Instructions for Form 1040X (2/2009)

IRS Resources

Line Instructions

Table of Contents

Calendar or Fiscal Year

Above your name, enter the calendar or fiscal year of the return you are amending.

Name, Address, and SSN

If you and your spouse are amending a joint return, list your names and SSNs in the same order as shown on the original return. If you are changing from a separate to a joint return and your spouse did not file an original return, enter your name and SSN first.

Foreign address. Enter the information in the following order: City, province or state, and country. Follow the country's practice for entering the postal code. Do not abbreviate the country name.

Line A

Changing your mailing address. If you check the “Yes” box or fail to check either box, we will change your address in our system to that shown on this Form 1040X. Any refund or correspondence will be sent to the new address. If you check the “No” box, we will retain the address currently in our system and any refund or correspondence will be sent to that address.

Line B

Changing from separate to a joint return. If you and your spouse are changing from separate returns to a joint return, follow these steps.

Enter in column A the amounts from your return as originally filed or as previously adjusted (either by you or the IRS).
Combine the amounts from your spouse's return as originally filed or as previously adjusted with any other changes you or your spouse are making to determine the amounts to enter in column B. If your spouse did not file an original return, include your spouse's income, deductions, credits, other taxes, etc., to determine the amounts to enter in column B.
Read the instructions for column C, on this page, to figure the amounts to enter in that column.
Both of you must sign Form 1040X.

Joint and several tax liability.

If you file a joint return, both you and your spouse are generally responsible for the tax and any interest or penalties due on the return. This means that if one spouse does not pay the tax due, the other may have to. However, you may qualify for innocent spouse relief. For details, see Form 8857 or Pub. 971 (both relating to innocent spouse relief).

Changing to head of household filing status. If the qualifying person is a child but not your dependent, enter the child's name and “QND” in Part II of Form 1040X.

Generally, married people cannot file as head of household. But for an exception, see Pub. 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information.

Lines 1 Through 33

If you are providing only additional information and not changing amounts you originally reported, skip lines 1–33 and complete Part II and, if applicable, Part III.

For other changes to Form 1040X, start with:

Line 1 if you are changing income or deductions.
Line 6 if you are changing only credits or other taxes.
Line 10 if you are changing only payments.

Columns A Through C

Column A. Enter the amounts from your original return. However, if you previously amended that return or it was changed by the IRS, enter the adjusted amounts.

Column B. Enter the net increase or decrease for each line you are changing.

Explain each change in Part II. If you need more space, attach a statement. Also, attach any schedule or form relating to the change. For example, attach Schedule A (Form 1040) if you are amending Form 1040 to itemize deductions. Do not attach items unless required to do so.

Column C. To figure the amounts to enter in this column:

Add the increase in column B to the amount in column A, or
Subtract the decrease in column B from the amount in column A.

For any item you do not change, enter the amount from column A in column C.

Note. Show any negative numbers (losses or decreases) in Columns A, B, or C in parentheses.

Example.

Anna Arbor originally reported $21,000 as her adjusted gross income on her 2008 Form 1040A. She received another Form W-2 for $500 after she filed her return. She completes line 1 of Form 1040X as follows.

	Col. A	Col. B	Col. C
Line 1	$21,000	$500	$21,500

She would also report any additional federal income tax withheld on line 11 in column B.

Income and Deductions

Line 1

Enter your adjusted gross income (AGI). To find the corresponding line on the return you are amending, use the chart beginning on page 7 for the appropriate year.

A change you make to your AGI can cause other amounts to increase or decrease. For example, increasing your AGI can:

Decrease your miscellaneous itemized deductions, the credit for child and dependent care expenses, the child tax credit, or education credits, or
Increase your allowable charitable contributions deduction or the taxable amount of social security benefits.

Changing your AGI may also affect your total itemized deductions or your deduction for exemptions (see the instructions for line 4). Whenever you change your AGI, refigure these items, those listed above, and any other deduction or credit you are claiming that has a limit based on AGI.

Correcting your wages or other employee compensation. Attach a copy of all additional or corrected Forms W-2 you received after you filed your original return.

Changing your IRA deduction. In Part II of Form 1040X, enter “IRA deduction” and the amount of the increase or decrease. If changing from a deductible to a nondeductible IRA contribution, also complete and attach Form 8606, Nondeductible IRAs.

Line 2

Did you originally file using Form 1040EZ?

