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Amending federal and California return

I e-filed my 2010 federal return couple of weeks back and even got my refund deposited. I had not filed my 2010 California return, as it needed to be paper filed.

Couple of days back, I discovered that I forgot to take a property tax deduction. I have now filled the 1040X and about to mail it with affected schedules to the IRS.

My question is about how to file my California return now. I guess I have two options.

  1. Use the amended federal numbers for filling up the California form
540. I will attach the amended 1040, also the 1040X with the filing.

  1. Use the original federal numbers, original 1040 and file the 540 using those. Follow it up with an amended 540X form after couple of weeks.

I was thinking of going with the first option as it is straightforward and I can add a cover letter to explain. Is this the right way? Sorry, I could not find any guidance on the government websites.

Reply to
Kaspa
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Doesn't the California return include a statement you have to sign that the numbers on it are correct?

Seth

Reply to
Seth

Yes, I agree with the first option. But I'd attach a copy of the 1040- X along with the California 540, instead of a cover letter. The designated forms are the way to go. They're too busy to read free form letters. Don't attach the 1040 because.

BEGIN QUOTE

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If you file paper returns with IRS, do not send a paper copy to us. IRS will forward the information to us, whether you are located in or out of the State of California.

END QUOTE

The IRS will probably share the 1040-X with them, but that will be in about 3 months.

Reply to
removeps-groups

Thank you.

Reply to
Kaspa

Note that the quote applies to BUSINESS returns, not personal returns.

One should attach ONLY the 1040X (in place of the 1040), with ONLY the corrected versions of changed schedules, plus any unchanged schedules from the original federal return. Legally, your 1040X is your federal return (as it was filed before the due date).

Reply to
D. Stussy

OK. For personal returns are you required to attach 1040 if you paper file? In the past I paper filed my 540 return and never attached

1040, but never had problems either, although afterwords I found out that the instructions said that I must attach the 1040. Maybe that rule has changed in recent years. On occasions I even forgot to attach W-2 to both the federal and state returns.
Reply to
removeps-groups

The answer is: It depends.

It depends on which federal schedules are attached. For 2010, any numbered form, or a schedule other than A, B, L, or M, will require a copy of the federal return to be attached. A 1040X is such a form - else the FTB might compare the original before amendments and get a mismatch.

Reply to
D. Stussy

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