Schedule C to wrong spouse - is there an easier correction than an amended return

[ljr]

New Client - Wife (spouse) has been working on a 1099 for past 5 years - very little income but both the 1099 and the schedule C did not have spouse checked off. She was checking her earnings on social security and finds none. We are looking at about $4K income per year so about $600/per year should have been reported to SS. She wants to fix the 5 years. Is there an easy way to do this other than to amend the 5 years showing the switch of schedule c between the spouses?

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

I had to do it for someone a few years ago, had multiple years under the wrong spouse....sent in amended returns. Not sure how else you would fix it.

[TaxGuyBill]

As Lisa said, you need to amend. 

Although they will likely automatically fix it, it is possible that the taxpayer would need to specifically point out the amended forms to the Social Security Administration.

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-7008.pdf

However, the general rule is that a person only has 3 years to fix it (see first link below).  So years 4 and 5 probably can't be fixed now (but you can look if any exceptions apply, see second link below).

https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0802.htm

https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0822.htm

[ljr]

thank you both. I knew I was going to have to amend but was hoping not to - looks like my amended pile just grew.