The IRS announced Thursday that taxpayers will be able to electronically file Forms 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,“later this summer” (IR-2020-107). According to the IRS, making the Form 1040-X available for electronic filing has been “a goal of the IRS for a number of years.”

The current system requires taxpayers to mail a paper amended return to the IRS for processing, and the IRS receives over 3 million of those forms each year. “The new electronic option allows the IRS to receive amended returns faster while minimizing errors normally associated with manually completing the form,” the IRS notice said.

IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in the IRS news release, “E-filing has been one of the great success stories of the IRS, and more than 90% of taxpayers use it routinely. But the big hurdle that’s been remaining for years is to convert amended returns into this electronic process.”

When the e-filing option is launched, it will only be available to amend 2019 Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, and 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors. Taxpayers can still file paper Form 1040-X if they wish.

— Sally P. Schreiber, J.D., (Sally.Schreiber@aicpa-cima.com) is a JofA senior editor.