Adjusted Gross Income

[tennisreich_421]

My wife and I file jointly and I entered the AGI from our tax return in 2018 when completing our 2019 tax return. TurboTax requested the AGI for both me and my wife, so I entered the same amount. I received a rejection from the IRS stating that our AGI is not correct. Am I supposed to enter our individual AGI?

[CatinaT1]

The IRS uses your prior year AGI to combat fraud. 

You can find your 2018 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) by:

• Looking at line 7 on page 2 of your 2018 Form 1040; or
• You can request a transcript of your 2018 tax return from the IRS to ensure you have the right number. You can request your transcript online at the following link: Get Transcript 

Check these items as well to ensure you have the correct number.  If you:

• Filed late last year after mid-November or your return was processed after that time—try entering 0.
• Amended your return last year—make sure you’re using the AGI from your original return, not the amended one. (If you only have a 1040X form, it’s on line 1, column A).
• Rounded your AGI to the nearest dollar—be sure to round up when it’s 50 cents or more and down when it’s 49 cents or less.
• Filed with your spouse last year—you and your spouse have the same 2018 AGI. (Don’t split the AGI amount or enter 0 for one of you).

Time-saving Tip: If what you entered is correct and you continue to get a reject, you won't be able to e-file. There's probably a data mismatch at the government, or some other situation beyond your control that prevents your return from being e-filed. In this case, your only option would be to print and mail in your return.

This article will give you instruction on how to print and mail your return.

[tennisreich_421]

I followed your first two suggestions, in which they matched what I entered for both me and my wife. TurboTax actually auto filled the same amount for both of us from our last return. The amount is rounded to the nearest dollar.

[BrandiLO]

If you have already submitted the return using the same AGI for both you and your spouse and have confirmed the number is correct but it was rejected, then I would suggest trying to enter $0 for your spouse. If it comes back rejected again, you will need to print and mail the return instead. Please click here for more information. 

[tennisreich_421]

Thank you for your responses. It looks like I need to mail in my returns once again. What are the chances that the IRS has a different amount from their website two years in a row?

[CassLO]

@tennisreich_421 Please see the TurboTax FAQ below, in case there is a piece of information that my help you e-file:

What if I entered the correct AGI and I’m still getting an e-file reject?