2003 Tax Help Archives  
Instructions for Form 1040X 2003 Tax Year

Line Instructions

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2003 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

Above your name, enter the calendar or fiscal year of the return you are amending.

Name, Address, and 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 a separate to a joint return and your spouse did not file an original return, enter your name and SSN first.

Foreign address.   Enter the information in the following order: City, province or state, and country. Follow the country's practice for entering the postal code. Do not abbreviate the country name.

Line C

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. 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 to determine the amounts to enter in column B. If your spouse did not file an original return, include your spouse's income, deductions, credits, other taxes, etc., to determine the amounts to enter in column B.
  3. Read the instructions for column C on page 3 to figure the amounts to enter in that column.

  Both of you must sign Form 1040X.

  Joint and several tax liability. If you file a joint return, both you and your spouse are generally responsible for the tax and any interest or penalties due on the return. This means that 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).

Head of household.   If you are changing to the head of household filing status and the qualifying person is a child but not your dependent, enter the child's name and “QND” in Part II of Form 1040X.

  
Caution

  Generally, married people cannot file as head of household. But see Pub. 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information, for an exception.

Lines 1 Through 31

Tip

If you are only providing additional information and not changing amounts you originally reported, skip lines 1–31 and complete Part II and, if applicable, Part III.

To help you complete Form 1040X, start with:

  • Line 1 if you are changing income or deductions.
  • Line 6 if you are changing only credits or other taxes.
  • Line 10 if you are changing only payments.

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. Show decreases in parentheses.

  Explain each change in Part II. If you need more space, attach a statement. Also, 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. 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 column A or
  • Subtract the decrease in column B from column A.

  For any item you do not change, enter the amount from column A in column C.

Example.    Anna Arbor originally reported $21,000 as her adjusted gross income on her 2002 Form 1040A. She received another Form W-2 for $500 after she filed her return. She completes line 1 of Form 1040X as follows.

  Col. A Col. B Col. C
Line 1 $21,000 $500 $21,500

She would also report any additional Federal income tax withheld on line 11 in column B.

Income and Deductions

Line 1

Enter your adjusted gross income (AGI). To find the corresponding line on the return you are amending, use the chart on page 6 for the appropriate year. A change you make to your AGI can cause other amounts to increase or decrease. For example, increasing your AGI may:

  • Decrease your miscellaneous itemized deductions, the credit for child and dependent care expenses, the child tax credit, or education credits, or
  • Increase your allowable charitable contributions deduction or the taxable amount of social security benefits.

Changing your AGI may also affect your total itemized deductions or your deduction for exemptions (see the instructions for line 4). Whenever 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.

Changing your IRA deduction?   In Part II 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.

Line 2

Did you originally file using TeleFile or Form 1040EZ?

Yes. See TeleFile and Form 1040EZ Filers—Lines 2 and 4 beginning on this page for the amount to enter on line 2.
No. Use the following chart to find the amount to enter on line 2.

IF you are
filing Form...
THEN enter on line 2 the amount from Form...
1040 1040, line 37 for 2003; line 38 for 2002; line 36 for 2000-2001
1040A 1040A, line 24 for 2002-2003; line 22 for 2000-2001

Line 4

Did you originally file using TeleFile or Form 1040EZ?

Yes. See TeleFile and Form 1040EZ Filers—Lines 2 and 4 beginning on this page for the amount to enter on line 4.
No. Use the following chart to find the amount to enter on line 4.

IF you are... THEN enter on line 4 the amount from Form...
Changing the number of exemptions claimed 1040X, line 30 (complete line 31 if applicable)
Not changing the number of exemptions claimed*
  • 1040, line 39 for 2003; line 40 for 2002; line 38 for 2000-2001, or
  • 1040A, line 26 for 2002-2003; line 24 for 2000-2001
*If the amount in column A or C of line 1 is over $96,700, see Who must use Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet below.
Who must use Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet.   Use the chart below to find out if you must use that worksheet in the Form 1040 instructions for the year you are amending to figure the amount to enter on line 4 and, if applicable, line 30.

You must use the Deduction for
Exemptions Worksheet
if—
You are amending your: And your filing status is: And the amount in col. A or C of line 1 is over:
2003
return
Married filing separately $104,625
Married filing jointly or
Qualifying widow(er)
209,250
Single 139,500
Head of household 174,400
2002
return
Married filing separately $103,000
Married filing jointly or
Qualifying widow(er)
206,000
Single 137,300
Head of household 171,650
2001
return
Married filing separately $99,725
Married filing jointly or
Qualifying widow(er)
199,450
Single 132,950
Head of household 166,200
2000
return
Married filing separately $96,700
Married filing jointly or
Qualifying widow(er)
193,400
Single 128,950
Head of household 161,150

TeleFile and Form 1040EZ Filers—Lines 2 and 4

TeleFile filers.   The amounts to enter on lines 2 and 4 of Form 1040X depend on whether you (or your spouse) could be claimed as a dependent on someone's return. First, get Form 1040EZ for the year you are amending. Next, complete line 5 of Form 1040EZ and, if applicable, the worksheet on the back of the form. Then, see Form 1040EZ filers next to determine the amounts to enter on lines 2 and 4 of Form 1040X.

