U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

Instructions for Form 1040X

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

(Rev. December 2011)

Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless
otherwise noted.
Contents
Page
General Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Purpose of Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Interest and Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
When To File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Special Situations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Carryback claim — net operating loss (NOL) . . . . . . . . . . 3
Carryback claim — credits and other losses . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Deceased taxpayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
First-time homebuyer credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Household employment taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Injured spouse claim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Qualified reservist distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Recovery rebate credit (2008 only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Reimbursement received for hurricane-related
casualty loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Relief for homeowners with corrosive drywall. . . . . . . . . . 4
Resident and nonresident aliens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Signing your child’s return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Student loan forgiveness for health care
professionals working in underserved areas . . . . . . . . . . 4
Tax shelters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Where To File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Line Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Calendar or Fiscal Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Name, Address, and Social Security Number (SSN) . . . . . 5
Amended Return Filing Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Lines 1 Through 31 — Which Lines To Complete . . . . . . . . 5
Columns A Through C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Income and Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Line 1 — Adjusted Gross Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Line 2 — Itemized Deductions or Standard
Deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Line 4 — Exemptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Form 1040EZ Filers — Lines 2 and 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Line 5 — Taxable Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Tax Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Line 6 — Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Line 7 — Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Line 9 — Other Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Line 11 — Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Line 12 — Estimated Tax Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Line 13 — Earned Income Credit (EIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Line 14 — Refundable Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Line 15 — Amount Paid With Extension or
Tax Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Line 16 — Total Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Refund or Amount You Owe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Line 17 — Overpayment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Line 18 — Amount Available To Pay Additional Tax . . . . 10
Line 19 — Amount You Owe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Line 21 — Overpayment Received as Refund . . . . . . . . . 10
Line 22 — Overpayment Applied to Estimated Tax . . . . 10
Part I — Exemptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Line 28 — Exemption Amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Line 29 — Additional Exemption Amount for
Housing Midwestern Displaced Individuals . . . . . . . . . . 11
Line 31 — Dependents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Part II — Presidential Election Campaign Fund . . . . . . . . . . 11
Jan 13, 2012

Contents
Part III — Explanation of Changes
Paid Preparer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assembling Your Return . . . . . . .
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice .
Estimates of Taxpayer Burden . .

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General Instructions
What’s New
The IRS has created a page on IRS.gov for information about
Form 1040X and its instructions at www.irs.gov/form1040x.
Information about any future developments affecting Form
1040X (such as legislation enacted after we release it) will be
posted on that page.
Form 1040X will be your new tax return, changing your
original return to include new information. The entries you make
on Form 1040X under the columns headed Correct amount and
Correct number or amount are the entries you would have
made on your original return had it been done correctly.
Many find the easiest way to figure the entries for Form
TIP 1040X is to first make the changes in the margin of the
return you are amending.
To complete Form 1040X, you will need:

• Form 1040X and these separate instructions;
• A copy of the return you are amending (for example, 2009

Form 1040), including supporting forms, schedules, and any
worksheets you completed;
• Notices from the IRS on any adjustments to that return; and
• Instructions for the return you are amending. If you don’t
have the instructions, you can order them by calling
1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) or find them online at
www.irs.gov/formspubs. If you are amending a prior year return,
click on “Previous Years.”

Purpose of Form
Use Form 1040X to do the following.
• Correct Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040NR, or
1040NR-EZ.
• Make certain elections after the prescribed deadline (see
Regulations sections 301.9100-1 through -3 for details).
• Change amounts previously adjusted by the IRS. However,
do not include any interest or penalties on Form 1040X; they
will be adjusted accordingly.
• Make a claim for a carryback due to a loss or unused credit.
However, you may be able to use Form 1045, Application for
Tentative Refund, instead of Form 1040X. For more
information, see Loss or credit carryback on page 2 and the
discussion on carryback claims on page 3.
File a separate Form 1040X for each year you are
amending. If you are changing your federal return, you also
may need to change your state return.
Note. Allow 8 to 12 weeks for Form 1040X to be processed.
If you file Form 1040X claiming a refund or credit for
more than the allowable amount, you may be subject to
CAUTION a penalty of 20% of the disallowed amount. See Penalty
for erroneous refund claim or credit on page 2.

!

Do not file Form 1040X if you are requesting a refund of
penalties and interest or an addition to tax that you have

Cat. No. 11362H

already paid. Instead, file Form 843, Claim for Refund and
Request for Abatement.

one copy of the same return (unless we ask you to do so),
could delay your refund.

Do not file Form 1040X for an injured spouse claim. Instead,
file Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation. But if you are filing
Form 1040X to request an additional refund after filing Form
8379, see Injured spouse claim on page 3.

Bad debt or worthless security. A Form 1040X based on a
bad debt or worthless security generally must be filed within 7
years after the due date of the return for the tax year in which
the debt or security became worthless. For more details, see
section 6511.

Interest and Penalties

Foreign tax credit or deduction. A Form 1040X to claim or
change a foreign tax credit or deduction for foreign taxes
generally must be filed within 10 years from the due date for
filing the return (without regard to any extension of time to file)
for the year in which the foreign taxes were actually paid or
accrued. For details, see Pub. 514, Foreign Tax Credit for
Individuals.

Interest. The IRS will charge you interest on taxes not paid by
their due date, even if you had an extension of time to file. We
will also charge you interest on penalties imposed for failure to
file, negligence, fraud, substantial valuation misstatements,
substantial understatements of tax, and reportable transaction
understatements. Interest is charged on the penalty from the
due date of the return (including extensions).

Note. This extended period for filing Form 1040X applies
only to amounts affected by changes in your foreign tax credit
or deduction.

Penalty for late payment of tax. If you do not pay the
additional tax due on Form 1040X within 21 calendar days from
the date of notice and demand for payment (10 business days
from that date if the amount of tax is $100,000 or more), the
penalty is usually 1/2 of 1% of the unpaid amount for each month
or part of a month the tax is not paid. The penalty can be as
much as 25% of the unpaid amount and applies to any unpaid
tax on the return. This penalty is in addition to interest charges
on late payments. You will not have to pay the penalty if you
can show reasonable cause for not paying your tax on time.

