I'm sorry for your loss!
While a paper return is not required the year after a spouse dies, it usually turns out that way. Either the IRS doesn't recognize the AGI from the previous year, or Social Security Administration freezes the deceased person's SSN.
You should print and mail in the return.
I am having the same issue. My wife died in March of 2019. I completed my return and followed TurboTax's instructions to efile. However, my return was rejected twice with an AGI error for identifying my wife. I am going to file by mail; however, IRS.gov says we should be able to efile. The software should flag this issue for those in this situation. Also, there is something on TurboTax website about a form 1310. Does this form help?
You may want to consider getting an IRS Transcript to see what they have for your AGI.
I am sorry for your loss.
You can use the IRS Get Transcript tool. Try the online option first. If you are unable to obtain the transcript online, you can have one sent to the address the IRS has on record for you. You can find IRS Get Transcript here.
Form 1310, Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer, is not required in your case and would not do you any good.
From Form 1310 and instructions:
"If you are claiming a refund on behalf of a deceased taxpayer, you must file Form 1310 unless either of the following applies.
Got my transcript and it matched the AGI I was trying to e-file. I guess the Social Security administration is freezing it. I will probably file by mail.
Then you lose your $19.95 filing fee you already paid for. Great.
Yep. Mailed all of my returns. Actually talked with the IRS for 30 minutes (not easy to get through to a live person). He stated I should be able to efile and the AGI I had was correct. No other items he could see should have caused the "SpouseAGIamt" error. Makes me feel a little better because he didn't see anything like someone else already filed, etc. Talked with SSA agent also. He knew of nothing they do to cause the problem (however, still doesn't mean that it wasn't something to do with the SSN). Been filing with Turbotax CD version for years (efiling joint) and never had this problem. Should have worked. Didn't want to try another tax software or online version. So if I figure it out, I'll update.
Same. Been a frustrating year with dang companies not wanting to give me the money that is rightfully mine. My husband would have said "It's the family curse."
I have EFILED a decedent's return successfully. The Prior AGI should be the same number for both taxpayers if filing a joint return. Also, make sure the date of death matches the social security records.
Here is a link for mailing instructions.
If you have paid for services that you no longer are needing, you can contact customer support and speak to a billing specialist. Click here: https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-contact-turbotax/00/26991
Same issue! Turbo Tax needs to post they are unable to successfully process returns that have deceased spouse attributes.
I'm sorry you are having trouble with this. TurboTax is designed to allow you to complete your tax return in a format specified by the IRS. However, we cannot compel the IRS to accept the return.
As @rdh mentioned, everything on her return was correct, per the conversations she had with the IRS and social security administration. They informed her that the return should have been accepted by the IRS as e-filed.
TurboTax is following IRS guidelines in the preparation of the return. It should be accepted by the IRS, so TurboTax should not be held responsible, as it is the fault of the IRS that the return is being rejected.
I have had the same problem. I did my return twice -- once with my husband's name first and then with my name first. I know I have the correct AGI. It has been rejected four times. I will probably mail the one with my name first since I live in Pennsylvania and they require separate returns if the deceased person's name is first on the federal form. I have used Turbo Tax for over 13 years, and have never had an issue, but this year has been especially difficult!
I am sorry to hear about your loss. If you have tried all the methods mentioned above, you will have to mail your tax return, unfortunately.
See this post from MayaD: Decease spouse AGI
I wonder what you did differently? I've tried this twice - both rejected and even verified on IRS web site that the AGI was correct. Have used turbo tax for over 15 years and have never had this until now.
Turbo tax needs to inquire with the IRS and find out why so many are getting rejected. Father died in Feb of this year (2020) and this is for 2019 returns for he and my mother. Of course they freeze the account - as soon as the funeral home notifies them.... Spent the past 2 hours trying to get a hold of a person at the IRS with no luck.
So frustrating!
I was able to e-file for my mom in April of 2019 for tax year 2018 (dad died in March of 2019-so he was alive for all of 2018). But for some reason, I can't e-file now for 2019 (tried twice and both got rejected). My dad is listed first, my mom under "joint/spouse." After the first rejection, I sent in the forms/papers (7+ weeks ago) and it was never received. I was going to switch out the primary taxpayer to my mom, but it appears from another poster that that didn't work either. So, I'm going to mail them again and see what happens (I'm thankful for the extension time). I'm not sure if I'm relieved that I'm not the only one having this problem, or feel sad for everyone else going through the same thing. Dealing with a death, COVID-19 and now not being able to get the taxes done promptly, just adds to the stress.
Question to Turbo Tax Expert: My mom's worksheet didn't show her as a Widow with spouse dying in 2019. Is that correct or should it show that information?
So here is something strange. After using the suggested FreeTaxUSA and e-filing (just got an email that my mom's return was accepted), I noticed one difference. TT took my dad's RMD and removed it from Taxable Income (the code for his RMD was #4). FTUSA left it in as Taxable Income; thus changing the AGI number (my dad died March 2019 and his RMD was taken out properly in October 2019). No difference in taxes owed (or refunded), thank goodness. And, yes, everything was input identically into both tax apps. I'm not sure which is correct, should a deceased person's RMD be included or not be included in the AGI, since they are still counted when figuring deductions for tax purposes?
So I am having this same issue trying to file for 2020. I tried resubmitting since the AGI I entered was correct but I suspect that will be rejected also. Is there still no workaround or fix, other than to file by mail?
If you return should reject, try entering zero for the AGI and resubmit the return. It's not clear if your spouse died in 2020, or 2019.
The IRS Validation for e-file may provide some other tips for you.
Just to confirm the IRS record of AGI is the same that you have you can also request and IRS Transcript Online.
If you are unable to process your return you must mail it.
He died at the end of 2020.
Also, I noted this in the instructions. "When self-preparing your taxes and filing electronically, you must sign and validate your electronic tax return by entering your prior-year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or your prior-year Self-Select PIN." Could the problem be related to having entered both, not one or the other?
The value requested for prior year AGI should be what was on your 2019 return. It wouldn't hurt to request the IRS transcript to see if your number actually does match theirs. If so, I would try it with that number, if rejected, you can try entering zero.
It's all about your protection.
This problem has been reported by scores of people, going back multiple years. Some have been able to file electronically using another free program, so the problem is clearly with TT.
Another issue I noted when reviewing my return is that although I clearly marked that my husband had passed away, on the form itself it marks him as "Signing as Surviving Spouse." That is clearly an error as well.
All of us who are surviving spouses should not be forced to file manually due to what is clearly a bug in the TT software.