□	Yes.	See Form 1040EZ Filers—Lines 2 and 4 on page 5 for the amount to enter on line 2, column A.
□	No.	Use the following chart to find the amount to enter on line 2, column A.

IF you are filing Form...	THEN enter on line 2, column A, the amount from Form...
1040	1040, line 40 for 2005–2008
1040A	1040A, line 24 for 2005–2008

Line 4

Did you originally file using Form 1040EZ?

□	Yes.	See Form 1040EZ Filers—Lines 2 and 4 below for the amount to enter on line 4, column A.
□	No.	Use the following chart to find the amount to enter on line 4, column A.

IF you are filing Form...	THEN enter on line 4, column A, the amount from Form...
1040*	1040, line 42 for 2005–2008
1040A*	1040A, line 26 for 2005–2008

* If the amount in column C of line 1 is over $109,475, see Who Must Use the Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet on this page.

Form 1040EZ Filers—Lines 2 and 4

Did someone claim you as a dependent on his or her return? (On your 2005–2008 Form 1040EZ, one or both boxes on line 5 will be checked.)

□	Yes.	On Form 1040X, line 2, enter the amount from line E (line D for 2005) of the worksheet on the back of Form 1040EZ. On Form 1040X, line 4, enter -0- (or, if married filing jointly, the amount from line F (line E for 2005) of the 1040EZ worksheet).
□	No.	Use the chart below to find the amounts to enter on lines 2 and 4.

IF you are amending your...	AND your filing status is...	THEN enter on Form 1040X,
IF you are amending your...	AND your filing status is...	line 2...	line 4...
2008 return	Single Married filing jointly	$5,450 10,900	$3,500 7,000
2007 return	Single Married filing jointly	$5,350 10,700	$3,400 6,800
2006 return	Single Married filing jointly	$5,150 10,300	$3,300 6,600
2005 return	Single Married filing jointly	$5,000 10,000	$3,200 6,400

Changing the Number of Exemptions Claimed

If you are changing the number of exemptions for yourself, your spouse, or your dependents, complete Form 1040X, lines 25 to 30 (and line 33, if necessary) in Part I. Also complete line 32.

Note.

Special instructions apply when completing Part I if you are claiming or changing a 2005 or 2006 exemption amount for housing individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina or a 2008 exemption amount for housing Midwestern displaced individuals. If you are not changing the number of exemptions previously claimed, or if you are claiming or changing a Hurricane Katrina or Midwestern displaced individual exemption amount in addition to changing the number of exemptions previously claimed, see Claiming or changing a Hurricane Katrina exemption amount or Claiming or changing an exemption amount for a Midwestern displaced individual on page 7.

Who Must Use the Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet

Use the following chart to find out if you must use this worksheet to figure the amount to enter on line 4 and, if applicable, line 30. Use the Deductions for Exemptions Worksheet in the instructions for the form and year you are amending.

You must use the Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet if—
You are amending your:	And your filing status is:	And the amount in col. C of line 1 is over:
2008 return	Married filing separately	$119,975
	Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er)	239,950
	Single	159,950
	Head of household	199,950
2007 return	Married filing separately	$117,300
	Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er)	234,600
	Single	156,400
	Head of household	195,500
2006 return	Married filing separately	$112,875
	Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er)	225,750
	Single	150,500
	Head of household	188,150
2005 return	Married filing separately	$109,475
	Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er)	218,950
	Single	145,950
	Head of household	182,450

Line 5

If the taxable income on the return you are amending is $0 and you have made changes on Form 1040X, line 1, 2, or 4, enter on line 5 (column A) the actual taxable income instead of $0. Enclose a negative amount in parentheses.

Example.

Margaret Coffey showed $0 taxable income on her original return, even though she actually had a loss of $1,000. She later discovered she had additional income of $2,000. Her Form 1040X, line 5, would show ($1,000) in column A, $2,000 in column B, and $1,000 in column C. If she failed to take into account the loss she actually had on her original return, she would report $2,000 in column C and possibly overstate her tax liability.

Tax Liability

Line 6

Enter your income tax before subtracting any credits. Figure the tax on the taxable income reported on line 5, column C. Attach the appropriate schedule or form(s) that you used to figure your tax. Do not attach worksheets. Include on line 6 any additional taxes from Form 4972, Tax on Lump-Sum Distributions; Form 8814, Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends; and any recapture of education credits. Also include any alternative minimum tax from Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax—Individuals, or the Alternative Minimum Tax Worksheet in the Form 1040A instructions.

