Here's what you need to know about filing an amended tax return to correct your income, credits, or deductions

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You can't file an amended tax return online, unfortunately.

• You should file an amended tax return if your filing status, income, or qualification for certain deductions or credits is different than what you claimed on your original tax return.
• The amended tax return deadline for claiming a refund is the later of three years from your original filing date or two years from the date you paid the tax.
• You can't file an amended tax return online. You'll need to print out and mail Form 1040X.
• See Business Insider's picks for the best tax software »

The IRS isn't going to punish you for making a simple clerical error on your tax return.

In fact, if the IRS finds minor mistakes on your tax return, they'll often correct them for you. And if they need more information or additional documents, they'll reach out to you via US mail.

For errors beyond basic arithmetic, you may need to file an amended federal tax return, or Form 1040X. The amended tax return deadline if you're claiming a refund due to the changes is the later of three years from your original filing date or two years from the date you paid the tax due. This includes any elected extensions.

Other common reasons for filing an amended return include claiming a deduction or credit that you overlooked initially or receiving an adjusted W-2 or 1099 from your employer that changes your tax liability. This doesn't often happen at large companies, but may be more common with smaller employers with in-house bookkeeping.

The IRS reports that, nationally, the average taxpayer filing an amended return spends nine hours preparing and mailing their forms, though the time burden varies depending on the type of taxpayer and whether they seek professional help.

How can I file an amended tax return?

Unfortunately you can't file an amended return electronically; you'll need to print, fill out, and mail the form to the IRS. You can find the latest instructions here.

To complete Form 1040X, you need the following:

• A copy of the return (Form 1040, 1040-NR, or 1040-NR EZ; or 1040A or 1040EZ for previous years) you are amending, plus any relevant forms, schedules, or worksheets you previously filled out
• Any notices you received from the IRS on adjustments to that return
• Instructions for the return you are amending that correspond to the year in which the original return was filed - you can find these on the IRS website

You should also check with your state's tax bureau to find out whether you need to file an amended state return as well.

How do I mail an amended tax return?

To mail your amended tax return to the appropriate address, check page 18 of the 1040X instructions guide. The address corresponds to the forms you're amending and the state you live in.

Is there a penalty for filing an amended tax return?

Interest and penalties for late payment of taxes may be charged, but there aren't any fees or penalties associated with simply filing an amended tax return. You can check out the IRS instructions for more details.

What's the amended tax return refund timeline?

The IRS says it usually processes amended tax returns within eight to 12 weeks of the mailing date, though it could take up to 16 weeks or longer, particularly in cases of identity fraud.

Beginning about three weeks from the date your return was postmarked, you can use the Where's My Amended Return tool on IRS.gov to track its status. To do so, you'll need to provide the following information:

• Your taxpayer identification number or Social Security number
• Your date of birth
• Your ZIP code or postal code

The status of your amended return will move from received to adjusted to completed. If your return is adjusted, there will usually be a new refund issued or a tax balance due.

• More tax day coverage:
• When are taxes due?
• How to file taxes for 2019
• What is a tax credit?
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