Starting now, for tax year 2019 only, Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return can be filed electronically, though commercial tax-filing software. Please be aware that these cannot currently be e-filed directly through IRS systems. Taxpayers will have to check for tax-filing software companies that offer this option via the Internet.

Up until now taxpayers had to mail all Forms 1040-X to the IRS for processing. Paper processing can take up to sixteen weeks to complete. The new electronic filing option allows the IRS to receive amended returns faster while minimizing errors normally associated with manually completing the form.

For the initial phase, only tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR returns can be amended electronically, provided they were e-filed originally. Additional improvements are planned for the future.

Taxpayers still have the option to submit a paper version of the Form 1040-X and should follow the instructions for preparing and submitting the paper form. The paper forms must still be mailed for corrections to 2018 and prior year tax returns.

Those filing their Form 1040-X electronically and on paper can use the “Where’s My Amended Return?” online tool to check the status of their amended return.

For more information about filing amended returns, see our Amending a Tax Return Get Help page, the IRS’s News Release titled Now available: IRS Form 1040-X electronic filing, or Tips for taxpayers who need to file an amended tax return.