If you discover a missed Section 180 deduction after filing your tax return, you may have more than one potential path to claim it.

One option may be to amend a previously filed tax return. Another may involve IRS Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method.

Although both approaches can potentially allow taxpayers to recover missed deductions, they serve different purposes and apply in different situations.

Understanding the difference can save time, reduce frustration, and help you have a more informed conversation with your CPA.

Option 1: Amending a Tax Return

An amended return is exactly what it sounds like.

You are asking the IRS to revise a tax return that has already been filed.

For Section 180, this typically occurs when:

• A farmland purchase qualified for a Section 180 deduction.
• A soil test was taken near the time of purchase, but no section 180 deduction taken.
• A soil fertility valuation is completed later.
• The taxpayer wants to claim the deduction for the year the property was originally acquired.

Generally, taxpayers have three years from the date the original return was filed (or two years from the date the tax was paid, if later) to file a claim for refund by amending a return. The applicable deadline depends on the specific facts and should be confirmed with a tax advisor.

Example

You purchased farmland in 2024.

You later learn about Section 180 and obtain a professional soil fertility valuation in 2026.

If you’re still within the applicable statute of limitations, your CPA may determine that filing an amended 2024 return is appropriate.

Option 2: Form 3115

Sometimes the window for amending a return has already closed.

That doesn’t always mean the opportunity is gone.

In some situations, taxpayers may instead use Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method, to request a change in how an item is treated for tax purposes. Depending on the circumstances and applicable IRS guidance, this process can allow certain missed deductions to be recognized through an accounting method adjustment.

This form essentially says “hey IRS, we didn’t realize we had these deductions available to us, we are now going to take them.”

Unlike an amended return, Form 3115 is not simply correcting an arithmetic mistake or adding a missed deduction. It is a formal procedure for changing the tax treatment of an item.

Because the rules governing accounting method changes are technical, Form 3115 should be prepared by a CPA or other qualified tax professional familiar with the applicable IRS procedures.

The Biggest Difference

Think of it this way:

Amended Return

• Corrects a previously filed return.
• Generally available only while the statute of limitations remains open.
• Often results in a refund if additional deductions are allowed.

Form 3115

• Requests an accounting method change under IRS procedures.
• May provide a path to recover certain missed deductions even after the amendment period has expired, if the taxpayer qualifies.
• Requires compliance with detailed IRS rules.

Which Option Is Better?

There is no universal answer.

If the tax year is still open, many taxpayers may find that amending the return is the simpler approach.

If the amendment period has expired, Form 3115 may become an option worth evaluating.

The correct path depends on:

• When the property was purchased.
• When the Section 180 analysis was completed.
• The taxpayer’s filing history.
• The applicable IRS guidance.
• The advice of the taxpayer’s CPA.

Soil Tax Guys’ Role

One of the most common questions we receive is:

“Is it too late to claim Section 180?”

Our answer is usually:

Not necessarily.

Our role is to provide a professional agronomic analysis and supportable valuation of the residual soil fertility that existed when the property was acquired.

Once that work is complete, your CPA can determine whether the deduction is best pursued through:

• An original tax return,
• An amended return, or
• Another available tax procedure, such as Form 3115, if appropriate.