So here's the situation:

- my returning client, John Doe, has not filed 2019

- my client's wife, Jane Doe, filed a 2019 return as single using a DIY software

I've explained everything and they want to get everything done correctly now. So normally I would just take Jane Doe and do an amendment to add John Doe as husband. I didn't prepare Jane Doe so I could just re-create the return and start from there to add John Doe.

But here's where I'm stumped... John Doe wants to show first as the primary taxpayer and he wants his wife, Jane Doe, to show as the "Spouse". So, I don't know if I'm having a brain fart moment or not but wouldn't I still be okay doing it that way?

Obviously I wouldn't be able to efile it at all. So, if I prepare John Doe's original 2019 return and simply add his wife to it... can I then just have them mail it in and that will supersede (or amend so to say) the wife's previously filed single status return?