My husband and I got married several years ago. He's on Social Security and I have a small business. Up through last year, he didn't file (as married filing separately, he didn't qualify to file) and I filed as married filing separately.
This year (2019 returns) we filed jointly. We would like to go back and amend our 2017 return as married filing jointly. Is there any reason that we can't do that? Are there any rules that don't allow that?
February 14, 2021 5:32 AM last updated February 14, 2021 5:32 AM Connect with an expert
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3 Best answerYes, you can amend the 2017 tax return from Married Filing Separately to Married Filing Jointly.
See this TurboTax support FAQ for amending a 2017 tax return originally completed and filed using TurboTax - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/amending/help/how-do-i-amend-a-return-in-turbotax/01/27372
Note - If the amended 2017 return will have a federal tax refund, the amended return must be filed on or before April 15, 2021. If filed after that date the refund will be denied.
February 14, 2021 5:39 AMIf you filed a Form 4868 extension request for tax year 2017 and it was accepted then you will have until October 15, 2021 to amend the tax return with a refund.
Your spouse not filing a 2017 return is not an issue if you are going to file as Married Filing Jointly on the 2017 amended return since you will be providing both yours and his information on the amended return.
February 15, 2021 5:14 AM@Jennifer_McCarroll There is no tax rule preventing you from switching from MFS to MFJ or MFJ to MFS from one tax year to the next tax year.
For example you can file as MFS in 2016. In 2017 file as MFJ. In 2018 file as MFS, etc.
What you may have seen is you cannot switch from MFJ to MFS after the due date of the tax return for the current tax year.
But you can change from MFS to MFJ in the current tax year. So amending your 2017 tax return from MFS to MFJ is allowed.
February 17, 2021 11:13 AMYes, you can amend the 2017 tax return from Married Filing Separately to Married Filing Jointly.
See this TurboTax support FAQ for amending a 2017 tax return originally completed and filed using TurboTax - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/amending/help/how-do-i-amend-a-return-in-turbotax/01/27372
Note - If the amended 2017 return will have a federal tax refund, the amended return must be filed on or before April 15, 2021. If filed after that date the refund will be denied.
February 14, 2021 5:39 AMI filed my 2017 return in October 2018. We had understood that we had 3 years from then to amend it. But from your note, it sounds like we need to amend it before April 15th. Are these contradictory statements or am I missing some details?
We will get a federal refund if we do it properly.
Also, the main reason we asked the question was that my husband hadn't filed his 2017 return at all. Does that affect making the amendment in any way?
