Amending an individual return (1040X) in ProSeries

1. Open the state return.
2. Press F6 on your keyboard, and select the amended form. Enter the calendar year, or mark the appropriate box to activate the calculation of the amended return.
   • If your state doesn’t have a separate form for amending, check the Amended box on the main form or Information Worksheet..
3. Go back to the federal return.

You can only e-file amended returns for tax year 2023, 2022 and 2021. Any returns for years prior to this must be paper-filed.

Several amended conditions aren’t eligible for e-filing. You’ll receive errors with details if your amendment can’t be e-filed, so make sure to run Final Review. Most amended state tax returns can’t be e-filed.

1. Open the client’s previously amended return.
2. From the File menu, select Save as.
3. Save the return using a different name. For example, SmithCopy20.20I
4. Go to Homebase. 
5. Open the previously amended return (not the copy you just created). Use the File name column to tell them apart.
6. Open the 1040X.
7. From the Forms menu, select Remove Form 1040-X. Click Yes.
8. Press F6 to open forms, then type X to highlight Form 1040-X in the list.
9. Click OK.
10. Scroll down to the This return is for calendar year line.
11. Check the box for the year you’re amending.
    • Checking the current year box tells ProSeries to freeze the “Original amount” figures for column A at that moment. However, columns A-C won’t show any numbers until you enter changes on the return.
12. Scroll down to Part III and enter an Explanation of Changes.
13. Make the amended changes on the original form or worksheet.
    • For example, if you’re amending to add another child to the return, go to the Federal Information Worksheet. Or, to report additional sole proprietor income, go to the Schedule C.
14. After you enter your change(s) on the original forms, review the 1040X. 
15. If you are e-filing the additional amended return press F6 to bring up Open Forms.
16. Type in EFW to highlight the EF Info Wks.
17. Click OK.  
18. Scroll down to the Amended Returns section. 
19. Check the box "Check this box to file another federal amended return electronically". 

ProSeries will automatically complete the lines of the 1040X that are required based on the change you’re reporting.

1. Open the current year return.
2. Scroll down to Part VI of the Federal Information Worksheet and remove any electronic filing checkboxes.
3. Go to the File menu, and select Save As, and change the file name to indicate this is an amended copy.
4. Press F6 to open forms, then type X to highlight Form 1040-X in the list.
5. Click OK.
6. Scroll down to the This return is for calendar year line.
7. Check the box for the year you’re amending. 
8. Manually enter the original amounts in column A.
9. Manually enter the corrected amounts in column C.

ProSeries will automatically calculate the net change for column B.

After amending Form 1040X and transferring data to the state, the following error appears in ProSeries:

"Transfer was unsuccessful. Internal Error."

A secondary error message may also appear after the state product is opened:

"We were unable to go to the selected state. You may need to remove the existing state return, or re-install your state product."

Why is this error generating?

This error may occur when amendment related changes are made prior to activating Form 1040X, or when Form 1040X is activated and amendment changes are entered directly on Form 1040X. For example, in the following columns: Original Amounts (Column A), Net Change (Column B), and Correct Amount (Column C).

Form 1040X won't calculate Columns A-C in this manner. Manual changes that are different than what ProSeries would calculate could result in a transfer error.

Form 1040X requires minimal input, the only requirement is to check the box for the calendar year to activate it and complete the Explanation of changes section in Part III. All amendment-related changes thereafter will be made on related forms, schedules, and worksheets. Calculation changes resulting from the addition of these forms, schedules, and worksheets will flow to Form 1040X, accordingly.

For instructions on amending Form 1040, refer to the information in previous sections of this article.

Additional information

One other possible cause of the "Internal Error" could be due a space in between paragraphs in the Explanation of changes section on Form 1040X, Part III.  If there is a space (or spaces) try cutting and pasting the line (or lines) into the next available open space in the table to consolidate the text.

The 1040-X follows typical e-file availability rules, where the current year and two prior can be filed electronically.

Only an e-filed Form 1040 or 1040-SR can be amended this way due to IRS limitations. ProSeries will not support e-filing an amended 1040-SR. 1040NR and 1040NR-EZ filers will not be able to e-file amended returns.

Beginning in processing year 2023, direct deposit can be requested for electronically filed amended returns for tax year 2021 and tax year 2022.

These returns must still be paper filed. The filing status of any e-filed amended return must match the filing status of the originally filed return.

These returns must still be paper filed. The taxpayer's (and spouse's) TIN or SSN must match that of the original filing when e-filing.

These returns must still be paper filed. Dependents claimed on someone else's return can't be claimed on an e-filed amended return.

Yes, you should have your client sign a new Form 8879, IRS e-file Signature Authorization.

Per the IRS Amended Return Frequently Asked Questions page: Filers will be allowed to electronically file up to three "accepted" Amended Returns. After the third accepted Amended Return, all subsequent attempts will reject.