Dependent Teenages Files Rtn & Claims Himself-Amend Ques

[Taxadvisor VA]

Client tax return was efiled and rejected b/c ssn had already appeared on another return.
Clients teenage son filed return online claimed himself when he didn't need to.
Parents should be claiming him on their joint return.
I am proceeding with amending the son's return.
QUESTION- Would you send in the Son's 1040X with the parents mailed return so that processing can begin on their return and stop the penalty meter from running?
Open to suggestions to get this done the fastest way.

Thanks,
Taxadvisor VA

[taxmandan]

Nope, theIRS data entry clerk will get confused and mess it up. I just dealt with this problem, sent in the 1040X for kid, waiting for status on amended to show up online as processed then we'll mail in the parents return. If there is tax owed, they can make the payment now to stop the interest accruing, if there is a penalty I would request abatement later due to extenuating circumstances.

[Taxadvisor VA]

Response to Taxmandan

Nope, theIRS data entry clerk will get confused and mess it up. I just dealt with this problem, sent in the 1040X for kid, waiting for status on amended to show up online as processed then we'll mail in the parents return. If there is tax owed, they can make the payment now to stop the interest accruing, if there is a penalty I would request abatement later due to extenuating circumstances.

Thanks for the response.

What if you attach a letter with the 1040X (on the op of each page- COPY DO NOT PROCESS) and send in with the parents mailed return. I know the clerks at IRS can mess it up but I'm willing to try.
Parents are upset with the son for not telling them about the filing and I'm trying to move it along and not drag it out by waiting for IRS to post son's amended 1040X.

Best Regards,
Taxadvisor VA

[John of PA]

No letters, no confususion

I would not attach any letter or explanation. I would just send in the 1040X for the son, wait about 6 weeks, then re-file the parents return.

[oceanlovin'ea]

Agree

I agree. No short cuts here. Just have to send in amended return and wait for it to process. If you get impatient you can always call PPS and see it 1040X has been processed.
Then process parents return.
Tell them it is okay to beat son. Just kidding

Linda, EA

[Taxadvisor VA]

No confusion always the key

I would not attach any letter or explanation. I would just send in the 1040X for the son, wait about 6 weeks, then re-file the parents return.

Thanks for your input. It helps to know what others have done.
Best Regards,
Taxadvisor VA

[Taxadvisor VA]

No shortcuts- no confusion!

I agree. No short cuts here. Just have to send in amended return and wait for it to process. If you get impatient you can always call PPS and see it 1040X has been processed.
Then process parents return.
Tell them it is okay to beat son. Just kidding

Linda, EA

Thanks for your input. It helps to know what others have done.
Best Regards,
Taxadvisor VA

[John of PA]

FYI I have done this exact thing and it worked fine.

[Burke]

Agree with JohnofPA and Taxmandan. File amended, wait for processing, then file parents. Seems we go through this every year with a kid who gets a new job and his friends tell him how easy it is to get a refund. Especially college kids their first year.

[tpnl]

I send a copy of . . .

the kids return that I am amending, marking it "COPY" with an attached letter explaining what happened with the amended return of the parents. So far I have never had a problem with the IRS mixing them up and getting confused. The parents usually get their refund (if they had one) in about 6 to 8 weeks. I'm not saying the IRS couldn't get mixed up, but so far I haven't had any problems, and I usually file about 3 of these every year.