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Level 3
posted Mar 29, 2021 11:33:32 PM

E-File was rejected because of "duplicate" 1099-R forms.

My software (loaded from CD) is current with regards to updates. The "duplicate" 1009-R forms are NOT duplicates, but two of the six used (all from the same payer FEIN) do have the same distribution amount and tax withheld. However, each of the six has a unique Line 2 of the Payer's Name, and the Account number in Box 12 for each is unique. Prior years' e-filings have had this same situation and e-file has never failed before. Is this an issue on the IRS end of things, or a bug in the TurboTax file submitted to  them?  Obviously the internal identifier for each doesn't include all the unique identifiers for each of the six forms, but I can't tell from here if it's on the submitting end, or the receiving end of the e-file process.

 

I did attempt re-e-filing without making any changes, but it's too soon to tell if it will reject again. If it does, can I simply update the distribution amount for one of them to add a penny (currently shows zero cents) to force uniqueness without affecting the actual distribution amount after rounding?

6 284 15376
24 Replies
Level 15
Mar 30, 2021 8:27:11 AM

What is the reject code?

 

 

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 9:41:36 AM

There was no reason code provided. 

Level 15
Mar 30, 2021 9:58:15 AM

Then what makes you think it was rejected?

Returning Member
Mar 30, 2021 10:01:11 AM

Following...

Having the same problem this year - rejected for 'duplicate' 1099-R, though it is 2 unique forms with the same amount (and with different SSN for each form)!

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 10:04:25 AM

Because the email I got from TurboTax said it was rejected. When I re-launched the TurboTax software, it guided me through what happened - that is where it said there was a duplicate 1099-R but gave no reason code. I know what the issue is (failure of either TurboTax to uniquely identify the forms during submission, or failure of the IRS to properly define their file layout to be able to distinguish uniqueness upon receipt).

Level 2
Mar 30, 2021 10:09:17 AM

I'm having the same issue.  There's no rejection code in either the email or the instructions to come up upon relaunching TurboTax. 

Looking at the forms view 1099-R's and they are all different.  There are no true duplicates.

 

Is this a failure of TurboTax to transmit the forms correctly or of the IRS to process them correctly?  How do we see our return exactly as transmitted to the IRS to verify that TurboTax is transmitting the information as entered?

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 10:14:35 AM

Bingo!!  I have reached out to their customer service via Twitter, and have started a conversation with someone to try and figure this out.  (I'm a former programmer who used to develop & troubleshoot interface files for a commercial payroll system and various 3rd party vendors...based on what I know it does look like a failure to properly uniquely identify multiple 1099-R forms in the transmitted file, OR failure on the receiving end to recognize that the forms are indeed different).

Returning Member
Mar 30, 2021 10:17:40 AM

Glad that someone with your background is having the problem!

 

Curious to know if the one penny approach outlined in your original post is a recommended fix (or if someone - TurboTax or IRS - will dig in to resolve)...

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 10:58:04 AM

I don't know if the one penny idea will work - I suspect it will (unless when they transmit the file, they round up/down and force whole dollar amounts).  I experimented with editing my form in the income section, and it does allow for the one penny (example shows 999.01 instead of 999.00).  HOWEVER it may raise a flag with the IRS and result in an audit later - they do match up the 1099-R forms we enter against the same data reported to them by the payer.  That one penny COULD cause a mismatch - but is it enough for them to trigger an audit??  Hard to say.  For the most part, the IRS deals with whole dollar amounts. (I called  the IRS help line but all they have is an automated menu to choose from, and speaking to a human is not an option)

Level 1
Mar 30, 2021 11:24:32 AM

I'm also having the same issue - rejected due to a 'duplicate 1099-R'.  I tried to resubmit with adding account numbers to the 3 1099-Rs that were from same Payer but different amounts, but I got another rejection today.  The other 2 1099-Rs are same payer, same amount, but 1 for me and 1 for my spouse.  

I was also thinking of adding a penny.

Please let us know what you find out / decide.  Thanks!

