Rejected 2019 return based on my deceased spouse's agi

[MtnTABS]

One thing I noticed when virtually reviewing the actual 2019 tax forms is that neither PIN for the Primary or Spouse is filled in on the Forms 1040-SR. Also, in 2018, the Form did not have -SR after the 1040. 

I also noticed that on my state tax forms when I printed them, the “amount owed for 2019” was MISSING! The cover letter says what we owe but on the actual printed return, the line for “Amount Due” is left blank! I reviewed the whole printed state return and found a few other minor things missing things and the supporting Schedule B document was at the end of the whole return instead of behind the actual Schedule B .

ALSO, since it was better for us to file the federal return using the Standard Deduction, I did but I completed the itemized deduction section to the end. On our state return, itemizing was better for us than the standard deduction so TurboTax filled in the numbers but there is no list of all the non-profits to whom we donated using checks. In the past, TurboTax made us list each non-profit and the total amount to each. I know this because it was my job to make this list on Quicken software and transfer it manually to TurboTax. This year there is NO list so did TurboTax eliminate the need for it? Will my state expect to receive a copy of that list? What a 🤕 headache.

Lastly, why does TurboTax keep plugging in 1099-Int bonds that matured YEARS ago? At least 10 printed on my returns with zeros after them. If that doesn’t kick us out for scrutiny I will be surprised. 😢 

[CheriO]

This is definitely an error that Turbo Tax should fix.  I prepared a return in April and it was also rejected.  I called and spoke with a TT rep.  I had to inform her that many other users are having the same issue.  This is something they should already be aware of!  She put me on hold for a very long time and then came back to only tell me that it's a problem with the IRS system and I need to file by paper.  Unfortunately, I  believed her, so I mailed it in.  I keep checking on the IRS website for the refund status, but nothing is being processed.  I don't even know if they received it.   You cannot reach a IRS rep by phone.  I decided to check the IRS website on joint filings.  This is exactly what it states:

Question: My spouse passed away last year, and I want to file a joint return. How should I file, how should I sign, and are there any special notations required to indicate my spouse is deceased? 

Answer: A decedent taxpayer's tax return can be filed electronically. Follow the specific directions provided by your preparation software for proper signature and notation requirements.   

Basically, Turbo Tax is the problem!  Now I have to wait how many more for months for a refund check due to Turbo Taxes' unwillingness to properly research this issue!

[rjktaxes2019]

I've now heard from several people.   Make sure the surviving spouse is made to be the *primary* tax payer, and the decedent is the secondary (or "spouse").  Seems to have worked for everyone who has made the switch

[Panagal]

There's another way to fix the e-filing problem when filing a joint return with a deceased spouse. My husband passed away on March 2019 so I prepared our tax return as MFJ with his name as the primary taxpayer. However, when I tried to e-file it was rejected 3 times. Turbotax insisted that it was rejected because of an incorrect AGI but I knew it was correct and it couldn't be the issue. Since I had already paid the state e-filing fee, I decided to try one more thing. I remembered that in order to verify my identity online when paying estimated taxes, the IRS rejected my husband's SS#. So I tried mine and the verification process went through without a hitch. Based on this knowledge, I decided to transpose the names on the return.  I put my name as the primary taxpayer and his as the secondary taxpayer. Then, I crossed my fingers and e-filed one last time. Lo and behold, it was accepted! Apparently, the IRS has the deceased SS# flagged as invalid and rejects anything with such a number in it. Turbo Tax needs to alert customers of this possibility when a joint return with a deceased spouse is rejected. Hope this info helps someone out there in the same boat.  

[lgslat]

Hello! I agree that filing a paper return when the IRS say on their own site that they are so far behind that paper returns are not even in the pipeline yet. The IRS who were already behind due to severe cutbacks had another big boondoggle foist on them called the stimulus check sent to thousands of people who were deceased. On May 29th I sent the money back using their published "HOW  TO". No reaction yet! To get back on point, I went to the trouble after five (5) REJECTIONS (I have never felt this rejected in my life) of setting up an account which in turn required for security reasons, the IRS needed to send me an activation code, more waiting, so I could have a look at what the IRS sees on our return for TY18. Of course the AGI was exactly the same. BTW, I too have used TTax for years and the biggest reason is the feature that allows the TRANSFER from year to year. What I did find interesting is that the SELF-SELECT PINs are nowhere to be found. That agrees with something I had seen and told by TTax. This is only saying that it does not show on what the IRS makes available to see. If you wish to pay another $45 you can get a more complete copy. I have spent hours reading and trying to decipher EXACTLY what is required of we the TAXPAYERS who are never given options like discussing this with humans which are usually hard to get hold of, but is a REAL challenge this year. Here is what I find fascinating; somewhere I read that the usual time it takes between SUBMISSION and ACCEPTANCE/REJECTION is on average at minimum about 12/24 hours. All five (5) of the REJECTIONS took less than one hour! Smacks of a SOFTWARE glitch! That would be on TurboTax error. Why when most people find Income Tax preparation is bad enough, but this is ridiculous! I am still uncertain as to which of the PINs should be used and where, like what line... I have been trying to file since APRIL 4TH!  Sorry for the length of this it doesn't compare to how very upset I am! THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED, SHOULD NEVER be unleashed in the shape it is in. Please tell us, what are you doing or going to do about it. The solution does not resolve the problem for anyone but you, TurboTax! Let's you off the hook so to speak!  

