Rejected 2019 return based on my deceased spouse's agi

[taxuser999]

I am begging Turbotax to fix the bug, please. 

Please look into the report that  Freetaxusa can and TT cannot.

[PaulLindner]

Sorry everyone.  I gave up and spent 3 hours re-entering my data in FreeTaxUSA..  RETURN ACCEPTED..

I realized with the Corona Virus:

-- TurboTax is distracted and won't fix the bug

-- IRS workers won't be able to process paper forms in a timely fashion

Just Bite the Bullet and use FreeTaxUSA.  It's not that hard, since you can open two windows, one on TurboTax, one on FreeTaxUSA.  My 1099B was hell, but at least I had the standard deduction this year, so that saved a bunch of effort....

Hope everyone is safe and healthy.  Take care of your friends and family as we enter the plague times...

[brianVA]

I am in the same situation as my wife passed in 2019.  I just submitted my federal & state returns and both got rejected.  I was thinking of trying my idea below to override turbo tax and get it accepted.  

Do not report my spouse's death in turbo tax when asked in the Personal Info section.  I see nothing in the forms reporting my spouses death except "Filing as surviving spouse" is input under the spouses signature on form 1040.  Before submitting, go into Forms and enter "Filing as surviving spouse" under the spouses signature.  Turbo tax will still prompt me for both e-filing Pins and the return is still "married filing jointly", which is what I want as next year would be qualifying widow.  Going to think this through more and give it a try before I use the post office.

[Sampson1]

I gave up and used freetaxUSA.com and my return was accepted.  With all that is going on, I wasn't going to attempt to mail it as I don't think anyone will be there to receive or process it.  TurboTax needs to fix this.  It is not an IRS issue if another tax company can submit the file and they cannot.

From their email:  Congratulations! The IRS has accepted your tax return.
Great words to read right now!!

[LeonardS]

Your issue has been forwarded.

[glennl122]

Have exactly the same problem.  Interestingly the step-by-step method never prompted for the deceased's dl or pin.  I forced the info in via the forms method and verified that it was saved.  Submission to IRS failed again.  I'm guessing that, since the data is not being prompted for it's not being transmitted to the IRS.

Turbotax, if I found your bug for you do I get  a reward?  (As if that'll ever happen.)

More importantly perhaps you should refund part of the cost of turbotax to the affected users to offset the cost of printing, mailing, etc.   Or maybe a credit towards next years version???

(Wishful thinking 🙂 )

[susanapr5]

It is known that you can file with a deceased spouse on other websites. unfortunately I live in Puerto Rico a US territory and not all tax filing links are available. We are on lockdown can't file with paper return. INTUIT needs to fix this!!! Frustrating

[brianVA]

Well, my idea of not indicating death of spouse in turbo tax and inputting "Filing as surviving spouse" on the signature through Forms will not work since it will not let me edit the signature field in the form and I still need the spouse name and date of death on top of the 1040 page.   

Here is the error:

IND-032-04 - 'SpousePriorYearPIN' or 'SpousePriorYearAGIAmt' in the Return Header must match the e-File database.

Would like to get official response from Turbo Tax as to why I cannot file a return electronically when reporting the death of a spouse and the AGI correct.  How long has this been a problem?   Anybody out there???  First time turbo tax has ever let me down.

[glennl122]

susanapr5:

the irs has extended the tax filing deadline to July 15

See https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-day-now-july-15-treasury-irs-extend-filing-deadline-and-federal-tax...

[ri7206]

I checked the IRS freefile website (https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) and found OLT Online Taxes referred to so I went there for my friend's return whose spouse died in 2019. TTax was rejecting her return. Like others I entered the same data in OLT and within minutes it was accepted by the IRS and sent o the state. Her state was free due to income below the threshold. Those not free are $9.95 I believe!

I'll do my taxes there next year and save buying TurboTax. I too had been using TTax for decades. I am so disappointed.

[MEW1]

My father passed away in 2019. I have used TurboTax for many many years.  I tried filing my parents 2019 tax return using TurboTax and it was rejected with the same message as indicated by others on this site.  I read on this site how someone else was able to file successfully on FreeTaxUSA.  Thanks so much for the suggestion...I tried FreeTaxUSA and the return was accepted.  

[bts]

Same issue here. I’ve used TT to file my parent’s joint return. Last year father died and I can’t get an efile to work. Paper it is... :(

[CatinaT1]

You can find your 2018 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) by:

• Looking at line 7 on page 2 of your 2018 Form 1040; or
• You can request a transcript of your 2018 tax return from the IRS to ensure you have the right number. You can request your transcript online at the following link: Get Transcript 

Check these items as well to ensure you have the correct number.  If you:

• Filed late last year after mid-November or your return was processed after that time—try entering 0.
• Amended your return last year—make sure you’re using the AGI from your original return, not the amended one. (If you only have a 1040X form, it’s on line 1, column A).
• Rounded your AGI to the nearest dollar—be sure to round up when it’s 50 cents or more and down when it’s 49 cents or less.
• Filed with your spouse last year—you and your spouse have the same 2018 AGI. (Don’t split the AGI amount or enter 0 for one of you).

Time-saving Tip: If what you entered is correct and you continue to get a reject, you won't be able to e-file. There's probably a data mismatch at the government, or some other situation beyond your control that prevents your return from being e-filed. In this case, your only option would be to print and mail in your return.

This article will give you instruction on how to print and mail your return.

[PaulLindner]

Hi Catana

Please add the following to your cut-and-paste FAQ:

Turbotax currently has problems e-filing for deceased spouses.  Consider moving your return to another provider.  Many people have had success with FreeTaxUSA, which has been able to e-file returns that TurboTax failed.

Also please read the ENTIRE THREAD before posting.  If you had you'd know that we've been through the mail-in options in detail.

[PaulLindner]

bts: if your return isn't too complicated try FreeTaxUSA.  Everyone who's tried it here have been able to efile their returns over there.