Why Was My Tax Return Rejected?
Thankfully, when the IRS rejects your tax return, it’s usually nothing to be overly concerned about. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why your tax return was rejected and what you can do moving forward.
What Is An IRS Rejected Tax Return?
If you receive a notice from the IRS that your federal income tax return was rejected, it means they noticed and error. The IRS is sending the return back to you for correction.
Why Did The IRS Reject My Tax Return?
The IRS will reject a tax return for a variety of reasons, including the following:
The Return Was Already Accepted
The IRS will reject your tax return if they previously accepted a return with your Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN). If this occurs, if could be a sign of identity theft or fraud.
Missing Or Incorrect Information
The IRS can also reject your return if a name or number fails to match what they have on file for you. For instance, if you changed your name after marriage or need to update your name with the Social Security office, the IRS needs to know about this. A simple issue like a typo when e-filing your return could end up in a rejection.
Your Signature Does Not Match
When you e-file, the IRS will ask you to provide your adjusted gross income (AGI) from the previous tax year or an Identity Protection PIN to ultimately verify your identity. If the numbers you provide do not match the IRS’ records, your return will likely be rejected.
You Claimed A Dependent Claim On Another Return
If you try to claim a dependent, such as a child, already claimed on another tax return, the return will be rejected. An example of this could be a divorced parent trying to claim their child when their ex-spouse has already claimed the child on their return. The same thing can happen if a dependent files their own return and claims themselves.
How Will I Be Notified If My Return Has Been Rejected?
Depending on how you file, the IRS will usually notify you of a rejected tax return via email or standard mail. In the rejection notice, you will find a rejection code and an explanation of why the rejection occurred.
However, you should always be wary of scammers that try to steal your information posing as the IRS. The IRS will typically not call you about a rejection unless they have repeatedly tried contacting you by other means first.
What To Do If A Tax Return Is Rejected
If your return has been rejected, you will need to correct any errors and resubmit the return as soon as you can. You may be able to e-file the return for small mistakes like a typo, or the IRS could instruct you to mail in a paper return for more serious errors.
How To Fix A Rejected IRS Tax Return
Once you know exactly what caused the return to be rejected, you are required to correct the mistake and resubmit the original return.
How Long Do I Have To File A Corrected Return?
You will need to correct any mistakes prior to the year’s tax deadline. If the IRS rejects your return on or after Tax Day, you will have five days to correct and resubmit the return.
Some states will have different grace periods for rejected returns, so always check to see how much time you have to resubmit your return.
What To Do If A Return Was Rejected Due To Identity Theft
It’s recommended to act as soon as possible if you believe you are a victim of identity theft. Respond promptly to any IRS correspondence by calling them with the number provided. You should also print and mail in Form 14039 with your submitted return.
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