I collected unemployment last year, but I e-filed my tax return already without including the unemployment income. The e-file has already been accepted. I tried to go back and add the unemployment in, but I can’t re-file my return. What is going to happen to me?
You can always ammend a tax return. Even last years. You need to contact the IRS to find out how.
No, you will not get in trouble for an honest mistake that you are trying to correct.
From the Internal Revenue Service’s website:
What should I do if I made a mistake on my federal return that I have already filed?
Nothing for now. Theres 2 ways to go about this.
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Wait for the IRS to inform you that they found a discrepancy and you owe them taxes for the unemployment. That may take a few months or a few years. If that happens you are liable for the tax and any penalties and interest. I dont think jail is in that picture unless you got hundreds of thousands in unemployment benefits.
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Call up the IRS and tell them you misfiled. They will wait until they verify the form, then they’ll tell you that you owe them and then you can file a revised form, pay the tax and a small interest or penalty. I suggest you go personally to an IRS office and speak to a human being. This may take up the whole day and the experience will not be pleasant (I know because i did this once before). Its unpleasant because the people who work at the IRS office have attitudes for some ungodly reason. When your done with that you can go to the State Tax office. If you think the Federal office workers have attitudes, you may find that a state office worker is worse. However, maybe its just my personal and unique experience to get 2 anal retentive and stupid tax people when all I wanted to do was to freely and voluntarily give them my money. maybe it was just me…
horhay_achoa, you really ought to consult an attorney before you rely on advice from anyone–including anyone on the SDMB–other than the Internal Revenue Service itself.
Actually asking the IRS about tax questions is probably the last thing you want to do for actual correct info. I read somewhere that at the IRS tax helpline the percentage of incorrect information being dispersed was something insane like 50% of the time. this is a pretty simple straight forward question so they SHOULD be able to handle it however.
I did this last year.
I forgot to include some income. I waited until my e-filed return was processed and the refund was received. I then filed an amended tax form (filled out & printed with the Turbotax program) through the mail along with a check for the missing underpaid taxes.
HTH - B
Go to a tax lawyer, amend the return, set up a payment schedule. You’re not going to jail, but you are looking at some serious wage garnishment down the road, which your creditors (esp. your landlord) will find hilarious. Avoid this; I sure wish I had.
Amendment:
If you get advice from the IRS itself, don’t trust it, either. Best thing to do if you have a real situation is consult (pay) a tax professional, such as a CPA.
If you screw up your taxes, even as a result of following what turned out to be wrong advice the IRS gave you, you’re screwed. If a CPA screws up your taxes, you’re also screwed - but you can sue the CPA for malpractice and recover the monetary screwage.
-AmbushBug
INA tax lawyer, but it seems to me if you hurry up & file an amended return before April 15 the IRS shouldn’t have a problem with you. YMMV.
For heaven’s sakes, you don’t need a lawyer to fix this, since it’s not even April 15 yet. Just file an amended return. People make mistakes on their returns all the time.
I wouldn’t wait for the IRS to discover your mistake - for one, it could take months or years and you’ll have to pay interest and penalties for all that time; and two, they much prefer it when people volunteer that they screwed up and are honestly and sincerely trying to rectify the situation.
You’re not trying to defraud anyone, you just made a mistake. If you file an amended return now, you will in all liklihood have no problems.
It doesn’t sound very complicated. I don’t think you need a lawyer for Pete’s sake. Just download a copy of the 1040X (which refers to the “amended” return referred to in the other posts) from the IRS website, and file that, which, if you fill it in correctly, will help you figure what you owe the IRS. Start filling it out, and if you get stuck (it isn’t really that hard), just ask an accountant or call an H and R Block office–they’ll give you some help for free over the phone if you ask politely and sound intelligent. Or you can call the IRS. It may take a little time to get through to the right person, but they can be very helpful and cooperative. Again, it looks pretty straightforward to me and you are far from going to jail. For that, anyway. 
As part of my tax practice, I sometimes pick up work that the IRS is too busy to do.
horhay_achoa, pack yer bags, buddy, cuz I’m coming to getcha.