What if I Missed Something on My Tax Returns?

What if I Missed Something on My Tax Returns?


 

It is not uncommon to discover that an item of income was overlooked, a deduction was not claimed, or that an amended tax document was received after the tax return was already filed. Regardless of whether the oversight will result in more tax due or a refund, it should not be dismissed. 

Failing to report an item of income will most certainly generate an IRS inquiry, which typically happens a year or more after the original return was filed and after the interest and penalties have built up. On the other hand, if you have a refund coming, you certainly don’t want that to go by the wayside.  

 

 

See Relax Tax’s Tax Audit Assistance at relaxtax.com/audit



Filing Amended IRS Tax Returns

The solution is to file an amended return as soon as the error or omission is discovered.  Amended returns can also be used to claim overlooked credit, correct filing status or number of dependents, report an omitted investment transaction, include items from delayed or unexpected K-1s and corrected or late filed 1099s, and account for an overlooked deduction or anything else that should have been reported on the original return.

If the overlooked item will result in a tax increase, penalties and interest can be mitigated by filing an amended return as soon as possible.  Procrastination leads to further complication once the IRS determines something is missing, so it is best to take care of the issues right away.

Generally, to claim a refund, an amended return must be filed within three years from the date the original return was filed or within two years from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later.

 

 

See this related post from Dennis Harabin: 15 Most Commonly Encountered Tax Penalties That YOU Can Avoid
 In addition to any other penalties, the law imposes a $5,000 penalty for filing a frivolous return – one that does not contain information needed to establish the correct tax or that shows a substantially incorrect tax because the taxpayer takes a frivolous position or displays a desire to delay or interfere with the tax laws. This includes altering or striking out the preprinted language above the space where the taxpayer signs. Under limited circumstances, the IRS may reduce the penalty from $5,000 to $500.

 

 

Amending Tax Return Audit Risk

If you are concerned that an amended return might trigger an audit, be advised that the fact that you amend a return does not, in itself, increase your chances of being selected for an audit.  In fact, it might actually reduce your chances, especially if you are fixing something the IRS will find later anyway, such as through their program that matches the information forms (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) that they receive from employers and other payers with the income reported on your return. 

What concerns many taxpayers about amending returns is that an IRS employee must manually compare the amended return changes with the original. That is why the amended return must include a clear explanation and justification for the amendment and backup documentation to support the changes, even if these were not required on an original return.  If backup documentation cannot be provided, the IRS may want to dig deeper.  

 

 

See this related post from Dennis Harabin: Be In the Know: The Reason Why Your Tax Return Is Delayed
The prompt means that the IRS has received your return, but due to Covid-19 delays, the IRS is experiencing a considerable backlog, slowing processing times and disbursements. Typically, the IRS processes tax returns and issues refunds within 21 calendar days of receipt. The IRS even stated in January communicating the 21-day time frame. Add in the pandemic-related tax changes and child tax credit advances, and this tax season is more complicated than ever.

 

 

That is why it is so important to provide proof or backup documents to justify the changes being made.  Let’s say you forgot to claim a $2,000 church donation.  In this scenario, you definitely want to include documentation, such as copies of the acknowledgment letter from the church and your canceled check, supporting the increased deduction. 

If any of the above applies to your situation, please give this office a call at 551-249-1040 so we can prepare an amended tax return for you.

 

Do you have some questions? Dennis Harabin at Relax Tax can answer them!




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