My federal e-file is not going through. I'm given the following error message: 601ERRV:5, CustHdr_17 - ?:? - Invalid SMS Number. Must be between 10 and 10 digits.

[Smuttersbaugh]

It’s July 2020 and am having the same issue.  I’ve filed taxes, overseas, for 7 years with the same number in our account.  Now I’ve updated that number on two different attempts to working mobile numbers in USA (our parents).   TurboTax has accepted my credit card payment but seems uninterested in providing me with an e-file. (Meaning, if left unresolved, I’ll feel like I did not get what I paid for - efiling of basic taxes from overseas, - and cannot imagine a scenario where, after 8 years, I would use this compnay again - assuming issue remains unresolved. Anybody figure this out yet?

[curtis6]

I share your frustration.  I have used Turbo Tax for 10 years and never had a problem, until this year.  Despite many calls to the technical support team, I never received any assistance.  On several occasions the phone conversation just click off, indicating what I believe was a customer service representative simply eliminating the call.  But this year I also found the demand for payment was constant and requested even in advance of finalizing the return.  It appeared to me that Intuit is more interested in cash flow than it is in having happy customers.  Many people like you have complained.  Yet, despite so much negative chatter, no one from Intuit or Turbo Tax ever assisted us.  I will look for a competing tax services provider for my 2020 return.  I, like you, am very disappointed in Intuit and Turbo Tax customer service support systems.  No more money from me.

[tomgusa]

I had same issue.  Following solution guiven by Dawnc worked for me. Make changes, close browser and come back and try, This is important.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-i-try-efile-but-i-get-message-invalid-sms-numb...

Yes. I also feel Intuit is overcharging .  Due to this issue, I was going mad. I then upgraded to Live Tax option and paid extra $90. But later I got solution from above thread. 

The whole thing is stupid. Can't the software detect this is an overseas address and make adjustments accordingly.

I will ask for a refund for the Live tax option, which I had to pay for their error.

[daliachicago]

Same issue here. I have updated the account with an Italian number and got the error.
Unfortunately, just deleting the number in the intuit account won't work, I would still get the same error.
Adding a US number without verifying, it won't work either.
The only way I got it to work was adding a US number and verifying it.

Hope this can help.

[curtis6]

Exactly what I had to do.

Intuit installed new software updates and didn't full test them.  Instead of testing, identifying errors, repairing those errors, and ensuring good customer satisfaction, Intuit took a short cut and left the fee-paying users hanging.  We were left to come onto their support site and find the solution to their problem.  It's good to see we have been successful.  But if this is how Intuit chooses to treat customers, I think we need to take our business elsewhere.  There are now many options, and all you need to do is conduct a google search.

[BethW1]

I finally got it to go through without verifying the US number I added by waiting overnight and trying again the next day.  Very frustrating to have this come up after 9 years of using TT.

[DawnC]

There seems to be an issue with e-filing when there is not a US phone number listed in your Intuit Online account.   When you are signed into your account, click on Intuit Account in the bottom left corner.    The error is not from the phone number on your tax return but rather the phone number attached to your Intuit (TurboTax) account.  

Change your phone number to a US number in the Intuit Account of Turbo Tax.   No need to verify this number in the Intuit Account (although it may not update until over night) just click exit when you are done. Then go back to your return and continue filing.   Don't use a Google Voice number, a Skype number, or any other non-US or non-verifiable phone number.  Again, you don't have to verify the number but the number needs to be verifiable.  

You may be able to leave the phone number field blank on your Intuit account and e-file your return.  No matter which option you use, make sure to update your account with your correct phone number once your return is e-filed.  

[jlampell]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Just to clarify, you need to go into your Intuit account (not your tax return) and make sure your Sign In information has a U.S. phone that can receive an SMS, and then you'll need to be able to get the code that's sent to that phone. I don't know why Intuit doesn't fix this or inform you clearly what has to be done. They're causing unnecessary suffering to their customers.

[Chp13]

Did you find a work around as I have tried every suggestion out there ref cell #s & nothing is working, still continue to get the same error message.

[curtis6]

Hmm, well, I'm not really the Intuit help desk, but this seems to be the new money-saving model adopted by Intuit and Turbo Tax to support their paying customers. 

I wish I had a better answer for you.  It only worked for me when I made the tax return phone number and the Intuit profile number identical and the had them send me a code that I could insert.  I had a brother on the US side who I called and retrieved it.  Others say one they set the numbers right and requested the code, were able to avoid the code and wait one night for the system to regenerate, then it worked for them.

I would recommend you call the help desk at Turbo Tax.  It might work.  It didn't work for me because either because of my weak line or because the help person didn't want to work, the line dropped right after I had explained the problem.  How convenient.  I tried again and it happened again after a few minutes. 

The only other solution is to mail the tax forms in by post, Fed Ex, DHL or something like that and make sure you save the receipt to prove you sent in your taxes, this will help you avoid a fine by the IRS.  You don't have much time now.  Another think you can do is file for an extension until October.  That will give you time to try to fix this aggravating problem...all caused by some careless coder who didn't check their work before claiming success. 

I plan to find a new tax service supplier and I will never recommend Turbo Tax ever again.

Good luck.  Curtis6

[Buki]

The only I got mine to work was to use a family member's US number, verify it by having a code sent.

[Buki]

make sure you verify the number. that was the only way i was able to get mine to work.

[cbcrewdawg-1]

Gotta change to US number in both account (left hand corner) and make the one at end of tax return match that. If cell phone not available, then enter landline/Skype/etc. version with voice call verification. You may have to save, log out and then log in. Note: couple people wrote they had issues with Skype #.

[cbcrewdawg-1]

Can use landline/Skype/etc. and voice verify. Just need to match the return phone # with the one in account.

[cbcrewdawg-1]

Yeah, that's a solution...only if you've already had one in system...seriously?  So if you're living overseas and Skype/Google/etc. are not an option, what the hell is someone supposed to enter, for both account account and return? Leaving it blank, though may work rarely, is likely not an option.  Realistically, why why don't the TT "geniuses" just make international phones a working option period...a whole bunch of expats all over the place without US phone numbers.