Bug report - joint return w/deceased spouse efile rejected by IRS

[peclarkjr]

I should mention I am helping my mother with her taxes since my dad passed away.  I refiled their joint return and got the same rejection notice, the AGI for my dad (now deceased) did not match.  Doesn't appear the issue has been fixed.  I am using the PC version and made sure I had the latest updates.  Disappointing.  

[macuser_22]

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@peclarkjr wrote:

I should mention I am helping my mother with her taxes since my dad passed away.  I refiled their joint return and got the same rejection notice, the AGI for my dad (now deceased) did not match.  Doesn't appear the issue has been fixed.  I am using the PC version and made sure I had the latest updates.  Disappointing.  

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There are reasons that the AGI does not match in addition to the bug.   The most common 2 reasons are that the 2018 filing was late (after the April 15 filing date) so is it not in the IRS data base or the IRS data base has an error that there is no way to correct.   Mail filing is the only option.

[peclarkjr]

I hear what you are saying.  I have helped them with their taxes since 2004 and have been using TT every year.  The 2018 return was filed in March so I can rule that out.  Does the IRS have an incorrect AGI?  Perhaps.  It would seem more likely that the bug is not fixed.  Sure I can mail them in but as it has been noted, they will sit for a while due to the current situation.  If this were an isolated case I would think differently.  I also find it interesting that its balking at my dad's AGI, not my moms.  Curious to see if anyone else with the issue has been patient and retried with TT.  I have been a loyal TT user since 2000 and this has left a bad taste in my mouth.  Their response has been underwhelming.

[Glyndenn]

I submitted my return to agent.  My token number is 652378.  I had received an e-mail that the bug was fixed, but my return was rejected again after the updates were applied.

[coopers cove]

Since I am in the same situation with my spouse passing away in 2019, my efile return was rejected similar to others on this string of posts.  After I downloaded the update this morning, I re-efiled and am pleased to report I received notice in 10 minutes that the IRS had accepted the return.

Thanks to all of you that raised this issue and to Turbo-tax for finally fixing this problem.

[shellypn]

Did you re-enter your "my info" section as one of the above authors suggested after you downloaded.  How did you know if the update had anything to do with AGI being wrong.

[peclarkjr]

Interesting.  Would you mind looking at a couple of things for me?

1. Are you using the thick client (PC) version or the online version?  If PC, would you mind looking at your installed updates and tell me the last date you have for federal, either forms or program?  This is what I have:
   1. I have an update dated 4/22 to the federal forms.
   2. I have a program update dated 4/9.  
2. Did you do anything other than simply refile?  I went back through the personal info as recommended before I retransmitted.

Thanks in advance.

[shellypn]

I was hopeful and updated again this morning and re-entered my information.  Still rejected.  I do not want to paper file.  I want turbo tax to fix this issue.  As I reported earlier, I verified my AGI with the IRS; it is correct. 

[Mar]

@shellypn  I am wondering if you are using the desktop or online version?

[coopers cove]

I am using TurboTax Premier, PC desktop version.  Last program update is dated 4/9/20; last Federal Forms update is dated 4/23/20 11:06 AM CST which I installed before I efiled ttday

When I verified  AG,I it was the prefilled in amount from the 2018 return, which was also done with the PC version of TurboTax Premier.

Hope this helps.

[shellypn]

I am using desktop cd version.

[shellypn]

Like cooperscove I also have lastest update (yesterday); I have used Turbo Tax since the beginning of Turbo Tax....years and years.  First trouble I have had.  So also like cooperscove the AGI was filled in.  I then double checked my return and I went on the IRS and made sure it was the same.  I also tried "0".  All give me the error code that my husband's (deceased) AGI doesn't match. 

[laomedon]

peclarkjr, You are not the only one encountering this issue; my mother-in-law's return is being rejected with IND-031-04 - the primary taxpayer's AGI from last year does not match IRS records. I also updated yesterday (after receiving email from Turbotax that the issue had been fixed), Federal forms released 4/22, program updates released 4/9. Still not fixed! A friend whose spouse died last year reported that this latest update fixed his rejected return, so maybe Turbotax got half the fix done...

[macuser_22]

I believe it was pointed out before somewhere in the long thread, that there are two totally different reasons for the reject.  One it the bug, the other is the way it has worked for years, that after the Social Security Administration has been notified of the death, they will "lock" the SSN so that it cannot be used to e-file a tax return.   That is intentional to prevent tax fraud by ID thieves that use death announcements to file fake tax returns in the deceased name.

It is too easy to e-file a fake tax return  and have the refund sent to a non-traceable prepaid credit card account, but paper filing leaves a trail.

[laomedon]

If the SSN were indeed locked, as you suggest, one would expect the rejection code to be different: IND-901 or IND-941-01, not as indicated IND-031-04.

IND-031-04 | Primary taxpayer AGI, adjusted gross income, PIN

IND-901 | Primary taxpayer SSN, social security number, locked, Social Security Admin.

IND-941-01 | Social Security Number of Deceased Taxpayer

Let's hope Turbotax will finish fixing this bug.