Taxpayers who discover an error after filing may need to amend their tax return. Taxpayers should file an amended return if there’s a change in filing status, income, deductions or credits.

The IRS may correct mathematical or clerical errors on a return. They also may accept returns without certain required forms or schedules. In these instances, there’s no need to file an amended return.

Taxpayers who need to amend should remember these simple tips:

• Use the Interactive Tax Assistant.  The ITA titled Should I File an Amended Return? can help taxpayers determine if they should file an amended return to correct an error or make other changes to their original return.
• Wait to file for corrected refund for tax year 2018. Taxpayers who are due refunds from their original 2018 tax return should wait to get it before filing Form 1040-X to claim an additional refund. Amended returns may take up to 16 weeks to process.
• File on paper. Taxpayers use Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to correct their tax return. Taxpayers can’t file amended returns electronically. Taxpayers will mail Form 1040-X to the address listed in the form’s instructions (PDF). However, taxpayers filing Form 1040-X in response to an IRS notice, should mail it to the address shown on the notice.