substituting AGI for self selected PIN

[Kimber3]

It is suggested to use my previous years AGI if I do not recall my self selected PIN, however my AGI is 6 digits long and the PIN is supposed to only be 5 digits.. how do I overcome this? Do I just omit the last digit of my AGI? 

[mesquitebean]

---

@ Kimber3 wrote:

It is suggested to use my previous years AGI if I do not recall my self selected PIN, however my AGI is 6 digits long and the PIN is supposed to only be 5 digits.. how do I overcome this? Do I just omit the last digit of my AGI? 

---

NO.  You cannot enter AGI into the PIN field.   The 2018 AGI has a special field.  The screen to verify the efiling with 2018 AGI clearly says AGI on it and will take more than 5 digits (or even less than 5).   In contrast, the Self-Select PIN field is only for a PIN and will take only 5 digits--no more, no less.  

I don't have online TurboTax so I can't show you with an image what the exact screen looks like (or are you using desktop software-CD/download?)    Perhaps the screen you are on has a tiny link somewhere on it that says something like "use AGI instead."  Look at that screen carefully and scroll down if necessary.   Or see if you can back up and see a way to get to the AGI screen.  Or go through the FILE section again and after choosing " I want to efile" pay attention for any small links to use the 2018 AGI.

In any case, to confuse things further, even after entering the 2018 AGI, on a later screen just before submitting, in order to "sign" the return it will ask you to choose a 5-digit Self-Select PIN, and it will say you can enter any 5 numbers of your choice.   It does not have to be the same one used last year, but it can be.  I believe it's on a screen with today's date and your birthdate.

[Kimber3]

thank you so much for the reply. I have entered my AGI in the appropriate place, but despite that I still get that final page with the date and DOB asking for a PIN. It seems I can not bypass the PIN and I hate that I am forced to pay $30 to have a specialist fix it although I've entered it already. Any suggestions? I am just using the website and if I put a random 5 digit PIN it gets rejected and seems to want something that I dont recall ever even having made :( thanks in advance for any assistance 

[macuser_22]

There is still a self selected "signing" pin that you must enter.    That replaces the written signature that is required in a paper return but does not replace the 2018 AGI that is used to identify you.

There is also a 6 digit IP pin that the IRS might require to file if they have issued you one.

What is the reject message and reject code?

[Kimber3]

Reject Code IND-032-04

[macuser_22]

That means that the AGI you entered does  not match the IRS records.

See this TurboTax FAQ on how to find your AGI

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3301618


You can get free 2018 tax transcript from the IRS

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

If you filed late last year there is a good chance that the 2018 AGI never was entered into the e-file database. Try using 0 (zero) for the AGI.

If you filed an amended return use the AGI on the first filed tax return.

If it continues to reject then the AGI in the IRS database might be in error. Mail filing is the only option.

[mesquitebean]

@Kimber3 

As macuser_22 indicated, it's not rejecting because of a PIN because the PIN you choose on the signature page with your birthdate and today's date can be any 5 numbers of your choice (and it will say so).   If you entered your 2018 AGI in the appropriate AGI field, then it's rejecting because of the AGI.   Plus the rejection error code you provided is for a spouse AGI, so I assume you are filing a joint return.

IND-032-04: The spouse's AGI or Self-select PIN from last year doesn't match IRS records

"Spouse" is the secondary taxpayer shown on the return. 

Up to this point, you haven't mentioned anything about a spouse, joint return, etc.   If you filed a joint 2018 return prior to November 2019, then both spouses use the same total 2018 AGI.  Do not divide or allocate it.

Or did you marry in 2019 and each of you filed a 2018 return as singles?  Or were you already married in 2018 but filed separate returns for that tax year?

[VolvoGirl]

Or another problem is if your spouse died in 2019 or 2020.  Their ssn might be locked and you have to print and mail your return.

[Kimber3]

thank you for the response. I apologize, you're right, that does sound like critical information that i left out. I am married, filing jointly and was married all of last year as well. So in that case if our AGI is the same for both of us (and i am indeed entering the same # for us both - no rounding or dividing or anything) how come his doesnt reject and only mine kicks back despite being the same exact # that i've triple checked with last years form. any suggestions?

[Kimber3]

thank you for the reply. no my spouse is alive and well 🙂

[Kimber3]

to clarify, last year we also filed married jointly too

[Kimber3]

Thanks for the response @macuser_22 - I have gotten the transcript from the IRS and AGI is being entered as it appears there (in fact turbotax even states the # that they have and you enter AGI below it) and that # that turbotax presented was right. -- not sure if that is even relevant but nonetheless -- Also, i filed before the deadline, i wasnt early with it but "late" means after the deadline, correct? and no amendments were done. 

[macuser_22]

That sure sounds like an error in the IRS AGI database.

Many years ago, because the AGI method of verifying identity was so unreliable, they came up with the filing pin method of identifying, that worked well for several years until ID thieves figured how to hack the IRS pin system, so the IRS suddenly did away with the pins.    Now we are back to the error prone and unreliable AGI system that is causing tens of thousands to have to mail file.

[mesquitebean]

If you wish, before giving up you can try using the actual 2018 AGI for the primary taxpayer, and then for the spouse (secondary taxpayer) AGI of 0.   I've seen that work for a couple of folks in the past, but can't explain it.

[fanfare]

you can e-FILE with AGI or PIN

if you are using AGI, leave the PIN field empty.

do not confuse the old PIN that was selected last year with the new PIN that will be selected this year for next year.