Efiling Prior Years

[Burke]

Here's the forms for each tax year you can send.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/1040_..._year_2011.pdf

It does not appear the IRS accepted 1040-X for ANY year yet on the 1040 MEF system. I know it's supposed to be a feature of MEF, but based on the information on the IRS website, it seems it's a feature not yet implemented.

Also, both 2009 and 2010 returns can be sent by MEF, if your software supports it. However, the forms are more limited (as covered here, like moving expenses can't be filed for 2009 or 2010 returns but can be for 2011 returns.)

Also, it's the current year and the 2 prior years, not 3. So 2010 returns should be good for processing year 2013 so another 1.5 years to submit 2010 returns via MEF, if your software supports it.

Thank you for this info. And that answers my question about 9465.

[Burke]

I think the 1040x still has to be mailed. ATX supports efiling 2010 returns if they qualify for MeF. I believe that is the only year because years prior to that were not in that format.

You are right about that because I went back to 2009 and tried it. It said "no." Client got a letter from the IRS saying they had his estimated payments but no return ever received. He can't find his copies either. So we are mailing duplicate in, $700+ refund coming. I guess he never missed it.

[David1980]

Here's the forms for each tax year you can send.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/1040_..._year_2011.pdf

It does not appear the IRS accepted 1040-X for ANY year yet on the 1040 MEF system. I know it's supposed to be a feature of MEF, but based on the information on the IRS website, it seems it's a feature not yet implemented.

Also, both 2009 and 2010 returns can be sent by MEF, if your software supports it. However, the forms are more limited (as covered here, like moving expenses can't be filed for 2009 or 2010 returns but can be for 2011 returns.)

Also, it's the current year and the 2 prior years, not 3. So 2010 returns should be good for processing year 2013 so another 1.5 years to submit 2010 returns via MEF, if your software supports it.

[rjholmes]

1040x

I think the 1040x still has to be mailed. ATX supports efiling 2010 returns if they qualify for MeF. I believe that is the only year because years prior to that were not in that format.

[Gary2]

Awesome! I will check my software and complain to ProSeries if it doesn't. I love efile...makes my job so much easier. It is nice to see the IRS doing something helpful.

Please wait a few months before complaining. The IRS did an incredible amount of late season e-file changes - the software people deserve some compassion.

[Super Mom]

2011 ammendment

Curious, not checked on it, will work on this AFTER the 17th. But I have a 2011 to ammend, does anyone know if 2011 1040x can be efiled or must it be mailed?

[taxea]

Well, in theory MEF will allow something like 3 years prior, so if your software supports the 2010 MEF it's probably going to let you file for a couple more years. Aside from a little downtime towards the end of December / early January when they do maintenance.

Awesome! I will check my software and complain to ProSeries if it doesn't. I love efile...makes my job so much easier. It is nice to see the IRS doing something helpful.

[David1980]

I have a couple of 2010's to do. I will try it and see whether it works. Anyone know if they can still be filed after the 17th?

Well, in theory MEF will allow something like 3 years prior, so if your software supports the 2010 MEF it's probably going to let you file for a couple more years. Aside from a little downtime towards the end of December / early January when they do maintenance.

[taxea]

Well, that's why I was asking. A Last-Minute Tax Tip Alert from ATX says right under the time frame for e-filing a timely-filed tax return that rejected being 4/22/12, says "Even if you failed to file an extension, you will still be able to efile returns after this date. This includes 2010 prior year returns." So I am a little confused. Will check.

I have a couple of 2010's to do. I will try it and see whether it works. Anyone know if they can still be filed after the 17th?

[David1980]

ATX is also CCH, so if TaxWise is supporting the 2010 efile it would make sense that ATX would as well.

I am curious - what happens if you try to send a return with a moving expense deduction or something that wasn't allowed for MEF 2010? Does it issue an error of some kind?

[jimfrombx]

I do volunteer work as a Tax Aide (IRS/AARP) and we have been efiling 2010 this year, Federal only, no States. Software is Taxwise - from CCH I believe.

[taxmandan]

Drake told me only current year for the 1040 series, but prior year entity returns could be efiled.

[Burke]

Well, that's why I was asking. A Last-Minute Tax Tip Alert from ATX says right under the time frame for e-filing a timely-filed tax return that rejected being 4/22/12, says "Even if you failed to file an extension, you will still be able to efile returns after this date. This includes 2010 prior year returns." So I am a little confused. Will check.

[David1980]

Keep in mind that there were more limited forms accepted for 2010 than for 2011 on the 1040 MEF system. So most of your complex returns wouldn't have gone through MEF in 2010 even back in 2011. For example, Schedule F, 2555, 3903, etc... weren't (aren't?) accepted for 2010 returns through MEF.

I think, hypothetically at least, you can efile 2010 returns as long as they only use the limited forms. But then the question is whether or not your software supports it. It's easier for software companies to say "We don't support efiling prior year 2010 returns" than to say "We do, but if you have forms XYZ you can't." (Back in 2011 when you could still file the 2010 return through legacy it wasn't an issue because the software company would send the return one way or the other, either MEF if it qualified or legacy if it didn't.)

As a preparer, I wouldn't want to try to figure out whether or not a return has a form not allowed for 2010 MEF.

[Lion]

Maybe business entities, but I haven't read anything about personal returns for prior years being efiled yet.