Any changes made to Form 1040X, lines 1 through 5, may affect or cause you to owe alternative minimum tax. See the instructions for the form and year you are amending.

Indicate the method you used to figure the tax shown in column C. For example:

IF you used...	THEN enter on Form 1040X, line 6...
The Tax Table	Table
The Tax Computation Worksheet	TCW
Schedule D Tax Worksheet	Sch. D
Schedule J (Form 1040)	Sch. J
The Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain Tax Worksheet	QDCGTW
The Foreign Earned Income Tax Worksheet	FEITW

Line 7

Enter your total nonrefundable credits. Use the chart beginning on page 7 to find the correct lines to use on the form for the year you are amending.

Note.

If you made any changes to Form 1040X, lines 1 through 6, be sure to refigure your credits before entering the amount in column C.

Line 9

Enter other taxes you paid. Use the chart beginning on page 7 to find the correct lines to use on the form for the year you are amending.

Note.

If you made any changes to Form 1040X, lines 1 through 6, be sure to refigure any “other taxes” as necessary.

Payments

Use the chart beginning on page 7 to find the correct lines to use on the form for the year you are amending.

Line 11. If you are changing these amounts, attach to the front of Form 1040X a copy of all additional or corrected Forms W-2 or 1099-R you received after you filed your original return. Enter in column B any additional amounts shown on these forms as Federal income tax withheld.

Line 12. Enter the estimated tax payments you claimed on your original return. If you filed Form 1040-C, U.S. Departing Alien Income Tax Return, include the amount you paid as the balance due with that return.

Line 13. If you are amending your return to claim the earned income credit (EIC) and you have a qualifying child, attach Schedule EIC (Form 1040A or 1040).

If your EIC was reduced or disallowed for a tax year after 1996, see the Instructions for Form 8862, Information To Claim Earned Income Credit After Disallowance, to find out if you must also file that form to claim the credit.

Line 14. If you are amending your return to claim the additional child tax credit, attach Form 8812.

Line 15. If you are amending your return to claim a refundable credit on this line, attach, if required:

Form 2439 (Copy B), Notice to Shareholder of Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains;
Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels;
Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit;
Form 8801 (if the credit claimed is refundable), Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax—Individuals, Estates, and Trusts;
Form 8885, Health Coverage Tax Credit; or
Form 8913, Credit for Federal Telephone Excise Tax Paid.

Note.

The following credits apply only to the specific years noted.

The recovery rebate credit applies only to 2008.
The federal telephone excise tax credit applies only to 2006.

Line 16. Enter any amount paid with Forms 4868 or 2350. Also include any amount paid with a credit card used to get an extension of time to file. But do not include the convenience fee you were charged. Also include any amount paid by electronic funds withdrawal.

Line 17. Enter the amount of tax you paid from the “Amount you owe” line on your original return. Also, include any additional tax payments made after it was filed. Do not include payments of interest or penalties.

Line 18. Include in the total on this line any payments shown on Form 8689, lines 40 and 44. Enter “USVI” and the amount on the dotted line.

Refund or Amount You Owe

Use the chart beginning on page 7 to find the correct lines to use on the form for the year you are amending.

Line 19

Enter the overpayment from your original return. You must enter that amount because any additional refund you claim on Form 1040X will be sent separately from any refund you have not yet received from your original return.

If your original return was changed by the IRS and the result was an additional overpayment of tax, also include that amount on line 19. Do not include interest you received on any refund.

Lines 20 and 21

If line 20 is negative, treat it as a positive amount and add it to the amount on line 10, column C. Enter the result on line 21. This is the amount you owe.

Send your signed Form 1040X with a check or money order for the full amount payable to the “United States Treasury.” Do not send cash. On your payment, put your name, address, daytime phone number, and SSN. If you are filing a joint Form 1040X, enter the SSN shown first. Also, enter the tax year and type of return you are amending (for example, “2008 Form 1040”). We will figure any interest due and send you a bill.

To help process your payment, enter the amount on the right side of the check like this: $ XXX.XX. Do not use dashes or lines (for example, do not enter “$ XXX—” or
“$ XXX ”).

What if you cannot pay. If you cannot pay the full amount shown on line 21, you can ask to make monthly installment payments. Generally, you can have up to 60 months to pay.

