Can I Amend My Tax Return if I Already Filed?
Taxpayers have three years from the original filing date, or two years from when the taxes were paid, if that is later, to amend a tax return. For example, if a 2026 return is filed in April 2027, it can be amended until April 2029.
Each year, taxpayers miss important tax credits or deductions, sometimes by selecting the wrong filing status or forgetting to report a portion of their income. Fortunately, they can go back, amend, and re-file past returns within the allowed time frame.
When You Should Amend and When You Don't Need To
If your error was a failure to claim a credit or a missed deduction on the original filing, you, as the taxpayer, must decide whether to invest the time to amend your return.
Not every mistake requires an amendment. Here's when to file Form 1040-X and when you can skip it:
| Amend Your Return If… | You Likely Don't Need To If… |
|---|---|
| You failed to report income | You made a simple math error (IRS usually corrects this automatically) |
| You filed under the wrong status | You forgot to attach a form the IRS already has a copy of (e.g., W-2) |
| A deduction was applied incorrectly | The change wouldn't affect your refund or balance due |
| You had errors in the number of dependents | Your original return was rejected (fix and resubmit instead — no amendment needed) |
| Your tax liability was miscalculated | |
| You missed a credit or deduction (optional, but worth considering) |
Can You E-file an Amended Return, or Do You Have to Mail It?
Taxpayers who wish to update a return must file Form 1040X (the amending return for personal taxes). Amended returns have been available via E-file since 2021 and can now be submitted electronically.
Prior to 2021, the amended returns had to be printed and mailed in. To amend a return you prepared on this website, you will need to log in to your account first.
Once you access the previously prepared return, select the option to make corrections. When you select this, you can edit, add, or even delete information on the return you previously prepared. When you are finished, you can select to file your amended return.
Although from 2021 on, amended returns can be electronically filed, prior to 2021, amended tax filing had to be mailed. There were different mailing addresses based on your location. The specific address to send yours to can be found in the accompanying instructions document here. Be prepared for a long wait. Amendments can take longer than regular returns to process, sometimes taking a few weeks before all the changes are completely accounted for.
Please note, amendments are only necessary when a return has already been accepted and needs to be corrected. For information on correcting a return when it has been rejected, view our guide on the procedure for correcting a rejected return.
How to Amend a Return You Filed With E-file.com
Here is how you should prepare to amend a tax return with E-file:
- Start by collecting and printing all the forms and documents (W2's, 1099s, etc) that you used when preparing your original return.
- Make sure you have any supporting documentation for the changes or additions in the amendment.
Here are the steps to amend a tax return with E-file:
The steps you need to follow to fill out the form may vary depending on the change being reported. In general, however,
- The 1040X form will require you to calculate and show the difference between your original taxes and the corrected ones.
- You will need to provide proof of the changes that you are making.
- For example, if you are adding a W-2, be sure to attach a copy when you file your amended form.
- In addition to attaching copies of supporting documents, you will also find spaces on the 1040x form where you will need to submit, in writing, your explanation for the changes.
- Make sure to include your refund/balance paid, along with a copy of the original return.
- Ensure that any forms, documents, and payments you submit include both your name and Social Security number before you send them.
Once you have filled this out completely, take a few minutes to double-check that all new calculations are correct.
Where's My Amended Return?
Taxpayers can check the status of a Form 1040X for the current year and up to 3 prior years using the IRS's Where's My Amended Return tool. To utilize this, the taxpayer will need to provide their Social Security number, date of birth, and ZIP code.
Responses from the Where's My Amended Return tool will be one of the following:
- Received,
- Adjusted - which may result in a refund, balance due, or no change
- Completed - in which case all correspondence relating to the return has been mailed to the taxpayer.
It can take up to three weeks to appear in the system, and processing can take up to sixteen weeks.
Some types of amended returns cannot be traced using the online tool. These include carryback applications and claims, Form 843 (Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement), injured spouse claims, a Form 1040 marked as amended or corrected, a return with a foreign address, and business returns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the IRS take to process Form 1040-X?
The IRS generally takes 8-12 weeks to process an amended return. An amended return may be delayed if it requires extra review or special handling. In some cases, it may take up to 16 weeks.
Will amending my return increase my chances of an audit?
IRS audits are selected through random selection and by screening for errors; submitting an amendment does not automatically select you for an audit. Although it should be noted that amendments are screened and may be selected for an audit.
Do I need to submit an amended return if I received a corrected W-2?
If a taxpayer receives a missing Form W-2, a corrected Form W-2, or a Form 1099-R after filing, and the information is different from what was previously reported, the taxpayer must file Form 1040-X to amend their return.