHow Personal Finance Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- IRS Form 1040X
- Instructions for Form 1040X
- Envelope and stamp
- Federal, state and local tax returns
Step1
Contact the tax professional who prepared your returns if you did not prepare your own tax returns. Consult with your tax professional about the need to file an amended return.
Step2
Rectify mistakes on your federal tax return by filing an amended return with the Internal Revenue Service. Use Form 1040X, "Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return" to correct mistakes on a previously filed individual tax return. File a separate Form 1040X for each year you want to amend. File your amended return within 3 years of filing the original return or within 2 years of paying the required tax, which ever date is later.
Step3
Read "Topic 308-Amended Returns" on the IRS website to determine if you need to file an amended return. Correct mistakes made concerning your filing status, total income, deductions or credits.
Step4
Print Form 1040X on your home computer or request the form from the IRS. Find tax forms at your local IRS field office or at your local post office during tax season. Remember to print or request "Instructions for Form 1040X (Revised February 2007)" when obtaining Form 1040X.
Step5
Follow the instructions for Form 1040X. List your original tax figures in Column A, corrected tax figures in Column C and the difference between the 2 figures in Column B. Attach any amended schedules or tax documentation to Form 1040X. Copy all forms and supporting documentation for your personal tax records.
Step6
Mail the amended form in a stamped envelope. Address the envelope to the tax servicing center listed in the instructions for Form 1040X. Mail separate each year's amended returns in separate envelopes.
Step7
Review your state and city tax returns to assess if they need to be amended. Amend local and state returns according to the tax laws of your jurisdiction.
Comments
ZippityV said
on 2/1/2008 my husband and I were seperated for almost all of 2006. I did not go through the courts to be legally seperated. But my 3 children and I were in our own apartment with not one penny contributed from my husband. When we went to have our taxes done at H&R Block (where my husband had set up and had all of his paperwork at)the tax preparer did not itemize most deductions like even medical....then he said I could not claim any of my rent or expenses....when he was done - our tax bracket was high---and we owed around $4,000.I do not beleive this and I wanted to see If I could amend my return without getting into trouble? Would I be able to claim head of household or seperated? Or should I Just accept the way it was?