If you are filing Form 1040X to carry back your unused
foreign tax credit, follow the procedures under Loss or credit
carryback next.
Loss or credit carryback. File either Form 1045 or Form
1040X to apply for a refund based on the carryback of a net
operating loss, an unused general business credit, or a net
section 1256 contracts loss; or an overpayment of tax due to a
claim of right adjustment under section 1341(b)(1). If you use
Form 1040X, see the special instructions for carryback claims
on page 3 of these instructions. A Form 1040X based on a net
operating loss or capital loss carryback or a credit carryback
generally must be filed within 3 years (10 years for carryback of
foreign tax credit or deduction) after the due date of the return
(including extensions) for the tax year of the net operating loss,
capital loss, or unused credit. If you use Form 1045, you must
file the claim within 1 year after the end of the year in which the
loss, credit, or claim of right adjustment arose. For more details,
see the Instructions for Form 1045.

Penalty for erroneous refund claim or credit. If you file a
claim for refund or credit in excess of the amount allowable, you
may have to pay a penalty equal to 20% of the disallowed
amount, unless you can show a reasonable basis for the way
you treated an item. The penalty will not be figured on any part
of the disallowed amount of the claim that relates to the earned
income credit or on which accuracy-related or fraud penalties
are charged.
Penalty for frivolous return. In addition to any other
penalties, the law imposes a penalty of $5,000 for filing a
frivolous return. A frivolous return is one that does not contain
information needed to figure the correct tax or shows a
substantially incorrect tax because you take a frivolous position
or desire to delay or interfere with the tax laws. This includes
altering or striking out the preprinted language above the space
where you sign. For a list of positions identified as frivolous, see
Notice 2010-33, 2010-17 I.R.B. 609, available at www.irs.gov/
irb/2010-17_IRB/ar13.html.

Reducing a casualty loss deduction after receiving
hurricane-related grant. You must file Form 1040X by the
due date (as extended) for filing your tax return for the tax year
in which you received the grant. For more information, see
Reimbursement received for hurricane-related casualty loss on
page 4.

Other penalties. Other penalties can be imposed for
negligence, substantial understatement of tax, reportable
transaction understatements, and fraud. See Pub. 17, Your
Federal Income Tax, for more information.

Retroactive determination of nontaxable disability pay.
Retired members of the uniformed services whose retirement
pay, in whole or in part, is retroactively determined by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be nontaxable disability
pay can file claims for credits or refunds using Form 1040X.
You have until the later of (a) 1 year after the determination
date, or (b) the normal deadline for filing a claim for refund or
credit. The normal deadline is the later of 3 years after filing the
original return or 2 years after paying the tax. Attach a copy of
an official letter from the VA granting the retroactive
determination of nontaxable disability pay.

When To File
File Form 1040X only after you have filed your original return.
Generally, for a credit or refund, you must file Form 1040X
within 3 years (including extensions) after the date you filed
your original return or within 2 years after the date you paid the
tax, whichever is later. If you filed your original return early (for
example, March 1 for a calendar year return), your return is
considered filed on the due date (generally April 15). However,
if you had an extension to file (for example, until October 15)
but you filed earlier and we received it July 1, your return is
considered filed on July 1.

Special Situations
Many amended returns deal with situations that have special
qualifications or special rules that must be followed. The items
that follow give you this specialized information so your
amended return can be filed and processed correctly.

Note. The time limit for filing Form 1040X can be suspended
for certain people who are physically or mentally unable to
manage their financial affairs. For details, see Pub. 556,
Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, and Claims for Refund.

Only the special procedures are given here. Unless
otherwise stated, you still must complete all appropriate
CAUTION lines on Form 1040X, as discussed under Line
Instructions beginning on page 5.

!

Do not file more than one original return for the same
year, even if you have not received your refund or have
CAUTION not heard from the IRS since you filed. Filing more than
one original return for the same year, or sending in more than

!

-2-

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

Carryback claim — net operating loss (NOL). Enter
“Carryback Claim” at the top of page 1 of Form 1040X. Attach a
computation of your NOL using Schedule A (Form 1045) and a
computation of any NOL carryover using Schedule B (Form
1045). A refund based on an NOL does not include a refund of
self-employment tax reported on Form 1040X, line 9. For
details, see Pub. 536, Net Operating Losses (NOLs) for
Individuals, Estates, and Trusts.

Note. If you made this election before the 2008 Form 5405
was released, you can file Form 1040X with a new Form 5405
to claim the additional $500 credit for homes purchased in
2009.
Homes purchased in 2010. You can choose to claim the
credit on your 2009 return for a home you purchase:
• After December 31, 2009, and before May 1, 2010, or
• After April 30, 2010, and before October 1, 2010, and you
entered into a binding contract before May 1, 2010, to purchase
the property before July 1, 2010.

Note. Interest will not be paid on any NOL refund shown on an
amended return processed within 45 days of receipt.
Carryback claim — credits and other losses. Enter
“Carryback Claim” at the top of page 1 of Form 1040X. Attach
copies of the following.
• Both pages of Form 1040 and Schedules A and D, if
applicable, for the year in which the loss or credit originated.
Enter “Attachment to Form 1040X — Copy Only — Do Not
Process” at the top of these forms.
• Any Schedules K-1 you received from any partnership, S
corporation, estate, or trust for the year of the loss or credit that
contributed to the loss or credit carryback.
• Any form or schedule from which the carryback results, such
as Form 3800; Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit; Form 6781,
Gains and Losses From Section 1256 Contracts and Straddles;
Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts; or Schedule C or F (Form
1040).
• Forms or schedules for items refigured in the carryback year,
such as Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax — Individuals;
Form 3800; or Schedule A (Form 1040).

!

Homes purchased in 2011. This only applies to members
of the uniformed services or Foreign Service or employees of
the intelligence community who meet the following conditions.
1. You (or your spouse if married) were a member of the
uniformed services or Foreign Service or an employee of the
intelligence community, and
2. You were on qualified official extended duty outside the
United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning
after December 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.
If you meet these conditions, you can choose to claim the credit
on your 2010 return for a home you purchase:
• After December 31, 2010, and before May 1, 2011, or
• After April 30, 2011, and before July 1, 2011, and you
entered into a binding contract before May 1, 2011, to purchase
the property before July 1, 2011.
For the definitions of a member of the uniformed services or
Foreign Service, or an employee of the intelligence community,
and qualified official extended duty, see the Instructions for
Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of
the Credit.

You must attach all appropriate forms and schedules to
Form 1040X or it will be returned.

CAUTION

Note. If you were married and you did not have the same
filing status (married filing jointly or married filing separately) for
all of the years involved in figuring the loss or credit carryback,
you may have to allocate income, deductions, and credits. For
details, see the publication for the type of carryback you are
claiming. For example, for NOL carrybacks, see Pub. 536.

