Amend Your Tax Return to Correct a Filing Mistake
Advice on how to fix an error on your tax return.
I realize I made a mistake on my 2015 taxes. Is it too late to fix it?
9 Financial Fumbles You Can Fix
- Rules for Paying Off Back Taxes
- Resolve a Complaint About an eBay Purchase
- Undo Your Social Security Claiming Decision
- Resolve a Dispute With a Home Contractor
- Amend Your Tax Return to Correct a Filing Mistake
- Repair Your Credit Score
- What to Do If You're Delinquent on Student Loans
- Change an Airline Ticket
- Get Out of a Time-Share Deal
You generally have up to three years from the due date of the original return to file an amended return. Use IRS Form 1040X to note the changes you're making, and include revised copies of any supplemental forms that are affected (such as Schedule A for changes to itemized deductions).
You cannot e-file an amended return. Amended returns take up to 16 weeks to process, so if you owe additional taxes, pay as soon as possible to avoid interest and penalty charges. If the change you've made lowers your tax bill, the IRS will send you a refund.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
SEE ALSO:
6 Tax Filing Mistakes That Can Cost You Money
p>
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

-
3 Ways High-Income Earners Can Maximize Their Charitable Donations in 2025Tax Deductions New charitable giving tax rules will soon lower your deduction for donations to charity — here’s what you should do now.
-
An HSA Sounds Great for Taxes: Here’s Why It Might Not Be Right for YouHealth Savings Even with the promise of ‘triple tax benefits,’ a health savings account might not be the best health plan option for everyone.
-
New RMD Rules: Can You Pass This Retirement Distributions Tax Quiz?Quiz Take our RMD quiz to test your retirement tax knowledge. Learn about RMD rules, IRS deadlines, and tax penalties that could shrink your savings.
-
Ten Retirement Tax Plan Moves to Make Before December 31Retirement Taxes Proactively reviewing your health coverage, RMDs, and IRAs can lower retirement taxes in 2025 and 2026. Here’s how.
-
When to Hire a Tax Pro: The Age Most Americans Switch to a CPATax Tips Taxpayers may outsource their financial stress by a specific age. Find out when you should hire a tax preparer.
-
The Original Property Tax Hack: Avoiding The ‘Window Tax’Property Taxes Here’s how homeowners can challenge their home assessment and potentially reduce their property taxes — with a little lesson from history.
-
Social Security Tax Limit Rises Again: Who Pays More in 2026?Payroll Taxes The Social Security Administration has announced significant changes affecting millions as we approach a new year.
-
Three Critical Tax Changes Could Boost Your Paycheck in 2026Tax Tips The IRS predicts these tax breaks may change take-home pay in 2026. Will you get over $1,000 in tax savings?

