Can I file 1040 as an amended tax form after I file a 1040A?

Posted by Bobby on August 24, 2009, 1:18 pm

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For fed taxes:

I am years late filing and paying my taxes, and under a deadline now.
Can I still file 1040 as an amended tax form later, after I file a
1040A now in order to meet the deadline they have given me?

Is my current deliquency a bar to getting a reduction of interest and
penalties, by filing an amended tax form, after filing one now with no
deductions in time for an individual deadline given to me on the phone
by an officer of the IRS?

I had little income and don't owe that much tax, and may not benefit
much by filing an amended 1040A, but still, have I lost that chance by
being so late.

I think the main thing I would gain is the form 1116 foreign tax
credit, but that would reduce my taxes iirc on a dollar per dollar
basis (almost?) as well as interest and penalties. So it might be
worth it.

Given my past behaviour and my ongoing state of depression, I'll
probably never get around to filing amended returns, and I'll consider
any extra money paid to be a) a contribution to America, b) my
punishment for being tardy. But I should still know if I can or not.

I may really need the money, I don't know. Just as I've been negligent
with taxes, I've been negligent with everything else and don't even
know how much money I have to live on.

Thanks a lot.

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Posted by Mark Bole on August 24, 2009, 2:12 pm

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Bobby wrote:

> For fed taxes:

> I am years late filing and paying my taxes, and under a deadline now.

> Can I still file 1040 as an amended tax form later, after I file a

> 1040A now in order to meet the deadline they have given me?

"2. Taxpayers can use Form 1040X to correct previously filed Forms 1040,
1040A or 1040EZ. The 1040X can also be used to correct a return filed
electronically."

I don't have answers to your other questions right now, but you could
start doing some additional research at:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108657,00.html

which also has links to 1040X instructions.

-Mark Bole

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<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
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Posted by D. Stussy on August 24, 2009, 9:10 pm

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> I am years late filing and paying my taxes, and under a deadline now.

> Can I still file 1040 as an amended tax form later, after I file a

> 1040A now in order to meet the deadline they have given me?

No. Amended returns belong on form 1040X.

> Is my current deliquency a bar to getting a reduction of interest and

> penalties, by filing an amended tax form, after filing one now with no

> deductions in time for an individual deadline given to me on the phone

> by an officer of the IRS?

Interest: Yes. There is no provision for a reduction.
Penalties: Depends. Simple procrastination is not a valid reason.

> I had little income and don't owe that much tax, and may not benefit

> much by filing an amended 1040A, but still, have I lost that chance by

> being so late.

> I think the main thing I would gain is the form 1116 foreign tax

> credit, but that would reduce my taxes iirc on a dollar per dollar

> basis (almost?) as well as interest and penalties. So it might be

> worth it.

Check on this, but I don't believe you're eligble for form 1040A if you
need to include an 1116.

> Given my past behaviour and my ongoing state of depression, I'll

> probably never get around to filing amended returns, and I'll consider

> any extra money paid to be a) a contribution to America, b) my

> punishment for being tardy. But I should still know if I can or not.

> I may really need the money, I don't know. Just as I've been negligent

> with taxes, I've been negligent with everything else and don't even

> know how much money I have to live on.

Insufficient information.

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<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
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Posted by Phil Marti on August 25, 2009, 6:36 am

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"Bobby" wrote:

> I am years late filing and paying my taxes, and under a deadline now.

> Can I still file 1040 as an amended tax form later, after I file a

> 1040A now in order to meet the deadline they have given me?

I think what you meant to ask is whether you can include things on an
amended 1040A (always on Form 1040X) that wouldn't have been available on
Form 1040A. Yes, you can.

For future reference, why mess around with anything other than the 1040?
All you do is waste time figuring out whether your situation fits the 1040A.
Always use a 1040 and just skip the lines/parts that have nothing to do with
your situation.

Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

Posted by removeps-groups@yahoo.com on August 25, 2009, 4:15 pm

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> For future reference, why mess around with anything other than the 1040?

> All you do is waste time figuring out whether your situation fits the 1040A.

> Always use a 1040 and just skip the lines/parts that have nothing to do with

> your situation.

Some computer programs print out form 1040EZ, 1040A, or 1040
automatically depending on the return. There is often a setting to
force the use of 1040.

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>