Household employment taxes. If you are correcting the
amount of employment taxes you paid to household employees,
attach Schedule H (Form 1040) and include in Part III of Form
1040X the date the error was discovered. If you owe tax, pay in
full with this return. If you are changing the wages paid to an
employee for whom you filed Form W-2, you must also file
Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement, and Form
W-3c, Transmittal of Corrected Wage and Tax Statements, with
the Social Security Administration. For more information, see
Pub. 926, Household Employer’s Tax Guide, for the appropriate
year.

Deceased taxpayer. If filing Form 1040X for a deceased
taxpayer, enter “Deceased,” the deceased taxpayer’s name,
and the date of death across the top of Form 1040X, page 1.
If you are filing a joint return as a surviving spouse, enter
“Filing as surviving spouse” in the area where you sign the
return. If someone else is the personal representative, he or
she must also sign.

Injured spouse claim. If you file Form 1040X to request an
additional refund and you do not want your portion of the
overpayment to be applied (offset) against your spouse’s
past-due obligation(s), complete and attach another Form 8379
to allocate the additional refund.

Claiming a refund for a deceased taxpayer. If you are
filing a joint return as a surviving spouse, you only need to file
Form 1040X to claim the refund. If you are a court-appointed
personal representative or any other person claiming the
refund, file Form 1040X and attach Form 1310, Statement of
Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer, and any
other information required by its instructions. For more details,
see Pub. 559, Survivors, Executors, and Administrators.

Qualified reservist distributions. Reservists called to active
duty after September 11, 2001, can claim a refund of any 10%
additional tax paid on an early distribution from a qualified
retirement plan.
To make this claim:

First-time homebuyer credit. If you meet the requirements
for the first-time homebuyer credit, you can amend your return
to take the credit in the prior year.

• You must have been ordered or called to active duty after

September 11, 2001, for more than 179 days or for an indefinite
period,
• The distribution from a qualified retirement plan must have
been made on or after the date you were ordered or called to
active duty and before the close of your active duty period, and
• The distribution must have been from an IRA, or from
amounts attributable to elective deferrals under a section 401(k)
or 403(b) plan or a similar arrangement.

Homes purchased in 2009. If you purchased your home in
2009, you can choose to claim the credit on your 2008 return.
To amend your 2008 return, file Form 1040X with a completed
Form 5405.
For homes purchased before November 7, 2009, you can
use either the 2008 or the December 2009 revision of Form
5405 to claim the credit. If you use the 2008 revision, you must
check the box in Part I, line C. If you use the December 2009
revision, you must check the box in Part I, line F, and attach
any required documentation (see the instructions for the
appropriate revision of Form 5405).

Eligible reservists should enter “Active Duty Reservist” at the
top of page 1 of Form 1040X. In Part III, include the date called
to active duty, the amount of the retirement distribution, and the
amount of the early distribution tax paid. For more information,
see Pub. 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), for
distributions from IRAs; and Pub. 575, Pension and Annuity
Income, for distributions from elective deferral plans.

For homes purchased after November 6, 2009, and before
January 1, 2010, you must use the December 2009 revision of
Form 5405.
Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

-3-

Recovery rebate credit (2008 only). You can use Form
1040X to claim this credit if you did not claim it or if you did not
claim the correct amount on your original 2008 Form 1040,
1040A, or 1040EZ. For information on how to claim the credit,
see the 2008 instructions for the form you are amending.

• Enter your name, address, and social security number (SSN)

Reimbursement received for hurricane-related casualty
loss. If you claimed a casualty loss on your main home
resulting from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma, and later
received a qualified grant as reimbursement for that loss, you
can file an amended return for the year the casualty loss
deduction was claimed (and for any tax year to which the
deduction was carried) to reduce the casualty loss deduction
(but not below zero) by the amount of the reimbursement. To
qualify, your grant must have been issued under Public Law
109-148, 109-234, or 110-116. Examples of qualified grants are
the Louisiana Road Home Grants and the Mississippi
Development Authority Hurricane Katrina Homeowner Grants.

• Enter in Part III the reason why you are filing Form 1040X.
• Complete a new or corrected return (Form 1040, Form

At the top of page 1 of Form 1040X, enter “Hurricane Grant
Relief” in dark, bold letters. Include the following materials with
your amended return.
1. Proof of the amount of any hurricane relief grant
received.
2. A completed Form 2848, Power of Attorney and
Declaration of Representative, if you wish to have your
designated representative speak with us. (Do not include this if
a valid Form 2848 is already on file with the IRS that covers the
same tax year and tax matters.)

Signing your child’s return. If your child cannot sign the
return, either parent can sign the child’s name in the space
provided. Then, enter “By (your signature), parent for minor
child.”

Do not include on Form 1040X any adjustments other
than the reduction of the casualty loss deduction if the
CAUTION period of limitations on assessment is closed for the tax
year in which you claimed the casualty loss deduction.
Generally, this period is closed if it is more than 3 years after
the return was filed and more than 2 years after the tax was
paid. If you filed the return earlier than the due date of the
return (including appropriate extensions), your return is
considered filed on the due date of the return (including
extensions).

Before the enactment of the new law, only amounts received
under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment
Program or certain state loan repayment programs eligible for
funding under the Public Health Service Act qualified for the tax
exclusion. The Affordable Care Act expanded the tax exclusion
to include any state loan repayment or loan forgiveness
program intended to increase the availability of health care
services in underserved areas or health professional shortage
areas. The exclusion is retroactive to the 2009 tax year.

or IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) on the
front of Form 1040X.

• Do not enter any other information on page 1. Also, do not
complete Parts I or II on page 2 of Form 1040X.

1040NR, etc.).

• Attach the new or corrected return to the back of Form
1040X.

• Across the top of the new or corrected return, write
“Amended.”

For more information, see Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for
Aliens.

Student loan forgiveness for health care professionals
working in underserved areas. Under the Affordable Care
Act of 2010, health care professionals who received student
loan relief under state programs that encourage individuals to
work in underserved areas may qualify for refunds on their 2009
federal income tax returns.

!

To claim this refund, you must file an amended return for
2009. Enter “Excluded student loan amount under 2010
Affordable Care Act” in Part III.

Waiver of penalties and interest. If you pay the entire
balance due on your amended return within 1 year of timely
filing your amended return, no interest or penalties will be
charged on the balance due. Payments made after you file
Form 1040X should clearly designate that the payment is to be
applied to reduce the balance due shown on the Form 1040X
per IRS Notice 2008-95.

Tax shelters. If you are amending your return to disclose
information for a reportable transaction in which you
participated, attach Form 8886, Reportable Transaction
Disclosure Statement.