Form 1040EZ filers.   Did you check the “Yes” box on Form 1040EZ, line 5?
Yes. On Form 1040X, line 2, enter the amount from line E of the worksheet on the back of Form 1040EZ. On Form 1040X, line 4, enter zero (or the amount from line F of the 1040EZ worksheet if married filing jointly).
No. Use the following chart to find the amounts to enter on lines 2 and 4.

IF you are amending your... AND your filing status is... THEN enter on Form 1040X,
line 2... line 4...
2003
return
Single
Married filing jointly
$4,750
9,500
$3,050
6,100
2002
return
Single
Married filing jointly
$4,700
7,850
$3,000
6,000
2001
return
Single
Married filing jointly
$4,550
7,600
$2,900
5,800
2000
return
Single
Married filing jointly
$4,400
7,350
$2,800
5,600

Tax Liability

Line 6

Enter your income tax before subtracting any credits. Figure the tax on the taxable income reported on line 5, column C. Attach the appropriate schedule or form(s). Include on line 6 any additional taxes from Form 4972, Tax on Lump-Sum Distributions, and any recapture of education credits. Also include on line 6 any alternative minimum tax.

Indicate the method you used to figure the tax shown in column C. For example, if you used the Tax Tables, enter “Tables.” If you used the Tax Rate Schedules, enter “TRS.” If you used Schedule D (Form 1040), enter “Sch. D.” If you used the Capital Gain Tax Worksheet, enter “CGTW.” If you used the Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain Tax Worksheet, enter “QDCGTW.” If you used Schedule J (Form 1040), enter “Sch. J.

Line 7

Enter your total credits, such as:

  • Credit for child and dependent care expenses.
  • Credit for the elderly or the disabled.
  • Education credits.
  • Retirement savings contributions credit.
  • Child tax credit.
  • Adoption credit.
  • Credit for prior year minimum tax.

Do not include credits from Form 2439, Notice to Shareholder of Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains, Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels, and Form 8885, Health Coverage Tax Credit (formerly Health Insurance Credit For Eligible Recipients). Instead, use line 15 for these credits.

To find the corresponding lines on the return you are amending, use the chart on page 6 for the appropriate year.

Line 9

Include other taxes such as:

  • Self-employment tax.
  • Tax on qualified plans, including IRAs, and other tax-favored accounts.
  • Advance earned income credit payments.
  • Recapture taxes (for example, recapture of investment credit or low-income housing credit).
  • Tax from Form 4970, Tax on Accumulation Distribution of Trusts.
  • Household employment taxes. If you are changing these taxes, attach Schedule H (Form 1040) and enter in Part II of Form 1040X the date the error was discovered. 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.

To find the corresponding lines on the return you are amending, use the chart on page 6 for the appropriate year.

Payments

Lines 11 Through 16

To find the corresponding lines on the return you are amending, use the chart on page 6 for the appropriate year.

Line 11.   If you are changing these amounts, attach to the front of Form 1040X a copy of all additional or corrected Forms W-2 or 1099-R you received after you filed your original return. Enter in column B any additional amounts shown on these forms as “Federal income tax withheld”.

Line 12.   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 the amount you paid as the balance due with that return.

Line 13.   If you are amending your return to claim the earned income credit (EIC) and you have a qualifying child, attach Schedule EIC (Form 1040A or 1040). For a tax year before 2002, enter the amount of any nontaxable earned income in Part II of Form 1040X. For 2000, also enter the type of nontaxable earned income.

Caution

If your EIC was reduced or disallowed for a tax year after 1996, see the Instructions for Form 8862, Information To Claim Earned Income Credit After Disallowance, to find out if you must also file that form to claim the credit.

Line 14.   If you are amending your return to claim the additional child tax credit, attach Form 8812.

Line 15.   If you are amending your return to claim a credit on this line, attach Copy B of Form 2439, Form 4136, or, for 2002-2003, Form 8885.

  
Caution

  You cannot amend your return to show an increase in the number of gallons previously reported on Form 4136. See Pub. 378, Fuel Tax Credits and Refunds, for details on when you may amend your income tax return to claim other fuel tax credits.

Line 16.   Enter any amount paid with Form 4868, 2688, or 2350. Also include any amount paid with a credit card 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.

