Common questions about the As Originally Reported on Amended Return in Lacerte

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Why aren't amounts automatically filling into As Originally Reported fields in Amended Return?

When a return is amended (the boxes for Returns to Amend are checked), the amounts currently calculated on the forms tab, should automatically fill into the As Originally Reported fields in Screen 59, Amended Return. In some cases, the amounts may not populate as expected. This is most commonly the case when a previously-amended return is amended again.

Note: This is true even if the checkbox in Screen 59 is removed, the return reprocessed, and the checkmark put back.

Often the quickest solution when amounts do not pull automatically is to enter in the amounts manually.

There is a way to reset the As Originally Reported amounts so the program will automatically fill the necessary fields in Screen 59, Amended Return. There are additional steps involved in this process depending on whether the Return Complete? box in the Client Status tab of the F4, Status window is marked.

Follow these steps if this box was NOT marked:

1. Open the Status Window by pressing F4 on the keyboard. It will open to the Client Status tab.
2. Check the box Return Complete?.
3. Click OK in the lower right to close the Status window.
4. Click the Forms tab to calculate the return.
5. Exit the client file to refresh the database.
6. Re-open the client file by double-clicking on the client name or number.

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Follow these steps if the box in the client status window is checked:

1. Open the client.
2. Open the Status window by pressing the F4 key on the keyboard. It will open to the Client Status tab.
3. Unclick the box Return Complete?.
4. Click OK in the lower right to close the window.
5. In the Detail tab, open Screen 59, Amended Returns (1040X).
6. Click the down arrow next to Federal/State return(s) to Amend (Ctrl+T) (MANDATORY).
7. From the list provided, uncheck the boxes for the returns previously amended.
8. Click OK to close the Federal/State return(s) to Amend (Ctrl+T) (MANDATORY) field.
9. Clear all amounts and checkboxes for Federal and/or state(s) from screen 59.
10. Click on the Forms tab to recalculate the return.
11. After the return calculates, verify that Form 1040X is not generated: it should no longer be bold in the left-hand column.
12. Exit out of the client file by clicking the Clients tab.
13. Re-enter the client file.
14. Go to Screen 59, Amended Returns (1040X).
15. Click the down-arrow next to Federal/State return(s) to Amend (Ctrl+T) (MANDATORY) and mark the boxes for the returns to be amended again.
16. Click Yes to the Calculate Now dialog box reading, "There are no stored amounts available for the selected return. To transfer amounts to the As Originally Reported fields, the program can calculate the return using the current amounts. Would you like to transfer the current return amounts to the As Originally Reported fields?"
17. Click OK to the Information message which reads "The return amounts from M/DD/YY H:MM:SS AM/PM will be transferred to US As Originally Reported fields. Please confirm that the amounts transferred match the amounts on the originally filed return."
18. Switch to the Forms tab to let the return calculate. Make any changes necessary so Form 1040X reflects accurate Corrected Amounts.

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How to apply individual return overpayment to next year and create one estimated tax voucher

1. Go to Screen 7, 2023 Estimates (1040 ES).
2. Locate the General Information section.
3. Enter the amount of the overpayment as a dollar amount in the field, Apply overpayment to 2023 (Ctrl+T or dollar amount) (code 13).
4. Enter '1' in the field, One voucher only: 1=1st, 2=2nd, 3=3rd, 4=4th (code 17).
5. Select Overrides in the Section box on the left side of the screen.
6. Enter the desired amount in the field, 1st quarter [O] (code 33).
7. Enter '-1' in the 2nd quarter [O], 3rd quarter [O] and 4th quarter [O] fields.
8. Check the box next to Do not reduce override by overpayment applied.
9. Enter the same amount entered in the field, 1st quarter [O] in the field, 2023 estimated tax [O] (code 37).

Note: Prior year input will be the same, tax year identifiers will differ within each program.

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Why is Lacerte pulling the incorrect As Originally Reported amounts?

This issue can occur for several reasons: 

1. If the corrections were made before marking the return as amended,
2. If you are attempting to amend an amended return, or
3. The return is marked as "Return Complete".

If the corrections were made before marking the return as amended

1. Go to Screen 59, Amended Return (1040X).
2. Press Ctrl+W (this will take you to batch mode).
3. Verify that Screen 59 1040X is highlighted under the input sheet column.
4. Highlight Code 1.
5. Press and Hold Ctrl+D to delete all codes.
6. Go to Forms and verify that Form 1040X is no longer generating (in bold).
7. Go through the various input screen and remove any corrected amounts.
   
   For example, if the return is being amended because of a corrected W-2 and the corrections were made on Screen 10, Wages, Salaries, Tips, remove any corrected amounts from Screen 10 and re-enter the original amounts reported.

After deleting any corrections and re-entering the original amounts reported:

1. Make a note of the Client number.
2. Close Lacerte.
3. Browse to the Individual Data Path (i.e.: C:\LACERTE\24TAX\IDATA).
4. Double Click on the Notes folder.
5. Scroll through the folder to find your Client number.IOX (i.e.: X= Tax Year, i.e.: Client number.IO1= Tax Year 2023).
6. Right Click and Delete the .IOX file.

After deleting the .IOX file:

1. Open Lacerte.
2. Open the Client File.
3. Go to Screen 59, Amended Return.
4. Select the returns to amend from the Federal/state return(s) to amend (Ctrl+T) (MANDATORY) drop down menu.

Lacerte should now be pulling the As Originally Reported amounts.

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If you are attempting to amend an amended return

1. Go to Screen 59, Amended Return (1040X).
2. Press Ctrl+W (this will take you to batch mode).
3. Verify that Screen 59 1040X is highlighted under the input sheet column.
4. Highlight Code 1.
5. Press and Hold Ctrl+D to delete all codes.
6. Go to Forms and verify that Form 1040X is no longer generating (in bold).

After verifying that Form 1040X is not generating:

1. Make a note of the Client number.
2. Close Lacerte.
3. Browse to the Individual Data Path (i.e.: C:\LACERTE\24TAX\IDATA).
4. Double Click on the Notes folder.
5. Scroll through the folder to find your Client number.IOX (i.e.: X= Tax Year, i.e.: Client number.IO1= Tax Year 2023).
6. Right Click and Delete the .IOX file.

After deleting the .IOX file:

1. Open Lacerte.
2. Open the Client File.
3. Go to Screen 59, Amended Return.
4. Select the returns to amend from the Federal/state return(s) to amend (Ctrl+T) (MANDATORY) drop down menu.

Lacerte should now be pulling the correct As Originally Reported amounts.

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If the return is marked as "Return Complete"

1. Go to Screen 59, Amended Return (1040X).
2. Press Ctrl+W (this will take you to batch mode).
3. Verify that Screen 59 1040X is highlighted under the input sheet column.
4. Highlight Code 1.
5. Press and Hold Ctrl+D to delete all codes.
6. Go to Forms and verify that Form 1040X is no longer generating (in bold).
7. Press F4 on your keyboard.
8. Uncheck the box, Return Complete.
9. Go to Screen 59, Amended Return.
10. Select the returns to amend from the Federal/state return(s) to amend (Ctrl+T) (MANDATORY) drop down menu.

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