How to file a FreeTaxUSA amended return, what it costs and when it must be mailed

How do I amend a return in FreeTaxUSA?

You amend inside the same FreeTaxUSA account that filed the original return, in the edition for that tax year. FreeTaxUSA describes three stages: report the amendment information, make the changes, and submit the amendment on Form 1040-X. It recommends waiting until the IRS has fully processed the original return when possible, and if you are expecting a refund from the original, waiting until you receive it.

1. Sign in to the FreeTaxUSA edition for the year you are amending. For a past year, choose Prior Year on FreeTaxUSA's site and pick the year first.
2. Choose Amend Tax Return. In 2023 and later editions it is in the Account menu; in 2022 and earlier editions the link is in the sidebar menu.
3. In Amendment Information, enter the refund (overpayment) you actually received, or the tax you actually paid, from your last filing.
4. Use the top menus to change, add or delete the entries that were wrong, and save every page you update.
5. Open Final Steps, pay for the amendment if you did not buy Deluxe or Pro Support, and type a short explanation of the change.
6. Review the 1040 (As Amended) and the Form 1040-X, then e-file or print and mail as FreeTaxUSA offers.

What do I enter as the overpayment or tax paid?

This screen sets the starting point, so the amendment begins at $0 and shows only the effect of your changes. FreeTaxUSA's guidance is to enter what actually happened, not what the old return predicted. Most amendments need only one of the two fields.

If you are amending a state return as well, enter the overpayment or tax paid for each state. FreeTaxUSA suggests checking your IRS online account to confirm the last refund or payments before you type them.

How much does a FreeTaxUSA amended return cost?

FreeTaxUSA's help page says amended returns are free if you filed with the Deluxe service. If you used the regular service, unlimited amended returns cost $16.98 (checked October 2026). You pay for amendment preparation in Final Steps, so you see the charge before you submit.

Deluxe also adds live chat and priority support, which the FreeTaxUSA vs TurboTax comparison covers. Prices for the 2027 filing season, for tax year 2026 returns, are not published yet, so check the price on screen before you pay.

Can I e-file a FreeTaxUSA amended return?

Sometimes. FreeTaxUSA says you can usually e-file an amended return if you e-filed the original during the same calendar year. For earlier years its prior-year help sets these limits:

FreeTaxUSA also says the amendment has to be mailed in these cases:

• You filed the original return on paper.
• You have already e-filed three amended returns this year.
• Documents must be mailed in with the amended return.
• You mailed a prior-year return during the current filing season.
• The IRS has no record of your original return.
• You are amending only the state return, not the federal one.

FreeTaxUSA's help pages do not all describe prior years the same way, so the Final Steps menu is the final word on which option your return has. An IP PIN is a six-digit number the IRS issues each year; the IP PIN guide explains where it goes in tax software. If you mail, sign both the Form 1040-X and the new Form 1040, and FreeTaxUSA suggests certified mail or a tracking number.

What if I filed the original with other software?

FreeTaxUSA can amend a return you filed elsewhere, but it needs the original in its system first. Its help answer gives these steps:

1. Create a FreeTaxUSA account and recreate the original return exactly as it was filed, even the entries that were wrong.
2. In Final Steps, choose to mail the recreated return. You do not actually mail it; this only puts the return in a finalized state.
3. Once the return shows a mailed status, click Amend Tax Return in the Account menu and make your changes.
4. E-file or mail the amendment, whichever FreeTaxUSA offers for your situation.

If the original was filed in TurboTax, you can also amend it there; see TurboTax amended return for those steps.

How do I check the status of a FreeTaxUSA amendment?

If you e-filed, FreeTaxUSA says to check your account or watch for an email or text message about status changes. Once the amendment is accepted, the IRS or your state processes it and contacts you if it needs more.

Processing is tracked in the IRS Where's My Amended Return tool, where the status appears about 3 weeks after you file. The IRS says most amended returns take 8 to 12 weeks and some take up to 16 weeks. You need your Social Security number, date of birth and ZIP code, or you can call 866-464-2050. If you cannot get into FreeTaxUSA to see your status, start with FreeTaxUSA login problems.