Who this is for
A filed return is not a final one.
A corrected 1099 turns up in June. A credit you qualified for was never claimed. Last year's preparer filed you as single when head of household applied. None of these are disasters — they are amendments, and they run in both directions.
Plenty of amendments produce a refund rather than a bill. There is generally a three-year window to claim one, after which the money stops being recoverable, so an old return worth checking is worth checking soon.
- Anyone who received a corrected W‑2 or 1099 after filing
- Filers who missed a credit or deduction they qualified for
- People who used the wrong filing status
- Anyone who forgot an income source entirely
- Clients whose previous preparer made an error
- People who received an IRS notice proposing a change
Often ready in one to two business days
What to expect
- Original return reviewed Whoever prepared it
- Amendment prepared 1–2 business days
- Difference explained Before you sign
- Filed and tracked Federal and California
IRS processing of amendments is slow — months, not weeks. That part is out of our hands.
What the work covers
What an amendment involves.
The original return reviewed
We read what was filed before proposing a change, including returns prepared elsewhere.
Worth-it check first
Some corrections change the outcome by very little. We tell you when an amendment is not worth filing.
Form 1040‑X prepared
The amendment itself, with the explanation the IRS expects for why the return is being corrected.
California amended too
A federal change usually forces a state one. Filing only one side creates a mismatch that surfaces later.
Notices answered
If the IRS proposed the change, sometimes a response is the right answer rather than an amendment. We work out which.
Refund window checked
Whether the three-year claim period is still open for the year in question.
Before your appointment
What to bring for an amendment.
The original return is the important one. Everything else is about what changed.
The original filing
- A complete copy of the return being amended
- The e‑file acknowledgement or proof of filing, if you have it
- Any IRS or FTB notice about that year
- Photo ID and Social Security or ITIN number
What changed
- The corrected or late-arriving W‑2, 1099 or K‑1
- Documents supporting a credit or deduction that was missed
- Records supporting a change of filing status or dependants
- Anything the notice specifically asks about
Missing something? Come in anyway. Reconstructing a missing document is ordinary work for us, and it is faster to sort out across a desk than over email.
Common questions
Amendments, answered.
How long do I have to amend?
For a refund, generally three years from when the original return was filed, or two years from when the tax was paid, whichever is later. After that the money is no longer recoverable, which is why an old return worth checking should be checked now.
Will amending trigger an audit?
Amendments are ordinary and are processed as routine corrections. Filing one to fix a genuine error is a better position than leaving a known error on a filed return.
My previous preparer made the mistake. Can you fix it?
Yes. We review returns prepared anywhere, and we will tell you plainly what was done, whether it was wrong, and what correcting it would change.
How long until I see the refund?
Amended returns are processed manually and are slow — months rather than weeks is normal, and it stretches during busy periods. The IRS has an online tool for tracking the status and we will show you where it is.
Think last year's return was wrong?
Bring a copy in and we will review it. If an amendment is not worth filing, we will say so before you spend anything.