Special rule for previously filed amended returns. In
order to receive the benefits discussed in this section, you must
notify the IRS if you previously filed an amended return based
on receiving one of the grants mentioned earlier. For
instructions on how to notify the IRS, see Notice 2008-95,
2008-44 I.R.B. 1076, available at www.irs.gov/irb/2008-44_IRB/
ar09.html.

Where To File
If you are amending your return because of any of the situations
listed next, use the corresponding address.
IF you are filing
Form 1040X:

Relief for homeowners with corrosive drywall. If you
suffered property losses due to the effects of certain imported
drywall installed in homes between 2001 and 2009, you may be
able to file an amended return to claim a casualty loss for
repairs made to your personal residence or household
appliances. For further information on claiming this loss, see
Rev. Proc. 2010-36, 2010-42 I.R.B. 439, available at www.irs.
gov/irb/2010-42_IRB/ar11.html.

In response to a notice you
received from the IRS

Resident and nonresident aliens. Use Form 1040X to
amend Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ. Also, use Form
1040X if you should have filed Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ
instead of Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ, or vice versa.

THEN mail Form 1040X
and attachments to:
The address shown
in the notice

Because you received
reimbursement for a
hurricane-related loss

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0255

With Form 1040NR or
1040NR-EZ

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0215

If none of the situations listed above apply to you, mail your
return to the Internal Revenue Service Center shown next that
applies to you.

To amend Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ, or to file the correct
return, do the following:

-4-

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

Changing from separate to a joint return. Generally, if you
file a joint return, both you and your spouse (or former spouse)
have joint and several liability. This means both of you are
responsible for the tax and any interest or penalties due on the
return, as well as any understatement of tax that may become
due later. If one spouse does not pay the tax due, the other
may have to. However, you may qualify for innocent spouse
relief. For details, see Form 8857 or Pub. 971 (both relating to
innocent spouse relief).

THEN mail Form 1040X
and attachments to:

IF you live in:
Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Texas

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Hawaii,
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New
Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, South
Dakota, Utah, Washington,
Wisconsin, Wyoming

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Fresno, CA 93888-0422

Changing to head of household filing status. If the
qualifying person is a child but not your dependent, enter the
child’s name and “QND” in Part III.
Generally, married people cannot file as head of
household. But for an exception, see Pub. 501,
CAUTION Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing
Information.

!

Alabama, Connecticut,
Delaware, District of
Columbia, Georgia,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Missouri,
New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
South Carolina, Tennessee,
Vermont, Virginia, West
Virginia

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Kansas City, MO 64999

A foreign country, U.S.
possession or territory;* or
use an APO or FPO address,
or file Form 2555, 2555-EZ,
or 4563; or are a dual-status
alien

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0215

Lines 1 Through 31—Which Lines To Complete
Before looking at the instructions for specific lines, the following
information may point you in the right direction for completing
Form 1040X.
You need information about income, deductions, etc. If
you have questions such as what income is taxable or what
expenses are deductible, the instructions for the form you are
amending should help. Also use those instructions to find the
method you should use to figure the correct tax. To get prior
year forms, schedules, and instructions, call 1-800-TAX-FORM
(1-800-829-3676) or download them from www.irs.gov/
formspubs.
You are providing only additional information. If you are
not changing any dollar amounts you originally reported, but are
sending in only additional information, do the following.
• Check the box for the calendar year or enter the other
calendar or fiscal year you are amending.
• Complete name, address, and SSN.
• Check a box in Part II, if applicable, for the Presidential
Election Campaign Fund.
• Complete Part III, Explanation of changes

*If you live in American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands, see Pub. 570.

Line Instructions

You are changing from separate to a joint return. If you and
your spouse are changing from separate returns to a joint
return, follow these steps.
1. Enter in column A the amounts from your return as
originally filed or as previously adjusted (either by you or the
IRS).
2. To determine the amounts to enter in column B, combine
the amounts from your spouse’s return as originally filed or as
previously adjusted with any other changes you or your spouse
are making. If your spouse did not file an original return, include
your spouse’s income, deductions, credits, other taxes, etc., in
the amounts you enter in column B.
3. Read the instructions for column C on page 6 to figure
the amounts to enter in that column.
4. Both of you must sign and date Form 1040X.

Calendar or Fiscal Year
Above your name, check the box for the calendar year or enter
the other calendar year or fiscal year you are amending.

Name, Address, and
Social Security Number (SSN)
If you and your spouse are amending a joint return, list your
names and SSNs in the same order as shown on the original
return. If you are changing from separate to a joint return and
your spouse did not file an original return, enter your name and
SSN first.
P.O. box. Enter your box number only if your post office does
not deliver mail to your home.
Foreign address. If you have a foreign address, enter the city
name on the appropriate line. Do not enter any other
information on that line, but also complete the spaces below
that line. Do not abbreviate the country name. Follow the
country’s practice for entering the postal code and the name of
the province, county, or state.

You are changing amounts on your original return or as
previously adjusted by the IRS. Because Form 1040X can
be used for so many purposes, it is sometimes difficult to know
which part(s) of the form to fill out. Unless instructions
elsewhere in this booklet tell you otherwise, follow the rules
below.
• Always complete the top of page 1 through Amended return
filing status.
• Complete the lines shown in the following chart according to
what you are changing.

Amended Return Filing Status
Check the box that corresponds to your filing status on this
return. If this is a change from the filing status on your original
return, the following information may apply to you.

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

-5-

• Check a box in Part II, if applicable, for the Presidential

Note. Show any negative numbers (losses or decreases) in
Columns A, B, or C in parentheses.
Example. Andy originally reported $21,000 as his adjusted
gross income on his 2009 Form 1040. He received another
Form W-2 for $500 after he filed his return. He completes line 1
of Form 1040X as follows.

Election Campaign Fund.
• Complete Part III, Explanation of changes.
• Sign and date the form.
IF you are changing only...*

THEN complete
Form 1040X...

Filing status

Lines 1 – 22

Exemptions

Lines 1 – 31

Income
1040 lines 7 – 21
1040A lines 7 – 14b
1040EZ lines 1 – 3

Lines 1 – 22

Adjustments to income
1040 lines 23 – 35**
1040A lines 16 – 19

Lines 1 – 22

Line 1—Adjusted Gross Income

Itemized or standard deductions
1040 line 40 (2009 line 40a)
1040A line 24 (2009 line 24a)
1040EZ line 5

Lines 1 – 22

Enter your adjusted gross income (AGI), which is the total of
your income minus certain deductions (adjustments). Any
change to the income or adjustments on the return you are
amending will be reflected on this line.
Use the following chart to find the corresponding line.

