What taxpayers should do if they have incorrect or missing documents?
Taxpayers should make sure they have all their documents before filing a tax return.
Taxpayers who haven’t received a W-2 or Form 1099 should contact the employer, payer or issuing agency and request the missing documents. This also applies for those who received an incorrect W-2 or Form 1099.
If they can’t get the forms, they must still file their tax return on time or get an extension to file. To avoid filing an incomplete or amended return, they may need to use Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement or Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, Etc.
If a taxpayer doesn’t receive the missing or corrected form in time to file their tax return, they can estimate the wages or payments made to them, as well as any taxes withheld. They can use Form 4852 to report this information on their federal tax return.
If they receive the missing or corrected Form W-2 or Form 1099-R after filing their return and the information differs from their previous estimate, they must file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
Most taxpayers should have received their documents near the end of January, including:
• Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement
• Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income
• Form 1099-INT, Interest Income
• Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation
• Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments; like unemployment compensation or state tax refund
• Letter 6419, 2021 Total Advance Child Tax Credit Payments
• Letter 6475, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment
Incorrect Form 1099-G for unemployment benefits
Many people received unemployment compensation in 2021. Unemployment compensation is taxable and must be reported on the recipient’s tax return.
Taxpayers who receive an incorrect Form 1099-G for unemployment benefits they did not get should contact the issuing state agency to request a revised Form 1099-G showing their correct benefits. Taxpayers who are unable to obtain a timely, corrected form from states should still file an accurate tax return, reporting only the income they did receive.
Reconciling advance child tax credit or economic impact payments
People who need to reconcile advance child tax credit payments or claim the recovery rebate credit will need information about 2021 payments when they file.
These individuals must have the total amounts of advance child tax credit payments to receive the remainder of their child tax credit and the amount of their third Economic Impact Payment to claim a recovery rebate credit. Taxpayers should check their online account or review Letter 6419, 2021 Total Advance Child Tax Credit Payments, and Letter 6475, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment, for their total payment amounts. This will help them file an accurate return. If they have lost or misplaced these letters, they can check their online account. Married spouses who received joint payments will need to log into their own online account or review their own letter for their portion of the total payment. If filing a 2021 return as married filing jointly, they should add the payments together to provide the total amount.
Loeffler Financial Group is here to help. Schedule a tax appointment with one of our expert tax advisors today, 717-393-7366.
Out of sight, out of mind. When it comes to old tax returns, that’s an approach many people like to follow. But before you completely forget about your old tax forms, you may wish to consider filing an amended return.
Why file an amended return?
If you made a mistake on a prior-year tax return, an amended return is the way to set things right. Arithmetic errors, missing information, and oversights are all fairly common, and generally there’s no reason to fear filing an amended return – whether you owe money to the IRS or vice versa.
Certain special situations can also trigger amended returns. For example, if you suffer a casualty loss in a presidentially declared disaster, you may deduct the loss on your tax return for the year of the disaster, or you may amend the prior-year return and deduct the loss in that year. The best strategy depends on your tax bracket for both years, plus other factors such as the amount of your loss and whether it occurred early or late in the year.
An amended return can help ease the sting of certain business and worthless security losses. You also may benefit from an amended return if there’s a retroactive change in the tax law as a result of new legislation or a favorable court ruling.
Use Form 1040X
Form 1040X (“Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return”) is the IRS form designed for amended filings.
Generally, you have three years from the time your return was filed or two years from the time the tax was paid, whichever is later, to file an amended return.
Be sure the changes you want to make are valid. The tax laws have changed frequently over the past several years. What was deductible one year might not be deductible the very next year, and the list of items includable in taxable income has also changed from year to year.
Also, although filing an amended return is not necessarily a red flag for an audit, some changes are looked at more closely than others. For example, claiming additional travel and entertainment expenses on an amended return may be risky.
If you have omitted income from your return, you should file a 1040X as soon as you become aware of the omission. You may owe additional taxes, interest, and perhaps penalties. The proper presentation of previously omitted items is crucial and is best left to a professional.
Regardless of the reason for the amended return, be sure to keep good records to substantiate the reasons for the change.
If, as a result of the changes, the IRS owes you, you will receive a refund with interest. If you owe the IRS, payment should be made with the 1040X. The IRS will bill you for any additional interest.
Looking to have your return amended? Contact Loeffler Financial today at 717-393-7366.