To ask for an installment agreement, you can apply online or use Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request. To apply online, go to www.irs.gov, use the pull down menu under “I need to...” and select “Set Up a Payment Plan.” If you use Form 9465, see its instructions.

Note.

If you elected to apply any part of an overpayment on your original return to your next year's estimated tax, you cannot reverse that election on your amended return.

Lines 23 and 24

The refund amount on line 23 will be sent separately from any refund you claimed on your original return (see the instructions for line 19). We will figure any interest and include it in your refund.

Enter on line 24 the amount, if any, from line 22 you want applied to your estimated tax for next year. Also, enter that tax year. No interest will be paid on this amount. You cannot change your election to apply part or all of the overpayment on line 22 to next year's estimated tax.

Paid Preparer

Generally, anyone you pay to prepare your return must sign it in the space provided. The preparer must give you a copy of the return for your records. Someone who prepares your return but does not charge you should not sign.

Exemptions (Part I)

Claiming or changing a Hurricane Katrina exemption amount. If you are claiming or changing a 2005 or 2006 exemption amount for housing individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina and:

You are not otherwise changing the number of exemptions previously claimed, do not complete Form 1040X, lines 25 to 30. Instead, complete lines 1 and 2 of the 2005 Form 8914 (or lines 1 through 6 of the 2006 Form 8914), showing only the individual(s) for whom the change is being made. Enter the amount from Form 8914, line 2 for 2005 (line 6 for 2006), in column B of Form 1040X, line 31. Complete line 32.
You are also changing the number of exemptions previously claimed, complete Form 1040X, lines 25 to 30 (and line 33, if necessary). Then complete lines 1 and 2 of the 2005 Form 8914 (or lines 1 through 6 of the 2006 Form 8914), showing only the individual(s) for whom the change is being made. Enter the amount from Form 8914, line 2 for 2005 (line 6 for 2006), in column B of Form 1040X, line 31. Complete line 32.

Claiming or changing an exemption amount for a Midwestern displaced individual. If you are claiming or changing a 2008 exemption amount for housing Midwestern displaced individuals and:

You are not otherwise changing the number of exemptions previously claimed, do not complete Form 1040X, lines 25 to 30. Instead, complete lines 1 and 2 of the 2008 Form 8914, showing only the individual(s) for whom the change is being made. Enter the amount from Form 8914, line 2, in column B of Form 1040X, line 31. Complete line 32.
You are also changing the number of exemptions previously claimed, complete Form 1040X, lines 25 to 30 (and line 33, if necessary). Then complete lines 1 and 2 of the 2008 Form 8914, showing only the individual(s) for whom the change is being made. Enter the amount from Form 8914, line 2, in column B of Form 1040X, line 31. Complete line 32.

Line 30

You may have to use the Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet in the Form 1040 or Form 1040A instructions to figure the amount to enter on line 30. To find out if you do, see the instructions for line 4. If you do not have to use that worksheet, multiply the applicable dollar amount listed on line 30 by the number of exemptions on line 29.

Line 33

If you are adding more than six dependents, attach a statement with the required information.

Column (b). You must enter each dependent's social security number (SSN). If your dependent child was born and died in the tax year you are amending and you do not have an SSN for the child, enter “Died” in column (b), and attach a copy of the child's birth certificate, death certificate, or hospital medical records. The document must show the child was born alive.

Be sure the name and SSN entered agree with the dependent's social security card. Otherwise, at the time we process your return, we may disallow the exemption claimed for the dependent and reduce or disallow any other tax benefits (such as the child tax credit) based on that dependent.

Note.

For details on how to get an SSN or correct a name or number, see the 2008 Form 1040 or Form 1040A instructions.

Column (d). Check the box in column (d) if your dependent is also a qualifying child for the child tax credit. See the Form 1040 or Form 1040A instructions for the year you are amending to find out who is a qualifying child.

Children who did not live with you due to divorce or separation. If you are claiming a child who did not live with you under the rules for children of divorced or separated parents, you must attach certain forms or statements to Form 1040X. For more information, see Pub. 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information, or the instructions for Form 1040 or Form 1040A for the tax year being amended.

Presidential Election Campaign Fund (Part III)

You can use Form 1040X to have $3 go to the fund if you (or your spouse on a joint return) did not do so on your original return. This must be done within 20½ months after the original due date for filing the return. For calendar year 2008, this period ends on January 3, 2011. A previous designation of $3 to the fund cannot be changed.