Tax before credits
1040 lines 44 – 45
1040A line 28
1040EZ line 11 (2011 line 10)

Lines 5 – 22

Nonrefundable credits
1040 lines 47 – 53 (2008 lines 47 – 54)
1040A lines 29 – 33

Lines 6 – 22

Other taxes
1040 lines 56 – 59** (2011 lines 56 – 60,
2008 lines 57 – 60**)
2008 – 2010 1040A line 36

Lines 6 – 22

Line 1

Col. A

Col. B

Col. C

21,000

500

21,500

He would also report any additional federal income tax
withheld on line 11 in column B.

Income and Deductions

THEN the corresponding line on
Form...
IF you are amending
tax year...

1040
is:

1040A
is:

1040EZ
is:

2011, 2010, 2009, or
2008

37

21

4

A change you make to your AGI can cause other amounts to
increase or decrease. For example, changing your AGI can
change your:
• Miscellaneous itemized deductions, credit for child and
dependent care expenses, child tax credit, education credits,
retirement savings contributions credit, or making work pay
credit;
• Allowable charitable contributions deduction or the taxable
amount of social security benefits; or
• Total itemized deductions or deduction for exemptions (see
the instructions for line 4 on page 7).
If you change your AGI, refigure these items — those listed
above — and any other deduction or credit you are claiming that
has a limit based on AGI.
Correcting your wages or other employee compensation.
Attach a copy of all additional or corrected Forms W-2 you
received after you filed your original return. Also attach any
additional or corrected Forms 1099-R that show federal income
tax withheld.
Changing your IRA deduction. In Part III of Form 1040X,
enter “IRA deduction” and the amount of the increase or
decrease. If changing from a deductible to a nondeductible IRA
contribution, also complete and attach Form 8606,
Nondeductible IRAs.

Payments and refundable credits
Lines 10 – 22
1040 lines 62 – 71 (2010 lines 61 – 71**,
2009 lines 61 – 70**, 2008 lines
62 – 70**)
1040A lines 38 – 43** (2011 lines
36 – 40**,
2008 lines 38 – 42**)
1040EZ lines 7 – 9a** (2011 lines 7 – 8a**,
2008 lines 7 – 9**)
* This column gives line numbers for 2008 through 2011 returns.
Where the same lines do not apply to all years, those that are
different are shown in parentheses.
** Plus any write-in amounts shown on the total line for the lines
indicated.

Columns A Through C
Column A. Enter the amounts from your original return.
However, if you previously amended that return or it was
changed by the IRS, enter the adjusted amounts.
Column B. Enter the net increase or decrease for each line
you are changing.
Explain each change in Part III. If you need more space,
attach a statement.
Attach any schedule or form relating to the change. For
example, attach Schedule A (Form 1040) if you are amending
Form 1040 to itemize deductions. If you are amending your
return because you received another Form W-2, attach a copy
of the new W-2. Do not attach items unless required to do so.
Column C. To figure the amounts to enter in this column:
• Add the increase in column B to the amount in column A, or
• Subtract the decrease in column B from the amount in
column A.
For any item you do not change, enter the amount from
column A in column C

Line 2—Itemized Deductions or
Standard Deduction
If you itemized your deductions, enter in column A the total from
your original Schedule A (Form 1040) or your deduction as
previously adjusted by the IRS. If you are now itemizing your
deductions instead of using the standard deduction, or have
changed the amount of any deduction, or your new AGI
limitations have changed any deduction, attach a copy of the
corrected Schedule A to this amended return.
If you are using the standard deduction, enter the amount for
your filing status for the year you are amending. If you are
amending Form 1040EZ, see Form 1040EZ Filers — Lines 2
and 4 on the next page for the amount to enter. Remember that
the standard deduction for all years can be increased for the
age and/or blindness of the taxpayer(s). Also, for 2008, 2009,
and 2010, the standard deduction can be increased by certain
other amounts. See the form instructions for the year you are

-6-

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

amending. None of these additions to the standard deduction
appear on Form 1040EZ, so for more information see the
instructions for Form 1040 or 1040A.

You must use the Deduction for
Exemptions Worksheet if —
You are
amending
your:

Line 4—Exemptions
Enter on line 4, column A, the amount from:
• The return you are amending (Form 1040, line 42, or Form
1040A, line 26), or
• The amount indicated under Form 1040EZ Filers — Lines 2
and 4, if the return you are amending is Form 1040EZ.
Changing the number of exemptions claimed. You must
complete the Exemptions section on page 2 of Form 1040X if:
• You are increasing or decreasing the number of dependents
you claim,
• You are claiming a personal exemption for you or your
spouse that you did not previously claim, or
• You are eliminating a personal exemption for you or your
spouse that you previously claimed, but were not entitled to
claim.

Married filing separately
2009
return

2008
return

Multiply the total number of exemptions claimed by the
amount shown in the table below for the year you are
amending. However, if the amount on line 1 of Form 1040X is
more than $119,975 and you are amending a tax year
beginning before 2010, first see Who must use the Deduction
for Exemptions Worksheet below.

$3,700

2009 or 2010 return

$3,650

2008 return

$3,500

250,200

Single

166,800

Head of household

208,500
$119,975

Married filing jointly or
Qualifying widow(er)

239,950

Single

159,950

Head of household

199,950

Did someone claim you as a dependent on his or her return? (If
yes, one or both boxes on line 5 of Form 1040EZ will be
checked.)

Note. Special instructions apply if you are claiming or
changing a 2008 or 2009 exemption amount for housing
Midwestern displaced individuals. If you are not changing the
number of exemptions previously claimed, or if you are claiming
or changing a Midwestern displaced individual exemption
amount in addition to changing the number of exemptions
previously claimed, see the line 29 instructions on page 11.
Who must use the Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet. If
you increased the amount on line 1, you may not be allowed the
full deduction for your exemptions. However, if you reduced the
amount on line 1, you now may be allowed the full deduction.
Use the following chart to find out if you must use this
worksheet to figure a reduced amount to enter on line 4 and, if
applicable, line 28. Be sure to use the Deductions for
Exemptions Worksheet in the instructions for the form and year
you are amending.
Note. In 2010 and 2011, there is no limitation on the deduction
amounts claimed and no Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet
to complete.

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

Married filing jointly or
Qualifying widow(er)

Form 1040EZ Filers—Lines 2 and 4

THEN the amount for one
exemption is...

2011 return

$125,100

Married filing separately

If any of these situations apply to you, complete Form 1040X,
lines 23 through 31.

IF you are amending your...

