E-Filing question

[lgerhardstein]

Last year my wife and I filed separately. This year we are filing jointly.  My wife e-filed last year because she had a big refund.  I owed so I just filed by mail in early April.  Yes, I am one of those people whose received a letter from the IRS about not sending in a 2020 tax return even though they cashed the check that was attached to that same tax return.    I called and talked to IRS about this and was told that since I won't have an AGI yet just have my wife as the primary and use her AGI when I e-file.  The only way I figured to make my wife primary was to list her first and I would be the spouse.    I'm going through the e-file process on Turbo Tax right now and it is also asking for my AGI for 2020 which of course the IRS doesn't have yet because they haven't gotten around to processing my last year's return yet.  Am I even going about this the right way? Is there any way to get around this?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Use zero as your 2020 AGI.  If zero does not work  to let you e-file then print, sign and mail your 2021 return.

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s.  Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.

Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses.  Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.

[lgerhardstein]

Thanks.  Entering 0 for my last years AGI seemed to do the trick.  I E-filed  this morning and it was accepted.  Makes sense I guess.   Because the IRS hasn't  processed my return I don't have an AGI on file for 2020 yet.