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New Member
posted Jun 6, 2019 1:58:37 AM

My deceased spouses SSN is rejected when I try to e-file, how can I fix?

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1 Best answer
Level 3
Jun 6, 2019 1:58:38 AM

You will need to print and mail your return if you are filing a joint return with a spouse who died in 2018.  This is a security measure.  The Social Security Administration marked their SSN as deceased so the return cannot be e-filed.

If they died prior to 2018, you would not include them on your return. 

2 Replies
Level 3
Jun 6, 2019 1:58:38 AM

You will need to print and mail your return if you are filing a joint return with a spouse who died in 2018.  This is a security measure.  The Social Security Administration marked their SSN as deceased so the return cannot be e-filed.

If they died prior to 2018, you would not include them on your return. 

Level 3
Jun 8, 2020 8:46:21 AM

I found out how to avoid getting that error message! My FIL passed away last year. My MIL is the surviving spouse. I kept getting the same error message when I e-filed that many people have posted about. I switched the order of the two names, to put my MIL first, and the return was accepted within one hour! I was able to keep the deceased box checked for my FIL and I put "widowed" for my MIL.  Yay! Didn't have to submit by paper!  TT experts should say to try this, and the TT software should say it as well.