I’ve tried re-filing because it says my AGI is incorrect but I’ve tried everything it could possibly be and it still says it wrong. What should i do?

[lochnjd1]

Spent hours on the phone with TurboTax and the IRS with no resolution; just mail in the returns...

My solution was to create accounts with the IRS for IP PIN numbers, (Identity Protection PIN). If filing jointly, each taxpayer needs a separate account and IP PIN number. These are entered near where a signature would be. In TurboTax, you have to go to Federal Return and choose the option for Other Tax Options. In its menu will be a link to enter the IP PIN numbers.

After over 10 rejections, my e-file was finally successful. Hope this helps someone!

[jgilbraith]

I have the same situation. Where do I change it to 0, to say I did not file a return last year? 

[lochnjd1]

You should have an e-mail notifying you that the return was rejected. It has a link to Fix the return. After you sign into your account it should show you the problem near the top of the page. On the right side, look for a link to 'Revisit'. Your AGI should be displayed and can be changed. Try to e-file again, but don't be surprised if it fails again. The IRS confirmed that my AGI was correct, but could not explain why the e-file was failing. They basically gave up and just told me to mail my return. Ugh! Getting IP PIN fixed the problem...

-Jay

[LinaJ2020]

If you have not filed, here are the steps:

After sign back into your account, select Pick up where you left off

To your left, select "File" and follow prompts to enter the info

It is possible that your return will get rejected even with the corrected AGI, for reasons and some solutions, click here:  Correct AGI got rejected

@jgilbraith

[jgilbraith]

Jay, 

thanks. I put 0 and of course it rejected it again. I’m on the IRS site to get the IP PIN setup, could assist in telling me where I can clock to get there? Thanks!

[lochnjd1]

This is not fun. The IRS is going to test your patience.

First: Each taxpayer must have their own cell phone. I got rejected for trying to use mine to create an account for my wife...

Create an account on the http://irs.gov website. Click on the Sign In link and there will be an option to create.

Choose an user name and password. SAVE them, you will need to get a new IP PIN for next year.

There will be some personal questions, to identify you.

Now the IRS needs to send you an Activation Code. But if your cell phone number is unlisted, then they will send it you via US mail.

Watch your mailbox for the next 5 to 10 days...

Once you get the Activation Code, log back into your account and enter the code. xxxxx-xxxxx

Now they will send you a Confirmation Code, either by text or e-mail - you get to choose.

Login complete! Now look for a link to request an IP PIN. Hint: IP stands for Identity Protection. You may be able to do a search for it.

The IP PIN is only good for one tax year, you will need to go through this process again after mid-January.

WAIT 24 hours for the systems and databases to update.

Now login to your TurboTax account. Go to the Federal Tax link in the menu on the left side.

The page has several tabs in the window for the return. Choose the one for Other Tax Options.

This page will have a link for IP PIN. Enter yours, and your spouse's if filing jointly.

Now try to e-file again. If it fails, wait 24 hours and repeat  -  TurboTax doesn't always keep up with the IRS..

Good luck!

-Jay

[jgilbraith]

Jay, 

You rock! I already had an IRS account. So,I set my wife’s up, no problem. Got two IP Pins, no problem. Click help in Turbo Tax, type up pin. It took me right to the ip pin section of my return. Clicked continue all the way thru. E-filed again, WENT RIGHT THRU! Thanks so much!

[lochnjd1]

I am very happy to hear that I was able to help someone else. It was driving me crazy, with absolutely no help from the IRS. I don't know what they did with their programming, but it held up my Stimulus check from December. Took me over two weeks to troubleshoot this problem. Thank God I worked for 10 years as a Systems Administrator and learned how to troubleshoot...

-Jay

MCSE

[2herveys]

Success:

We had the same problem  We knew for sure it was right, but even ordered the info from irs.gov to confirm.  Entered it again, no success.

Out of desperation before printing the whole thing, we tried $0 and that worked.

To the many who have the same problem:  give that a try:  $0.

My guess, the software branches to "was zero entered" before rejecting.  Kind of like a backdoor or cheatcode.

[tjdcorona]

You can do one of two things - go to the IRS website and create an account. There, you will see the AGI the IRS SAYS it is.

The other way -- enter 0 (2019 taxes have been delayed going thru them due to Covid). A 4th way - say you didnt file last year.

[ToddL99]

And, if you think you'll run out of time, go to Can IRS extensions be e-filed? for help in filing an extension. 

Another alternative to pay taxes and get an extension is IRS Direct Pay 

[r_zachary]

The above answer is correct. 

I can add one more twist.

I filed a paper 2019 Tax return, on the due date in Oct 2020.   

I received an IRS paper receipt and ALSO I signed into  IRS.gov to look at my return AGI.

In both cases the AGI listed on the paper receipt and my IRS.gov account matched the paper return.

But I still got rejected.  I then noticed that even though I turned the return in on time (paper),  the receipt and the website said that it was processed sometime Feb 2021!

So then I changed my 2020 AGI for efile,  to "0".

Yes,  it worked!

From my experience your AGI is wrong according to the IRS database, then no amount of changing pins will help  (I tried that first 2-3 times, with the AGI I had used in my return, always rejected).  The pin is so that you can use it to get information in the future,  in case you forget your 2020 AGI.

So if you are constantly getting rejected

1) Make sure you're not using an amended return AGI like the other contributers say. If you efile for 2020 and it still rejects

2) Check to see if you are using the correct original return AGI from the IRS.gov website. If you efile for 2020 with the correct 2019 AGI...and it still rejects:  

3) Check to see (from the IRS.gov website) when your 2019 return was processed.  If it was after November,  I would definitely try putting in the AGI of "0"  (no matter what the IRS website currently says your AGI was)

Option 3 was the only one that worked for me.

[macuser_22]

Yep.   The IRS e-file AGI database is separate for other IRS systems.  Only tax returned filed by the due date get entered.   If you filed on paper and paper processing was delayed (as it was in 2019)  then there is a good chance that the AGI was never entered.

HISTORY:  This is not new.   AGI matching for an identity check has always been unreliable which is why the IRS started using "filing Pins" that the IRS issued (not to be confused with IP PINS).   You could get a filing pin online from the IRS website.     Worked great...until hackers (ID thieves) figured out how to get filing pins and submit fake tax returns for a refund. 

The IRS answer:  do away with filing pins  and only use the unreliable AGI method that did not work in the first place. (The filing pin is still required but now it serves as the electronic signature) unless you have and remember your old filing pin before they discontinued issuing them, then the old pin will still work.

[r_zachary]

Cool! Thanks for the insight!

well for the filing pins, heres the gory detail of what happened.  Warning: may be TMI ahead.

The first few times, I was using my  AGI from 2019. (Not “0”), and a filing pin which I had always used in the past, for years, and never changed.   Result: reject, reject, reject.   The I read, change the pin  to something else., (I kept the AGI the same value).   Reject.  Starting to remind me of high school.    

Then turbotax said specifically it has to be the 2019 pin.  
I am thinking, with a paper filing in 2019,  there wouldnt have been a filing pin, right? Even if there was I couldn't find it in my 2019 turbotax version.And no one said put “0” for the filing pin and it says in the instructions, any pin will do except “0000”.  

so then I went to the AGI.  The rest of the story you know above.

I used “0” for the AGI, and I changed the filing pin to something new.  Works!

[macuser_22]

If you had only used the old filing pin from prior years and left the AGI blank, it would probably worked.  They check the AGI first (if you enter it) and ignore the filing pin.