COVID-19 Stimulis - 2018 Return Rejected - Please Help!

[Ovidis]

Hello,

So I have an odd-ish situation I could use a hand with. I'm trying to get my self positioned so that I can receive the COVID-19 stimulus payout, which i desperately need. I know the details are still up in the air, but seem like they will be based on 2018/19 returns, which present an odd situation.

All of my past tax returns have been done online using TurboTax and filed with E-File through TurboTax.

My 2018 return (I'm owed a refund, not due to pay) was rejected by the IRS and Maryland state, because I was incorrectly claimed as a dependent by my father. I spoke with him back when it was initially rejected, and he acknowledged his error and promised to amend his return. He failed to do so in time for me to get it in, and life being life, I let it go because I had time to deal with it. Fast forward to today, I'm worried that I'm not going to be getting the COVID-19 stimulus check because while I did file taxes for 2018, the return was rejected and not resubmitted in time for e-file.

He amended his return earlier this week, after explaining to him how badly this was screwing me over, and mailed it to the IRS.

What are my next steps? I've never had to do anything other than file online, so I am unsure how to resubmit my 2018 return to the IRS and MD state. I don't know if I need to "amend" my return, because my return doesn't need to be changed, it was correct as originally submitted.

I'm pretty sure the easier and faster option would be to file a 2019 return. Unfortunately that is not a very attractive option, as I spent 2019 as a freelancer/self-employed. I didn't make more than the standard deduction, so my tax burden is minimal - but I'm unable to afford TurboTax Self-Employed + what I have to pay the IRS being self-employed.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

First---your 2018 return.   The ONLY way a 2018 return can now be filed is to print it, sign it and mail it.  E-filing for 2018 returns has been closed permanently since October 15, 2019.  Your father's pending amended return notwithstanding--you need to mail 2018.  You cannot e-file it.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2559403-how-do-i-finish-a-prior-year-return-that-i-started-in-turb...

If you already paid for your online software you can ask customer support for a download of the desktop software.

They are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time Monday-Friday.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

As for a 2019 return---there are ways to file for free:

WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY?  I WANT THE FREE EDITION

The information that you can enter in Free Edition is pretty limited now.  Thanks to the new tax laws that began for 2018 returns, there are no more simple Form 1040EZ or 1040A's.  Everything goes on a Form 1040 that has three extra "schedules" with it, and if you need any of those schedules, you are not able to use the Free Edition.  Using the standard deduction instead of itemizing does NOT mean you will not need any of those schedules.

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040 

If you qualify to use it, there is another full-featured free version of the software:

Try Free File: 

You qualify if your income was $36,000 or less, or $69,000 or less if active duty military, or if you qualify for Earned Income Credit

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900583-what-is-turbotax-free-file-program

• https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2026912-how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program

If you switch to Free File you must create a new account and new user ID.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4511011-what-happened-to-the-1040a-and-1040ez

Note:  If you do not qualify to use Free File then you will have to upgrade to Deluxe or higher in the paid versions of the software.   

Online Deluxe $60  State software $50

Or—-Use this IRS site for other ways to file for free

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/

[Ovidis]

I really appreciate the help! A few follow up questions if you don't mind.

Do I need to wait until the IRS/State receive and process his amended return, or can I send mine in now, knowing his should arrive and be processed first?

I have turbo tax 2018 installed, and my .tax file for 2018. I can open my 2018 return and amend it in the software. But my question is, do I need to do that? Or can I simply download my rejected return, sign and mail it? My return was correct and I don't need to change anything on it. These seem like stupid questions, but I'm asking anyway >.>

My last question is more of a theoretical, opinion question, assuming there is no clear cut answer regarding this anyway. Do you think I need to refile my rejected return to get the COVID-19 relief package? Or will the fact that I paid taxes in 2018, and filed a return with direct deposit information be adequate?

Thank you very much, I do qualify for Free File, so that's a huge relief. Worse case scenario, I can file a 2019 return to get the COVID-19 relief.

[xmasbaby0]

Do not amend.  Amending is a process only used for returns that have been filed and fully processed.  All you need to do is print, sign and mail your return.  

You do not have to wait for your father's amended return to be processed, since it takes the IRS about 4 months to process a return.  Just go ahead and mail your return.

They are using 2018 or 2019 returns---so get a tax return filed ASAP.

[Ovidis]

Thanks. I've printed out 2018 and will get it signed and mailed off immediately.

Unfortunately, my 2019 return I tried to get filed has been rejected already. Apparently because my AGI doesn't match what the IRS has on record for 2018. It's the exact number that's on my 2018 return, but I guess since it was rejected I'm unable to e-file 2019 either.

Guess I'll eat sometime in the next 4-6 months after they process my dad's amended return, my 2018 return, and my 2019 return...

[xmasbaby0]

Your 2018 AGI is not in the system because you did not file it---you are just now mailing it.  Try using "zero" as your 2018 AGI to e-file the 2019 return.  If zero does not help, then you have to mail 2019 too.  But do NOT put them in the same envelope!

[Ovidis]

Thank you very much, I'll give that a try. I really appreciate the help, especially so in these hard times!

[Stanfield214]

You can still e-file you just have to do it with a PAID tax preparer. The IRS’s own phone # when you call will tell you that they are not processing ANY mailed returns for the immediate future due to Coronavirus.

if you submitted a 2019 tax return and you do nothing about your 2018 return you will recieve a paper check, hopefully within the next month

[shammibsharma]

Stimulus: How to file your return after getting reject R0000-902-01

SOLVED•by TurboTax•TurboTax Online•20•Updated 41 minutes ago

When you registered your information for a stimulus payment before filing your taxes for 2019, you essentially filed a federal tax return that was designed for individuals with no filing requirement. Now that you tried filing your actual return, the IRS sees this second one as a duplicate and rejects it. Since they already received a tax return (your stimulus submission) with your SSN, you got e-file reject R0000-902-01 when attempting to file this time.

The IRS is working on a solution to help. To fix this error, you can print and mail your return:

1. Sign in to TurboTax and select Fix my return.
2. On the next screen, select File from the left menu.
   • Don’t select the Continue to refile button on the bottom right, as you need to print and mail instead of attempting to e-file again.
3. From the Welcome back screen, select Continue on the bottom right.
   • Don’t select the Fix my return button on the upper left.
4. Select Start/Revisit next to Step 3: Get ready to save and file your returns.
5. On the Let’s get ready to e-file screen, select File by mail.
6. On the next screen, select Change next to 2019 Federal tax return, then select File by mail and Save. Do the same for your 2019 state tax return.
7. Then select Continue and Download on the next screen.
8. Your tax returns will open in a new window. You can download, save, and print them from here. The summaries at the beginning of both your federal and state returns include instructions and mailing information for you so you know exactly where to send them.
   • Before you mail, write Amended EIP Return at the top of your 1040 form (your federal return), without writing over any other information or fields.