Amending a 2020 return

[RWG1950]

Can one e-file an amended 2020 Federal Return ?
I had not used $300 on a return as an A.G.I. charitable adjustment and had put all contributions on "A".
This change seems to make a $ 36 difference in tax for my customer.
If e-filing an amended return is allowed, would the refund be issued as a direct deposit as per the original return ?

[BOB W]

My program automatically brings the $300 to above the line deduction, If itemized deduction is less than standard deduction, only.

[RWG1950]

I had assumed that my software would have done the same, but apparently it does not.

[BOB W]

Be careful. Only check/ cash contributions are carried to above the line... Not Clothing etc.

[Rapid Robert]

Can one e-file an amended 2020 Federal Return ?

To answer your question, last I read TY2020 1040-X efile won't be available until sometime around May. I would wait, especially for such a small amount.

[Maribeth]

If you wish to file it now, you can paper file the corrected 1040, marked at the top with "Superceding Return". As long as you do this before 4/15/21, it is considered the original return. Or you could give your client a $36 discount on their bill and be done with it.

[BOB W]

To answer your question, last I read TY2020 1040-X efile won't be available until sometime around May. I would wait, especially for such a small amount.

I found it strange that the program would not automatically default to above the line. A possible reason was no Cash/Check entry made. I didn't answer his amended question until data entry was verified.

[TaxGuyBill]

One other thought why your program might not automatically take the $300 ... it is NOT for ALL charitable organizations.

I think things like private foundations don't qualify (maybe it is things that are subject to the usual 30% limit, rather than the 50%/60% limit). So unless you told the program the cash/check contribution was for a 50%/60% organization (which is now 100%), it could not "automatically" put it in the $300 slot.