Charts

Use the chart for the year you are amending to find the corresponding lines on your return.

2008
IF you are completing Form 1040X...	THEN the corresponding line(s) on the 2008 Form...
IF you are completing Form 1040X...	1040 is:	1040A is:	1040EZ is:
Line 1	37	21	4
Line 7	47–54	29–33	N/A
Line 9	57–60*	36	N/A
Lines 11–16	62–70	38–42**	7–9***
Line 19	72	44	12a

*Plus any write-in amounts shown on Form 1040, line 61
**Plus any write-in amounts shown on Form 1040A, line 43
***Plus any write-in amount shown on Form 1040EZ, line 10

2007
IF you are completing Form 1040X...	THEN the corresponding line(s) on the 2007 Form...
IF you are completing Form 1040X...	1040 is:	1040A is:	1040EZ is:
Line 1	37	21	4
Line 7	47–55	29–33	N/A
Line 9	58–62*	36	N/A
Lines 11–16	64–71	38–41**	7 and 8a***
Line 19	73	43	11a

*Plus any write-in amounts shown on Form 1040, line 63
**Plus any write-in amounts shown on Form 1040A, line 42
***Plus any write-in amount shown on Form 1040EZ, line 9

2006
IF you are completing Form 1040X...	THEN the corresponding line(s) on the 2006 Form...
IF you are completing Form 1040X...	1040 is:	1040A is:	1040EZ is:
Line 1	37	21	4
Line 7	47–55	29–33	N/A
Line 9	58–62*	36	N/A
Lines 11–16	64–71	38–42**	7–9***
Line 19	73	44	12a

*Plus any write-in amounts shown on Form 1040, line 63
**Plus any write-in amounts shown on Form 1040A, line 43
***Plus any write-in amount shown on Form 1040EZ, line 10

2005
IF you are completing Form 1040X...	THEN the corresponding line(s) on the 2005 Form...
IF you are completing Form 1040X...	1040 is:	1040A is:	1040EZ is:
Line 1	37	21	4
Line 7	47–55	29–34	N/A
Line 9	58–62*	37	N/A
Lines 11–16	64–70	39–42**	7 and 8a***
Line 19	72	44	11a

*Plus any write-in amounts shown on Form 1040, line 63
**Plus any write-in amounts shown on Form 1040A, line 43
***Plus any write-in amount shown on Form 1040EZ, line 9

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice

We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to give us the information. We need it to ensure that you are complying with these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right amount of tax.

You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by section 6103.

We welcome comments on forms. If you have comments or suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. You can email us at *taxforms@irs.gov. (The asterisk must be included in the address.) Enter “Forms Comment” on the subject line. Or you can write to the Internal Revenue Service, Tax Products Coordinating Committee, SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, 1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526, Washington, DC 20224. Do not send the form to this address. Instead, see Where To File on page 3.

Estimates of Taxpayer Burden

The table below shows burden estimates for taxpayers filing a Form 1040X. Time spent and out-of-pocket costs are estimated separately. Out-of-pocket costs include any expenses incurred by taxpayers to prepare and submit their tax returns. Examples of out-of-pocket costs include tax return preparation and submission fees, postage, tax preparation software costs, photocopying costs, and phone calls (if not toll-free).

Both time and cost burdens are national averages and do not necessarily reflect a “typical” case. The averages include all associated forms and schedules, across all preparation methods and all taxpayer activities. Within each of these estimates, there is significant variation in taxpayer activity. Similarly, tax preparation fees vary extensively depending on the taxpayer's situation and issues, the type of professional preparer, and the geographic area.

The data shown are the best estimates available as of October 19, 2007, from tax returns filed for 2006. The method used to estimate taxpayer burden incorporates results from a taxpayer burden survey conducted in 2000 and 2001. The estimates are subject to change as new forms and data become available. The estimates do not include burden associated with post-filing activities. However, operational IRS data indicate that electronically prepared and e-filed returns have fewer errors, implying a lower overall post-filing burden.

If you have comments concerning the time and cost estimates below, you can contact us at either one of the addresses shown under We welcome comments on forms above.

Estimated Average Taxpayer Burden

The average time and costs required to complete and file Form 1040X, its schedules, and accompanying forms will vary depending on individual circumstances. The estimated averages are:

Average Time Burden (Hours)			Average Cost (Dollars)
3.5			$28

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