2024 Taxes rejected - dependents question

[marshallmoritomo]

Question for the group:   In 2024, me and wife got married.  I tried to do 2024 taxes as married and jointly, but continues to getting rejected.   In 2023, I claimed my elder mother while she claimed her 2 kids.  For 2024, I combined them all which is the only thing I can think why its being rejected.  Does this mean we need to file married, but separate since we both have separate dependents?  

[Mike9241]

a basic problem.  in 2023. your mother can not claim dependents if another taxpayer (in this case you) claims her as a dependent. This rule holds for 2024.

however, we don't know if your mother was required to file a return for 2023 or 2024. 

there are other rules for claiming relatives as dependents. you may want to use this IRS webpage to check whether you can claim them. 

another issue is if your mother filed for 2024, this will permanently block you from e-filing for 2024 since the same people have been on two tax returns. hers and yours. 

[marshallmoritomo]

Thank  you!!  My mom is elder and lives with us and doesn't work.  She doesn't make any money. 

This is more over a question about combining the dependents into the jointly file when I didn't claim my wife's kids as we weren't married.

[VolvoGirl]

I believe  you are saying that  your new wife claimed her 2 kids, not your mother.    Yes you should file a Joint return in 2024 and you can claim all yours and her dependents, your mother and your wife's 2 kids.  They are not separate dependents, they are all yours now.  That shouldn't be the reason it rejected.  There should be a reject code or message probably in the reject email.  Did your wife file a 2024 return by herself?  Or did the kids father claim a kid?  

A common reject is for the wrong 2023 AGI.  Did you enter your AGI and her AGI?  Try using zero for the AGIs.  The IRS might have processed a return late so the AGI didn't get entered in time.  Especially if you mailed it.  That works for most people. See,
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/rejections/help/what-if-i-entered-the-correct-agi-and-i-m-still-ge...

How to correct the AGI in the Online version
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/agi/help/where-do-i-correct-my-agi-in-turbotax-online/00/26311

If you can’t get it to efile you will have to print and mail it.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/printing/help/how-do-i-print-and-mail-my-return-in-turbotax-online...

Be sure to attach copies of your W2s and any 1099s that have withholding on them.  You have to mail federal and state in separate envelopes because they go to different places.  Get a tracking number from the post office when you mail them for proof of filing.