Return Rejected Due to No PIN. Wasn’t Prompted!

[Tennesseewalkers]

I filed my taxes last night, April 18 Tax Day, and I got a notice today that my return was rejected for not providing a PIN. I was not prompted to enter a PIN. I have been prompted to enter one in prior years but I didn’t even think about it last night. This is TurboTax’s responsibility! A return with no required PIN is an automatic refusal. This is ABSOLUTELY TurboTax’s responsibility! We pay them, and trust them, with a VERY important tax responsibility, and they have definitely let me down. So now am I going to have to pay a penalty due to their mistake??? I’m sure I’m not the only one that experienced this. How much can we trust TurboTax now??

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

First, you have a grace period to re-file a rejected return without being penalized.

Second, a penalty is only assessed if you owe more than $1000, if you are expecting a refund, no penalty is assessed even if you are late.

Third, there are two types of PIN codes.

There is a 5-digit e-filing PIN that you selected the first year you e-filed a tax return.  You can use this 5 digit pin to verify your identity every year, or you can use your AGI from last year's tax return.  It is impossible to transmit a tax return without this code, so you must have entered it.

Then, there is a 6 digit identity protection pin, which is issued by the IRS to people who have been victims of identity theft or who have voluntarily enrolled in the program.  This pin code changes every year, and the IRS mails your new code in December, and is more secure than the 5 digit pin.  Turbotax does not automatically ask everyone for a 6 digit IP pin because most taxpayers don't have one.  There is a box you can check when e-filing that you have an IP pin, that takes you to the screen to enter it.  Or, you can enter it by going to the tab for "other tax situations" and choosing IP pin from the menu.  Enter your IP pin and you can re-transmit your return. 

[Tennesseewalkers]

I fall into the last group of people, those having a six digit PIN assigned by the IRS due to being a victim of previous identity theft. I will keep your response in mind for future returns. Thanks so much for your reply and detailed explanation. 

[Jeanbarnum]

I just read the person before me and I have the same issue, except i called and spoke to a turbo tax rep and she told me that if the form does not come up once i submit my return then I don't have to put a number in. I thought that was not accurate. and after reading the post before this one, I was correct. Now I have to wait for my rejected return to put the identity pin that I already had available in the system.  This is on purpose I believe with turbo and I will not be filing with this company again. There is no excuse. 

JB

[Critter-3]

You know ... I find it interesting that in each and every  test return I do that the question if I have an IP PIN to enter comes up each and every time  so those that do not see that question are just not paying attention.  AND if you know you need to enter it to efile successfully then you should make sure you enter it each and every year  ... so save the instructions in the other post for every tax year in the future so you know where to put it later in case you miss it in the interview stream.  

[stykerforce]

I believe what the OP is saying is the same issue I just had. TurboTax asks if you have an IP PIN, you select yes, but then it doesn't ask you to enter it. It literally just happened to me five minutes ago, sadly. 

[Critter-3]

I am not able to duplicate this ... but if you have an IP PIN it is up to you to make sure you enter it ... you will have a new number sent to you every January forever so just remember to enter it.  Use the search bar if needed but you can just click on OTHER SITUATIONS tab as well.   Failure to do so will get the return rejected and then you will have to enter it to resend the return.  

[Jeanbarnum]

Yes it was resolved. Csr helped me figure the pin input section out

thanks critter 3 for responding 

[stykerforce]

You clearly don’t have an IP PIN, Critter-3, but thank you for your “hospitality”. 

[Critter-3]

Actually I do ... however I use a professional tax program.   But that doesn't negate the fact that when you use a DIY program you are responsible for everything on the return.  You need to take the responsibility for everything you need to enter.   If you cannot find a place to enter something then ask here first... we will be happy to tell you where it is entered.   Worse thing is the return is rejected and you get a second chance to enter the IP PIN ... an annoyance but doable. 

[stykerforce]

Now it makes sense why you are unable to duplicate this, you are using a "professional tax program". For those reading this in the future, I was able to duplicate this programming error and reached out to TurboTax. The employee stated it is a well-known issue they are having and will walk you through editing your return on the final screen. They also agreed that in previous years it would immediately ask you for the IP PIN right after it asked you if you had one. 

[Critter-3]

I cannot duplicate it in the TT program where I have more than  a dozen test returns.  I even opened a new one just for your situation and was prompted to enter the IP PIN correctly. 

[stykerforce]

I’m sorry to hear you are unable to duplicate this common issue. 

[Avidxander]

I paid attention and specifically made sure I said YES I DO HAVE A PIN
THEN after getting so far, knowing how important it was to put in the pin, I chatted up their live service that I spend $60 extra for, and I was told that it would ask for the pin at the final stage. It was verified that I requested the pin.

I TRUSTED THE REPRESENTATIVE and ended up filing my taxes because I was assured that it would ask for a pin, and it didn't.

For no reason whatsoever you're being arrogantly, mockingly dismissive of the idea that we can possibly have an issue. Your faith in the perfection of TurboTax is noted. What is the point here? Why are you even commenting if only to be less than helpful. 

[markmartin4575]

Same thing here and we called and it's said we never was required to have a ip pin number so turbo tax needs to fix this issue it is not our fault. Lot of wasted time. I was rejected like 16 times