topic 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSubmissionTs - Data in the return is missing or invalid in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSubmissionTs - Data in the return is missing or invalid

ruibing — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:35:03 GMT

I am trying to efile my 2020 amended federal tax return and it was rejected with the following error:

/Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSubmissionTs - Data in the return is missing or invalid. Please double check your entries.

It looks similar to this other post but that was a amended state return.

I also cannot seem to amend my 2020 return online anymore. It directs me to the desktop version now.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

MichelleLO — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 15:54:05 GMT

You are no longer able to e-file an amended 2020 tax return, you will need to mail it in. The below TurboTax Help Article provides the steps to follow to amend a prior year's tax return.

How do I amend my federal tax return for a prior year?

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

ruibing — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 16:02:18 GMT

Ok good to know. I also need to efile my amended 2021 federal tax return. Can that still be efiled?

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

HeatherPLO — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 16:58:58 GMT

Yes, you can e-file your prior year Amended return. For more details, please see our Help Article.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

ruibing — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:07:47 GMT

A follow-up question. I mailed my '20 return but I'm still getting "CRITICAL REMINDER: Your tax return needs to be corrected and re-filed" e-mails regarding the rejected efile. When I click through the link it doesn't seem to have an option for me to tell it that I've mailed it in. How should I handle these reminders?

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

MichelleLO — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 19:48:05 GMT

It might be a type of marketing email. You can visit the Intuit Marketing Preferences website (linked below) and choose which type of marketing information you would like to receive.

Marketing Preferences

if that doesn't work, please reach out to TurboTax Customer Support to have them take a look and see if they can update that you filed by mail.

What is the TurboTax phone number?

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSubmissionTs - Data in the return is missing or invalid

SKJDC — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 05:10:37 GMT

I had the same issue happen yesterday with my 2020 amended returns. After many chat/call sessions, still remains unresolved. Any resolution on the online version being accessible again and ability to e file? Thanks.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

CarissaM — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 20:28:55 GMT

It may be possible in the future the e-file ability will go for the amended return you would need, however, we would not be able to say for certain. You would need to check at the time of filing. @SKJDC

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSubmissionTs - Data in the return is missing or invalid

jula — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 21:28:48 GMT

I received the same message for my 2021 federal amended return. The 2021 amended state return was accepted. Please let me know how to fix this. I've already been on a chat about it with someone from Turbo Tax and she finally said to contact the IRS. IRS says they won't process the forms for 16 weeks. I feel like I'm in a black hole. No usable "unformation" is allowed to escape.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

CatinaT1 — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:29:49 GMT

You are posting on an old thread. Can you please explain what you are trying to determine?

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

jula — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 18:45:13 GMT

Hello-

I received this message after e-filing my amended 2021 return. The state portion was accepted, but federal was rejected. The email described the problem as

/Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSubmissionTs - Data

I'm not sure how to proceed. I would send in the forms through the mail, but I was advised not to, and I have my payment information included on the e-file and I don't want to pay twice.

How should I proceed? Contacting the IRS has been less than helpful.

Thank you-

Julie

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

jula — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 18:49:19 GMT

Also, when I go into Turbo Tax to "Let's Fix My Return" it does not appear that filing electronically is even an option now. The only option seems to be to download the .tax file and file a paper return.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSubmissionTs - Data in the return is missing or invalid

jimsampson329 — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 23:30:42 GMT

I'm having the same exact issue as @jula, also trying to amend my 2021 return.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

CatinaT1 — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:46:48 GMT

You can only e-file current year amended returns. You have to paper file prior year amendments.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

tdimeo21 — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 17:14:29 GMT

I am also having this same issue, trying to amend 2021 federal return and getting this error with no explanation and no ability to "fix my return". Both the IRS & turbotax claim you CAN e-file amendments up to two years back. @CatinaT1 , where does it say only current year amendments can be e-filed?

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

CatinaT1 — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 17:19:36 GMT

Not all tax software providers support electronically filing amended returns for other than the current year. If not then you will need to file your amended on paper and mail it to the IRS.

Amending Your Income Tax Return

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

jula — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:48:49 GMT

Thank you for your response.

It allowed me to amend it and file electronically a couple of weeks ago. I wish I'd known from the beginning that it had to be mailed. I don't mind filing a paper return, but why would the state portion go through and be accepted? Do I need to send that in the mail as well? I also want to make sure the amount I owe won't be taken out twice.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

dontknow1 — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 14:44:30 GMT

Hello,

Thank you for the responses.

Let me try to get this straight

- TurboTax online allowed me file my 2021 amendment and transmit it to IRS

- It got rejected with the "/Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSubmissionTs - Data in the return is missing or invalid. Please double check your entries."

- I received emails from TurboTax mentioning I head over to TurboTax online and should re-file my amendment

- However, online TurboTax does not let me amend 2021 returns now

This appears to be more of technical glitch than blaming that online amendment is not allowed.
This post should not have been marked as "Solved"

Thanks!!

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

jula — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 20:21:18 GMT

Yes, @dontknow1! You summed it up nicely. At this point, I think I'm going to send in the return through the mail with a huge note that it was already submitted online. I don't know what else to do. This has been frustrating, and it is the first time I've had any issues using Turbo Tax. Too bad.

Re: 2020 efile rejected due to /Return/ReturnHeader/FilingSecurityInformation/TotalPreparationSub...

kvthompson2 — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:17:46 GMT

Good summary, dontknow1. I'm having the exact same issue. The IRS allows for e-file of amendments for the current and two prior years. It's definitely a software glitch without support from TurboTax. They also have not updated the software to accommodate a direct deposit for an amended 2021 return. For the amount of $ paid to TT, there should not be issues such as these simple things.