And your filing status is:

And the
amount on
line 1 is
over:

M

Yes.

On Form 1040X, line 2, column A, enter the
amount from line E of the worksheet on the back of
Form 1040EZ. On Form 1040X, line 4, column A,
enter -0- (or, if married filing jointly, the amount from
line F of the 1040EZ worksheet).

M

No.

Use the chart below to find the amounts to enter on
lines 2 and 4.
THEN enter on Form 1040X,

IF you are
amending
your...

AND your filing
status is...

line 2...

line 4...

2011
return

Single
Married filing jointly

$ 5,800
11,600

$3,700
7,400

2009 or
2010
return

Single
Married filing jointly

$ 5,700
11,400

$3,650
7,300

2008
return

Single
Married filing jointly

$ 5,450
10,900

$3,500
7,000

Line 5—Taxable Income
If the taxable income on the return you are amending is $0 and
you have made changes on Form 1040X, line 1, 2, or 4, enter
on line 5, column A, the actual taxable income instead of $0.
Enclose a negative amount in parentheses.

-7-

Example. Margaret showed $0 taxable income on her
original return, even though she actually had a loss of $1,000.
She later discovered she had additional income of $2,000. Her
Form 1040X, line 5, would show ($1,000) in column A, $2,000
in column B, and $1,000 in column C. If she failed to take into
account the loss she actually had on her original return, she
would report $2,000 in column C and possibly overstate her tax
liability.

Also include any alternative minimum tax from Form 6251,
Alternative Minimum Tax — Individuals, or the Alternative
Minimum Tax Worksheet in the Form 1040A instructions.

Tax Liability

Attach the schedule or form(s), if any, that you used to figure
your revised tax. Do not attach worksheets.

Line 6—Tax

Line 7—Credits

Any changes you made to Form 1040X, lines 1 through
4, may affect the amount of or cause you to owe
CAUTION alternative minimum tax. See the instructions for the
form and year you are amending.

!

Figure the tax on your taxable income shown on line 5, column
C. Generally, you will use the tax table or other method you
used to figure the tax on your original return. However, you may
need to change to a different method if, for example, you
amend your return to include or change the amount of certain
types of income, such as capital gains or qualified dividends.
See the instructions for the income tax return you are
amending to find the appropriate method, tax table, and
worksheet, if necessary. Indicate the method you used to figure
the tax entered on line 6, as shown in the chart below.

Enter your total nonrefundable credits in column A.
Nonrefundable credits are those that reduce your tax, but any
excess is not refunded to you. Use the chart below to find the
corresponding lines.
IF you are
amending tax
year...

1040
are:

1040A
are:

1040EZ
are:

2009 – 2011

47 – 53

29 – 33

N/A

2008

47 – 54

29 – 33

N/A

IF you figured the corrected tax using...

THEN enter in the
blank area on
line 6...

Tax Table

Table

Tax Computation Worksheet

TCW

If you made any changes to Form 1040X, lines 1 through 6,
be sure to refigure your original credits. Attach the appropriate
forms for the credits you are adding or changing.

Schedule D Tax Worksheet

Sch D

Line 9—Other Taxes

Schedule J (Form 1040)

Sch J

Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain
Tax Worksheet

Enter other taxes you paid in column A. Use the chart below to
find the corresponding lines.

QDCGTW

Foreign Earned Income Tax Worksheet

FEITW

IF you are
amending tax
year...

Form 8615, Tax for Certain Children Who Have
Investment Income of More Than $1,900 (for
2008, Form 8615, Tax for Certain Children
Who Have Investment Income of More Than
$1,800)
F8615

Tax (see page 8 of instructions). Enter method used to figure tax:
Table

6 8,763

37

THEN the corresponding line(s) on Form...
1040
are:

1040A
is:

1040EZ
is:

56 – 60

N/A

N/A

2009 and 2010

56 – 59 (plus any
write-in amounts
shown on line 60)

36

N/A

2008

57 – 60 (plus any
write-in amounts
shown on line 61)

36

N/A

2011

Example. The taxable income on your original 2008 Form
1040A was $49,650. You used the Tax Table in the 2008
Instructions for Form 1040A to find the tax, $8,763. You are
amending your 2008 Form 1040A to add $160 of interest
income, which you add in on line 1 of Form 1040X. There are
no other changes. According to the 2008 Form 1040A
instructions for line 28 (Tax), you should use the Tax Table to
look up the tax on your corrected taxable income ($49,810).
The revised tax shown in the Tax Table is $8,800. Below is your
completed Form 1040X, line 6.
6

THEN the corresponding lines on Form...

If you made any changes to Form 1040X, lines 1 through 6,
you may need to refigure other taxes that were included in the
same section on your original return.

Payments
Line 11—Withholding

8,800

In column A, enter from the return you are amending any
federal income tax withheld and any excess social security and
tier 1 RRTA tax withheld (SS/RRTA). Use the chart that follows
to find the corresponding lines.

Once you have figured the tax on the line 5 amount, add to it
any additional taxes from Form 4972, Tax on Lump-Sum
Distributions; Form 8814, Parents’ Election To Report Child’s
Interest and Dividends; and any recapture of education credits.

-8-

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

If you are changing your withholding or excess SS/RRTA,
attach to the front of Form 1040X a copy of all additional or
corrected Forms W-2 you received after you filed your original
return. Also attach additional or corrected Forms 1099-R that
showed any federal income tax withheld.
IF you are
amending tax
year...
2011

2009 or 2010

2008

If you are amending your EIC based on a nontaxable combat
pay election, enter “nontaxable combat pay” and the amount in
Part III of Form 1040X. If you are amending your 2008 EIC to
elect to use your 2007 earned income instead of your 2008
earned income, enter “PYEI” and the amount of your 2007
earned income in Part III of Form 1040X.

THEN the corresponding line(s) on Form...
1040
are:

1040A
are:

1040EZ
is:

62, 69

36
(plus any write-in
for excess SS/
RRTA on line 41)

7

38
(plus any write-in
for excess SS/
RRTA on line 44)

7

38
(plus any write-in
for excess SS/
RRTA on line 43)

7

61, 69

62, 65

If your EIC was reduced or disallowed for the tax year
you are amending, see the Instructions for Form 8862,
CAUTION Information To Claim Earned Income Credit After
Disallowance, to find out if you must also file that form to claim
the credit.

!

IF you are
amending tax
year...

1040
is:

1040A
is:

1040EZ
is:

2011

64a

38a

8a

2009 or 2010

64a

41a

9a

2008

64a

40a

8a

Line 14—Refundable Credits
A refundable credit can give you a refund for any part of a credit
that is more than your total tax.