[MtnTABS]

Thanks for your response to my problem. Last Friday I sent in my first and second quarter federal and state tax estimates: the little statements and my checks all have my deceased husband’s social security number on them and both of our names. If the I.R.S. rejects $19,000 because I unknowingly wrote the wrong social security number and they are too lazy to check our past records, it will be the first laugh I’ve had since my wonderful husband died. 
Thanks 😊 for your information and I am sure it will help others. Imagine how many widows and widowers there are from COVID-19 that are going to run up against this same problem. Tragic.

[MtnTABS]

Thank you for your response. Several people who have had the same rejections have gone back and put themselves as the primary name and the deceased spouse as the secondary. I think one woman is correct when she says the deceased spouse’s social security number is flagged by the government —in my case because I had to tell Social Security that he had died to stop his S.S. checks. When we try to e-file with our deceased spouse as the primary, MAYBE it is the social security number that is sending the I.R.S. a red flag and not the Pin Number. 

[winsweep]

Last year I had major problems filing and, when I finally left a message for Turbo Tax using their Facebook page, they messaged me to call a certain number.  That number responded that they would have a rep call and the rep did call.  They had been told by IRS that, in some of the cases, the client filing should put 0 instead of the AGI.  My case seemed to fit that because, as soon as I put 0, everything went through fine.  Mine was not the same case it was interesting to know that the IRS instructions to Turbo Tax worked out fine.

[DebCof]

I have the same problem with filing as a surviving spouse.  I was able to contact Turbo Tax support and found out the return cannot be electronically filed.  The tech said I needed to mail the returns, both State and Federal, and attach a copy of the death certificate.   I was not aware of this.  Hope this helps.

[DebCof]

I'm still having this problem.  TT asked for my mother's AGI, which I gave, but rejected the tax return and asked for my Father's AGI.  I am going to check to see which parent is listed as the primary.  If it's my Father, then I will try what others are suggesting and switch them. A lot of people seem to be successful with this approach.  Tech support has told me that I must paper file but I really don't want to to that.

[jtavares2]

I had this exact same issue. I had to swap the names and place the deceased as the secondary taxpayer in order for the e-file to be accepted.

There is a catch though, that I don't think I have seen other people mention.  You know all those questions where TurboTax asks you "Is this (1099, etc) for (Name #1), (Name #2), or (Both)?"?  Apparently what you are really answering, and what TurboTax is storing under the hood, is the answer to the question "Is this (1099, etc) for (The Primary Tax Payer), (The Secondary Tax Payer), or (Both)?". So, when you switch the names, the answers to these questions are now all wrong, and need to be swapped, as well.

[CycloneFive]

It only seems fair that I and any others in my situation get a reimbursement from Turbo Tax for what we paid for the Deluxe Turbo Tax 2019 program. I have been using Turbo Tax for years, this is a very unfortunate situation for me (and any other spouses who are in the same situation with a deceased spouse and filing) and believe you should do the right thing by long term clients.

M.C.

[hnicpena]

I'm in the same situation also. I had filed for my Mom before i knew this was an issue and paid my state's $25.99 fee. I don't see anywhere if it is refundable.

[bervig]

Agreed.  There is some glitch in the Turbo Tax program that does not allow you to e-file when your spouse deceases.  I have tried six times and the IRS rejects each time even though I have provided my DOB, Driver's License, and 2018 AGI.  I am going to print and mail the returns (not very happily).

[Anniebeau]

I repeat my suggestion of several months ago in this forum, probably too far back for anyone to pick up on, which was learned from previous posts by others.   I went thru all the gyrations and frustrations that everyone else has before following this suggestion.  File using FreeTaxUSA, a legitimate program recommended by many reputable Independent sources.  Check it out first, I did.

You’ve already completed your return with TT, print it and use that as your guide and it doesn’t take too long.  It's free to file and it goes through without a problem.  I paid $6 or $7 only because I wanted a question answered, which worked out beautifully.  My return was accepted in 15 minutes and I had my refund in days.  Well worth the hour I spent versus the many hours on the phone with TT and following their ridiculous suggestions to no avail. 

BTW, I did get a 50% refund from TT.  They argued that I had to pay for their service because I had indeed used it.  I countered with the fact that I had paid for their service only because I wanted to E-file, and that had I wanted to snail mail a paper copy the old fashioned way I would have completed my return the old fashioned way by hand. Hope this helps.  

TT has lost this long term customer forever.