Line 17

Enter the amount of tax you paid from the “Amount You Owe” line on your original return. Also, include any additional tax that may have resulted if your original return was changed or examined. Do not include payments of interest or penalties.

Refund or Amount You Owe

Line 19

Enter the overpayment from your original return. You must enter that amount because any additional refund you claim on Form 1040X will be sent separately from any refund you have not yet received from your original 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 19. Do not include interest you received on any refund.

To find the corresponding lines on the return you are amending, use the chart on page 6 for the appropriate year.

Lines 20 and 21

If line 20 is negative, treat it as a positive amount and add it to the amount on line 10, column C. Enter the result on line 21. This is the amount you owe.

Send Form 1040X with a check or money order for the full amount payable to the United States Treasury. Do not send cash. On your payment, put your name, address, daytime phone number, and SSN. Also, enter the tax year and type of return you are amending (for example, “2002 Form 1040”). We 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 lines (for example, do not enter “$ XXX—” or “$ XXX 00/100”).

What if you cannot pay?   If you cannot pay the full amount shown on line 21, you may ask to make monthly installment payments. You may have up to 60 months to pay. See Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request, for more information.

Lines 23 and 24

The refund amount on line 23 will be sent separately from any refund you claimed on your original return (see the instructions for line 19). We will figure the interest and include it in your refund.

Enter on line 24 the amount, if any, from line 22 you want applied to your estimated tax for next year. Also, enter that tax year. No interest will be paid on this amount. You cannot change the election to apply part or all of the overpayment on line 22 to next year's estimated tax.

Paid Preparer

Generally, anyone you pay to prepare your return must sign it 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.

Exemptions (Part I)

Line 30

You may have to use the Deduction for Exemptions Worksheet in the Form 1040 instructions to figure the amount to enter on line 30. To find out if you do, see the instructions for line 4. If you do not have to use that worksheet, multiply the applicable dollar amount on line 30 by the number of exemptions on line 29.

Line 31

If you are adding more than six dependents, attach a 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, you may attach a copy of the child's birth certificate instead and enter “Died” in column (b).

  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 2003 Form 1040 or Form 1040A 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.

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, attach Form 8332, Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents, or similar statement. But see Exception below.

  If your divorce decree or separation agreement went into effect after 1984, you may attach certain pages from the decree or agreement instead of Form 8332. To be able to do this, the decree or agreement must state:
  1. You can claim the child as your dependent without regard to any condition, such as payment of support, and
  2. The other parent will not claim the child as a dependent, and
  3. The years for which the claim is released.
Attach the following pages from the decree or agreement:
  • Cover page (include the other parent's SSN on that page), and
  • The pages that include all of the information identified in 1 through 3 above, and
  • Signature page with the other parent's signature and date of agreement.

  For more details, see Pub. 501.

  Exception. You do not have to attach Form 8332 or similar statement if your divorce decree or written separation agreement went into effect before 1985 and it states that you can claim the child as your dependent.

Presidential Election Campaign Fund (Part III)

You may use Form 1040X to have $3 go to the fund if you (or your spouse on a joint return) did not do so on your original return. This must be done within 20½ months after the original due date for filing the return. For calendar year 2003, this period ends on January 2, 2006. A Yes designation cannot be changed.

Charts

Use the chart for the year you are amending to find the corresponding lines on your return.

Caution

Be sure to include write-in amounts from the return you are amending.

2003
IF you are completing Form 1040X... THEN the corresponding line(s) on the 2003 Form...
1040 is: 1040A is: 1040EZ is:
Line 1 34 21 4
Line 7 44–52 29–34 N/A
Line 9 55–59 37 N/A
Lines 11–16 61–67 39–42 7 and 8
Line 19 69 44 11a

2002
IF you are completing Form 1040X... THEN the corresponding line(s) on the 2002 Form...
1040 is: 1040A is: 1040EZ is:
Line 1 35 21 4
Line 7 45–53 29–34 N/A
Line 9 56–60 37 N/A
Lines 11–16 62–68 39–42 7 and 8
Line 19 70 44 11a

2001
IF you are completing Form 1040X... THEN the corresponding line(s) on the 2001 Form...
1040 is: 1040A is: 1040EZ is:
Line 1 33 19 4
Line 7 43–50 27–32 7
Line 9 53–57 35 N/A
Lines 11–16 59–61a and 62–65 37–39a and 40 8 and 9a
Line 19 67 42 12a

2000
IF you are completing Form 1040X... THEN the corresponding line(s) on the 2000 Form...
1040 is: 1040A is: 1040EZ is:
Line 1 33 19 4
Line 7 43–49 27–31 N/A
Line 9 52–56 34 N/A
Lines 11–16 58–60a and 61–64 36–38a and 39 7 and 8a
Line 19 66 41 11a

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