Returning Member
Mar 30, 2021 11:48:24 AM

Just got off the phone with TurboTax rep - they claimed the issue is on the receiving side for the IRS.

Recommended solution was to print out forms and mail, instead of e-filing....

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 11:55:37 AM

Not surprising that it’s on the receiving side...Turbo Tax could consider updating its Federal Review process to catch this situation and give a warning.

 

i know print & mail is an option, but I prefer e-file since I get my refund faster. And, I don’t trust the USPS even with tracking !!! 

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 12:01:35 PM

I would more trust IRS software. Turbotax too many bud this year. 

I bet there is something wrong with the file they build for IRS. I have two 1099-R, for myself and my wife from the same broker. And they have different amounts and and different social security. 

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 12:11:19 PM

I added a penny to one of the two “duplicates” and resubmitted. Just now got the auto-response that it was ACCEPTED! 

so now my fingers are crossed it doesn’t result in an audit later on. But, I bought “audit defense” just in case, haha!

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 12:40:47 PM

Were these forms from the same broker or different? 

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 1:14:22 PM

Same broker/payer/amounts, different fund source for the same payer. 

same scenario happened last year, only it wasn’t a problem because I filed by mail instead of e-file. 

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 1:23:41 PM

I have the same amount from different brokers. 

Different amounts from the same broker and different payees. Still rejected.

Last year I had the same amounts from different brokers and different amounts from the same broker and there was no problem. Return was accepted.

This is why I think it is TurboTax problem. 

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 1:35:08 PM

Regardless of which side the problem it’s on, the cause is the same - duplicate entries based on what they deemed necessary to call it “unique”.  

 

My guess is that what they consider “unique” is FEIN (payer ID number) plus distribution amount, and possibly tax withheld. That isn’t enough pieces of information to make it unique.

I don’t think the taxable amount matters here - at least in my case I only added the penny to the distribution amount and it worked.

 

 

Level 3
Mar 30, 2021 2:44:41 PM

I have three 1099-R. Two have the same FEIN (same broker but different amounts and different social security (different payees). 

The third 1099-R from another broker has the same amount as one of the other two but also different payee.

So, in my case all three are different in every conceivable way.  All those ket elements are unique.

Still I got duplicates reject. 

Level 1
Mar 30, 2021 8:57:23 PM

Mine too was accepted by making the 1 penny change.

 

I had 5 total 1099R's, but only 2 had same payer and same amount (different payees).  I changed 1 of them by a penny and the system took it.

 

The other 3 were all from the same payer to the same payee, so I originally thought that was the issue, but they had different amounts already. 

 

More description of what is considered 'duplicate' would be really helpful, if anybody from TurboTax is reading these posts.

Level 3
Mar 31, 2021 9:02:03 AM

I also added penny to one of 1099-R and return was accepted.

This is amazing because these two returns with the same amounts have different payers and different payees!

 

Level 1
Mar 31, 2021 9:22:07 AM

Well hallelujah that others are having the same problem, I was going crazy the last 24 hours after I filed yesterday and got rejected, trying to figure this out!   Thanks to all the posters !   

Will monitor this thread to see if turbotax or IRS offer a real resolution (filing by paper is ridiculous!), but I'll see if  the "add a penny solution" keeps working for people.  

Level 3
Mar 31, 2021 10:20:39 AM

Hi everybody - to those of you who used the “add a penny” method to get your e-file to transmit successfully:

 

Remember this isn’t a “fix” but rather a temporary workaround. Only time will tell if the IRS decides that your return doesn’t match the info provided by your payer (yes, they do match the two to make sure we didn’t forget to report anything). Please hang onto your documentation along with your filing copy for your records in case questions come up later.

 

One penny added to zero cents will not affect the dollar amount when it’s rounded, nor will it affect the tax amount due. So, all should be OK - but just in case!

 

Level 3
Mar 31, 2021 10:32:28 AM

This is absolutely correct. The IRS will match info it received from brokers with our returns. I don’t think that this kind of mismatch will cause an audit. Now I am thinking that it is not TT problem because some other e-filers have it too. So, if is IRS problem we should be fine.