Line 12—Estimated Tax Payments
In column A, enter the estimated tax payments you claimed on
your original return. If you filed Form 1040-C, U.S. Departing
Alien Income Tax Return, include on this line the amount you
paid as the balance due with that return. Also include any of
your prior year’s overpayment that you elected to apply to
estimated tax payments for the year you are amending.
IF you are
amending tax
year...

THEN the corresponding line on Form...

If you are amending your return to claim or change a
refundable credit, attach the appropriate form(s).
In addition to the credits listed on this line, refundable credits
also include the recovery rebate credit. Specify this credit in the
blank area after “other (specify):” and include this amount in the
line 14 total.

THEN the corresponding line on Form...
1040
is:

1040A
is:

1040EZ
is:

2011

63

37

N/A

IF you are
amending tax
year...

2009 or 2010

62

39

N/A

2008

63

39

N/A

Line 13—Earned Income Credit (EIC)
If you are amending your return to claim the EIC and you have
a qualifying child, attach Schedule EIC (Form 1040A or 1040).
If you changed the amount on line 1 or line 5, the amount of
any EIC you claimed on your original return may change. Use
the following chart to find the correct line on your original return.

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

-9-

THEN the corresponding line(s) on Form...
1040
are:

1040A
are:

1040EZ
is:

2011

65 – 67, 70,
71

39, 40

N/A

2010

63, 65 – 67,
70, 71

40, 42, 43

8

2009

63, 65 – 67,
70

40, 42, 43

8

2008

66, 68 – 70

41, 42

9

Line 15—Amount Paid With Extension
or Tax Return

If your original return was changed by the IRS and the result
was an additional overpayment of tax, also include that amount
on line 17. Do not include interest you received on any refund.

On this line enter the total of the following amounts.
• Any amount paid with your request for an extension on Form
4868 or 2350 (use the following chart to find the corresponding
line). Also include any amount paid with a credit or debit card or
the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) used to
get an extension of time to file, but do not include the
convenience fee you were charged. Also include any amount
paid by electronic funds withdrawal.
• The amount of the check or money order you sent with your
original return, the amount paid with a credit or debit card or the
EFTPS, or by electronic funds withdrawal. Also include any
additional payments you made after it was filed. However, do
not include payments of interest or penalties, or the
convenience fee you were charged for paying with a credit or
debit card.
IF you are
amending tax
year...

Any additional refund you are entitled to on Form 1040X will
be sent separately from any refund you have not yet received
from your original return.

Line 18—Amount Available To Pay Additional Tax
If line 17 is larger than line 16, line 18 will be negative. You will
owe additional tax. To figure the amount owed, treat the amount
on line 18 as positive and add it to the amount on line 10. Enter
the result on line 19.

Line 19—Amount You Owe
You can pay by check, money order, credit or debit card or the
EFTPS.
To pay by check or money order. Send your signed Form
1040X with a check or money order for the full amount payable
to the “United States Treasury.” Do not send cash. Do not
attach your payment to Form 1040X. Instead, enclose it in the
envelope with your amended return.

THEN the corresponding line on Form...
1040
is:

1040A
is:

1040EZ
is:

2011

68

41 (write – in
amount)

9 (write-in
amount)

2009 and 2010

68

44 (write-in
amount)

10 (write-in
amount)

2008

67

43 (write-in
amount)

10 (write-in
amount)

On your payment, put your name, address, daytime phone
number, and SSN. If you are filing a joint Form 1040X, enter the
SSN shown first on the return. Also, enter the tax year and type
of return you are amending (for example, “2011 Form 1040”).
The IRS will figure any interest due and send you a bill.
To help process your payment, enter the amount on the right
side of the check like this: $ XXX.XX. Do not use dashes
or
xx
lines (for example, do not enter “$ XXX — ” or “$ XXX 100”).
To pay by credit or debit card or the EFTPS. For information
on paying your taxes electronically, including by credit or debit
card or the EFTPS, go to www.irs.gov/e-pay.

Line 16—Total Payments

What if you cannot pay. If you cannot pay the full amount
shown on line 19, you can ask to make monthly installment
payments. Generally, you can have up to 72 months to pay.

Include in the total on this line any payments shown on Form
8689, Allocation of Individual Income Tax to the U.S. Virgin
Islands, lines 40 and 44. Enter “USVI” and the amount on the
dotted line to the left of line 16.

To ask for an installment agreement, apply online or use
Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request. To apply online,
go to IRS.gov, click on “Tools” and then “Online Payment
Agreement.” If you use Form 9465, see its instructions.

Refund or Amount You Owe
The purpose of this section is to figure the additional tax you
owe or excess amount you have paid (overpayment). All of your
payments (for the tax year you are amending) received up to
the date of this amended return are taken into account, as well
as any overpayment on your original return or after adjustment
by the IRS. It is as if you were using the new information to
complete your original return. If the results show a larger
overpayment than before, the difference between the two
becomes your new overpayment. You can choose to receive
the refund or apply it to your estimated tax for the following
year. In either case, it can be used by the IRS to pay other
federal or state debts that still exist. If the results show that you
owe, it is because you do not have enough additional
withholding or because filing your original return with the
information you have now would have resulted in a smaller
overpayment or a balance due.

!

If the total amount you owe is greater than $25,000, see
Form 9465-FS and its instructions.

CAUTION

Note. If you elected to apply any part of an overpayment on
your original return to your next year’s estimated tax, you
cannot reverse that election on your amended return.

Line 21—Overpayment Received as Refund
If the IRS does not use your overpayment to pay past due
federal or state debts, the refund amount on line 21 will be sent
separately from any refund you claimed on your original return
(see the instructions for line 17). We will figure any interest and
include it in your refund.

Line 17—Overpayment

Note. You will receive a check for any refund due to you. A
refund on an amended return cannot be deposited directly to
your bank account.

Enter the overpayment from your original return. Use the
following chart to find the corresponding line.

Line 22—Overpayment Applied to Estimated Tax

IF you are
amending tax
year...

Enter on line 22 the amount, if any, from line 20 you want
applied to your estimated tax for next year. Also, enter that tax
year in the box indicated. No interest will be paid on this
amount.

THEN the corresponding line on Form...
1040
is:

1040A
is:

1040EZ
is:

2011

73

42

11a

2010

73

45

12a

2009

72

45

12a

2008

72

44

12a

You will be notified if any of your overpayment was used to
pay past due federal or state debts so that you will know how
much was applied to your estimated tax.

