Amending a 2009 and 2010 State Return to Claim Georgia Homebuyer Credit

Georgia taxpayers who purchased a qualifying single-family residence between June 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009 are entitled to claim a credit worth up to $1,800.

The credit is paid out in three equal payments to taxpayers when they file their 2009, 2010 and 2011 state tax returns.

If you qualified for the 2009 Georgia homebuyer credit (officially called the Single-Family Residence Tax Credit), but did not claim it on your 2009 tax return, you will need to amend your 2009 Georgia tax return before you can claim and receive it for 2010.

Please print and save these instructions.

We recommend that you:

• File your 2010 return now
• Amend your 2009 return 
• Amend your 2010 return, AFTER your 2010 return has been accepted AND your 2009 amended return has been processed.
   

Why claim the credit in this order?

Amended returns must be mailed and processed manually.

It can take 8 to 12 weeks for the state to process your amended return.

And that could delay filing your 2010 return (and possibly subject you to late penalties if you owe taxes).

We'll walk you through the steps, below.
 

Start by following the instructions to amend your 2009 Federal return.

Once you've done that, you're ready to start amending your 2009 Georgia return.

1. Select the State Taxes tab.
2. Continue until you get to the “Revisit Your Georgia Info” screen.
3. Under the Taxes and Credits section, select Revisit.
4. On the “Any of These Situations?” screen, check the box for “Purchased a single-family residence.” Select Continue.
5. On the next screen, answer the qualification questions and we’ll tell you if you qualify for the homebuyer credit. 
6. If you qualify, we’ll ask for the home purchase price amount and then tell you the amount of your credit.
7. Continue until you get back to the “Revisit Your Georgia Info” screen. Select Done with Georgia at the bottom of the screen.
8. Next, we’ll take you through Error Check to catch any errors.
9. When you’re finished with Error Check, continue to the Wrap-Up section. 
10. Then continue to the File section.
11. Under the main tabs (Personal Info, Federal Taxes, etc.), click on Print/Save for Your Records.
12. Save your return one last time.
13. Print your return. Amended returns CANNOT be e-filed. They must be mailed.
14. Be sure to print out the following: filing instructions, Form 500-X, and pages 1-3 of Form IND-CR (Individual Credit Form).
15. Include the purchase documentation. See instructions below.
16. Mail your return. The filing instructions will include the mailing address.  

Taxpayers who amend to claim the credit MUST include the following documentation of eligibility of the single-family residence:

• A bona fide listing agreement with a real estate agent or broker licensed in Georgia, or documentation that the eligible single-family residence was for sale directly by the owner without a real estate agent or broker.
• A copy of the closing statement. 
• If the residence qualifies because the owner’s acquisition indebtedness was in default on or before March 1, 2009, or because it was a residence with respect to which a foreclosure event has taken place, the taxpayer must supply documentation to show that this was the case.
   

Before you can amend your 2010 return to claim the homebuyer credit, you must have:

• Claimed the credit on your original 2009 return, or amended 2009 return.
• Received confirmation that your 2010 original return was accepted, AND,
• Paid any taxes owed or received a refund.

We’ll start by working on some federal information first. That way, we’ll be able to make sure we have everything we need to start amending your state return.

1. Open your 2010 TurboTax return.
2. Under the File menu, select Save As and name your original return. It could be something like JSmithReturn.tax2010.
3. Then create another version that will be your amended return. Again select the File menu and Save As. 
4. In the Save Tax Return window, enter a different name, such as JSmithReturnAmend.tax.2010, then click Save. You'll use this version to amend your return.
5. Go to the top of your screen and under Online, select Check for Updates.
6. Select the Federal Taxes tab (Personal tab in Home & Business), and then select Other Tax Situations directly below the tabs.
7. On the Other Tax Situations screen, under Other Tax Forms, next to Amend a Return, click Start.
8. On the “Let’s Make Sure You’re Ready to Amend Your Return” screen, choose “I already filed the tax return I want to amend, and it was accepted by the government.”
9. When asked “Are you here to amend your 2010 return?” choose “Yes, I need to amend the 2010 return I already filed.”
10. You'll be asked, "Have you made changes to the returns you filed?” Choose “No, I haven’t touched my 2010 return."
11. Next, on the “Tell Us About Your 2010 Tax Returns” screen, select the appropriate option – either e-filed or mailed. Some follow-up questions will display below that. Don't forget to answer those.
12. On the “Tell Us Why You Need to Amend Your Return” screen, choose “I need to change or add something to the return I already filed.”
13. On the “Last Chance to Save Your Original Returns” screen, choose Save Returns if you haven't done so already. It's important that you do this because you might need to refer to it later. Once you've made a copy, then select Continue.
14. On the “Tell Us Which Returns You Want to Amend” screen, choose which return or returns you want to amend.
15. Next, if prompted, on the “Tell Us About Your Original Federal Refund” screen, select the appropriate option.
16. On the “Tell Us Which Returns You Want to Amend” screen, choose “I want to amend only my federal or only my state return.”
17. Then check the box for “Amend my Georgia return.” Select Continue.
18. Answer any additional questions about your Georgia return.
     

At this point you’re ready to start amending your 2010 Georgia return.

1. Select the State Taxes tab.
2. Continue until you’re asked if you’re ready to amend your Georgia. Answer yes.
3. On the next few screens, we’ll ask you to confirm the tax year (2010) and then to tell us the reason you’re amending. Select the choice for amending because of the homebuyer credit.
4. Next, we’ll ask you to enter your homebuyer credit amount. This amount will be the same amount as your 2009 credit.
5. Next, you’ll come to the “Revisit Your Georgia Info” screen. Select Done with Georgia at the bottom of the screen. 
6. We’ll then take you through Error Check to catch any errors.
7. When you’re finished with Error Check, continue to the Wrap-Up section. 
8. Continue to the File section.
9. Under the main tabs (Personal Info, Federal Taxes, etc.), click on Print/Save for Your Records.
10. Save your return one last time.
11. Print your return. Amended returns CANNOT be e-filed. They must be mailed.
12. Be sure to print out the following: filing instructions, Form 500-X, and pages 1-3 of Form IND-CR (Individual Credit Form).
13. Mail your return. The filing instructions will include the mailing address.