Note: filing an amended return does not affect the selection process of the original return. However, amended returns also go through a screening process and the amended return may be selected for audit. Additionally, a refund is not necessarily a trigger for an audit.
There is no penalty for simply filing an amended return. But if your mistake caused you to underpay tax, you will owe that additional tax. If you amend your tax return before the April deadline and pay the remaining tax you owe, you won't have to pay a penalty.
It may not mean that your return will be selected for audit, but an amended tax return red flag generally means someone at the IRS will make sure that the return was done properly.
High income
As you'd expect, the higher your income, the more likely you will get attention from the IRS as the IRS typically targets people making $500,000 or more at higher-than-average rates.
The IRS does recommend that you wait until you get your original refund before you submit an amendment. Don't worry – the amended return deadline is generous, so you should have plenty of time to wait on your refund and still file your amendment. Usually, you have three years to file an amended return.
Most IRS audits reach back a maximum of three years, meaning any tax returns you filed during the previous three years may be included in the audit. However, while three years is the typical cut-off point, there are also some situations in which the IRS will extend or even double the standard audit period.
If you need to make a change or adjustment on a return already filed, you can file an amended return. Use Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and follow the instructions.
If your return has an arithmetic error, there's no need to file an amended return. The IRS will usually correct it and send you a notice letting you know. But — you or your tax professional should confirm that the IRS changes are correct.
Intuit, the makers of TurboTax, said the software program might not have selected the best deduction option (standard vs itemized) for some taxpayers, resulting in a possible overpayment to the state. Intuit has contacted the affected taxpayers and provided instructions for filing an amended return at no charge.
Large changes of income
Probably one of the main IRS audit triggers is a large change of income.
6 years - If you don't report income that you should have reported, and it's more than 25% of the gross income shown on the return, or it's attributable to foreign financial assets and is more than $5,000, the time to assess tax is 6 years from the date you filed the return.
You can check the status of an amended return around 3 weeks after you submit it. You should generally allow 8 to 12 weeks for your Form 1040-X to be processed. However, in some cases, processing could take up to 16 weeks.
The fee for filing an amended tax return can vary significantly, but a general range is between $200 and $1,500.
When you amend your tax return, you may either have to pay more in taxes or receive a refund.
If you discover an H&R Block error on your return that entitles you to a larger refund (or smaller tax liability), we'll refund the tax prep fee for that return and file an amended return at no additional charge.
The IRS has a limited window to collect unpaid taxes — which is generally 10 years from the date the tax debt was assessed. If the IRS cannot collect the full amount within this period, the remaining balance is forgiven. This is known as the "collection statute expiration date" (CSED).
With that timeframe, California residents should keep their state tax records for at least four years. Be sure to securely dispose of you old tax [+] records.
Who Is Audited More Often? Oddly, people who make less than $25,000 have a higher audit rate. This higher rate is because many of these taxpayers claim the earned income tax credit, and the IRS conducts many audits to ensure that the credit isn't being claimed fraudulently.
However, the IRS may find those errors and send you a notice. See the “Received a Notice” below, if you do receive a notice before filing a corrected return. if it is after the current year filing date: you will need to file a Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
When you amend a tax return, it can take up to 16 weeks to process even if you e-file. If you file an amended return, you should still get the refund figured on the original return. Then, if your refund is larger due to the change, you'll get the difference between the original and amended amounts.
This can shield you from most or all of the interest and penalties that the IRS might require you to pay if they audit your inaccurate return and find the mistake. If an audit is already underway, however, you should not amend your return at that point.