!

You cannot change your election to apply part or all of
the overpayment on line 20 to next year’s estimated tax.

CAUTION

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Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

Children who did not live with you due to divorce or
separation. If you are claiming a child who did not live with
you under the rules for children of divorced or separated
parents, you must attach certain forms or statements to Form
1040X. For more information, see Pub. 501 or the instructions
for Form 1040 or 1040A for the tax year you are amending.

Part I—Exemptions
If you are changing the number of exemptions claimed on your
return, complete lines 23 through 30, and line 31, if necessary.
Enter the new exemption amount on line 30 and line 4, column
C.

Line 28—Exemption Amount

Part II—Presidential Election Campaign
Fund

To figure the amount to enter on line 28, you may need to use
the Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet in the Form 1040 or
Form 1040A instructions for the year you are amending. To find
out if you do, see Who must use the Deduction for Exemptions
Worksheet on page 7. If you do not have to use that worksheet,
multiply the applicable dollar amount shown in the following
table by the number of exemptions on line 27.
IF you are amending your...

You can use Form 1040X to have $3 go to the Presidential
Election Campaign Fund if you (or your spouse on a joint
return) did not do so on your original return. This must be done
within 201/2 months after the original due date for filing the
return. For calendar year 2011, this period ends on January 2,
2014. A previous designation of $3 to the fund cannot be
changed.

THEN the amount for one
exemption is...

2011

$3,700

2009 or 2010 return

$3,650

2008 return

$3,500

Part III—Explanation of Changes
The IRS needs to know why you are filing Form 1040X. For
example, you:
• Received another Form W-2 after you filed your return,
• Forgot to claim the child tax credit,
• Discovered you could claim a tuition and fees deduction for
2009,
• Changed your filing status from qualifying widow(er) to head
of household,
• Did not add the sales tax on your new car to your 2009
standard deduction, or
• Are carrying an unused NOL or credit to an earlier year.

Line 29—Additional Exemption Amount for Housing
Midwestern Displaced Individuals
If you are claiming or changing a 2008 or 2009 exemption
amount for housing Midwestern displaced individuals, complete
lines 1 and 2 of the 2008 Form 8914 (or lines 1 through 6 of the
2009 Form 8914), Exemption Amount for Taxpayers Housing
Midwestern Displaced Individuals. Enter the amount from Form
8914, line 2 for 2008 (line 6 for 2009), on Form 1040X, line 29.
Complete line 30. Be sure to attach Form 8914 to Form 1040X.

Paid Preparer
Generally, anyone you pay to prepare your return must sign it
and include their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) in
the space provided. The preparer must give you a copy of the
return for your records. Someone who prepares your return but
does not charge you should not sign.

Line 31—Dependents
List all dependents claimed on this amended return. This
includes:
• Dependents claimed on your original return who are still
being claimed on this return, and
• Dependents not claimed on your original return who are
being added to this return.
If you are now claiming more than four dependents, attach a
separate statement with the required information.
Column (b). You must enter each dependent’s social security
number (SSN). If your dependent child was born and died in the
tax year you are amending and you do not have an SSN for the
child, enter “Died” in column (b), and attach a copy of the child’s
birth certificate, death certificate, or hospital medical records.
The document must show the child was born alive.
Be sure the name and SSN entered agree with the
dependent’s social security card. Otherwise, at the time we
process your return, we may disallow the exemption claimed for
the dependent and reduce or disallow any other tax benefits
(such as the child tax credit) based on that dependent.
Note. For details on how to get an SSN or correct a name
or number, see the 2011 Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ
instructions.
Column (d). Check the box in column (d) if your dependent is
also a qualifying child for the child tax credit. See the Form
1040 or 1040A instructions for the year you are amending to
find out who is a qualifying child.

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)

Assembling Your Return
Assemble any schedules and forms behind Form 1040X in
order of the “Attachment Sequence No.” shown in the upper
right corner of the schedule or form. If you have supporting
statements, arrange them in the same order as the schedules
or forms they support and attach them last. Do not attach
correspondence or other items unless required to do so,
including a copy of your original return.
Attach to the front of Form 1040X:
• A copy of any Forms W-2, W-2c (a corrected Form W-2), and
2439 that support changes made on this return;
• A copy of any Form W-2G and 1099-R that support changes
made on this return, but only if tax was withheld; and
• A copy of any Forms 1042S, SSA-1042S, RRB-1042S, and
8288-A that support changes made on this return.
Attach to the back of Form 1040X any Form 8805 that
supports changes made on this return.
If you owe tax, enclose (do not attach) your check or money
order in the envelope with your amended return. See the
instructions for line 19 on page 10.

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Estimates of Taxpayer Burden

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice

The table below shows burden estimates as of November 15,
2010, for taxpayers filing a 2010 Form 1040X tax return. Time
spent and out-of-pocket costs are presented separately.
Out-of-pocket costs include any expenses incurred by
taxpayers to prepare and submit their tax returns. Examples
include tax return preparation and submission fees, postage
and photocopying costs, and tax preparation software costs.
While these estimates do not include burden associated with
post-filing activities, IRS operational data indicate that
electronically prepared and filed returns have fewer arithmetic
errors, implying lower post-filing burden.
Reported time and cost burden is a national average and
does not necessarily reflect a “typical” case. The estimated
average time burden for all taxpayers filing a Form 1040X is 7
hours, with an average cost of $100 per return. This average
includes all associated forms and schedules, across all
preparation methods and taxpayer activities. There is significant
variation in taxpayer activity within this estimate. Similarly, tax
preparation fees vary extensively depending on the tax situation
of the taxpayer, the type of professional preparer, and the
geographic area.
If you have comments concerning the time and cost
estimates below, you can contact us at either one of the
addresses shown under We welcome comments on forms
earlier.

We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal
Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to give us
the information. We need it to ensure that you are complying
with these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right
amount of tax.
You are not required to provide the information requested on
a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless
the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or
records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as
long as their contents may become material in the
administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax
returns and return information are confidential, as required by
section 6103.
We welcome comments on forms. If you have comments or
suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to
hear from you. You can email us at [email protected]. Enter
“Forms Comment” on the subject line. Or you can write to the
Internal Revenue Service, Individual and Specialty Forms and
Publications Branch, SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I, 1111 Constitution Ave.
NW, IR-6526, Washington, DC 20224. Do not send the form to
this address. Instead, see Where To File on page 4.

All 1040X
Taxpayers

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Average Time Burden
(Hours)

Average Cost (Dollars)

7

$100

Form 1040X (Rev. December 2011)