Another rejected tax return

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
April 7, 2026
2 replies
58 views

I'm filing on behalf of my elderly parents. My father has always been primary on their joint return. This year because of his declining health and mental capacity, I made the mistake of listing my mother first. IRS rejected the e-file because they couldn't verify the AGI and/or PIN against last year's return where my father was primary/first. They don't have an IRS-assigned PIN, just the one I can enter in TurboTax (Desktop) when signing. I have verified the AGI is correct.

I switched them back so my father is first, after learning that even after he passes, he should always listed first if I want to e-file. But IRS keeps rejecting the return. The error message in Turbo Tax says "The IRS couldn't confirm XXXX's identity", where XXXX is still my mother even after I switched back to my father primary and listed first, which I've verified in Forms view on the 1040SR and in the printed pdf.

What can I do to get this e-file to go through?

LeticiaF1

Level 12

Even if you are using the amount for the AGI, there are still some situations that could affect what AGI number you use. Some of those situations are:

If you amended your return you must use the AGI from your original 2024 tax return.
Make sure that you entered the number was entered correctly without rounding.
If you filed your return after November 10, 2025 enter $0 as your prior-year AGI.

For more ideas that could help you find out what your AGI is, refer to the following TurboTax help article:

How do I find last year's AGI?

What does my rejected return code mean and how do I fix it?

pithampaddy-gmaiAuthor

Level 2

Thanks. I'm using the AGI on the original and I verified through IRS.gov (logging in with ID.me) that it is the AGI they have listed as well.

xmasbaby0

Level 15

And.....if the AGI you are using does not work, try zero.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

xmasbaby0

Level 15

When you switched the order of the names in MY INFO, did you also correct the income information that had been entered ---and make sure to assign the income to the correct spouse? Just switching the order of the names did not correct where you entered the income. As for the AGI---if the 2024 AGI is not working you can try using zero instead.