The IRS is rejecting some e-file tax returns. Here's a simple fix.

[brooklynite]

Washington Post

It’s never been more important to file your tax return electronically. You don’t want to mail a paper return if you don’t have to. But a glitch tied to the massive return processing backlog at the IRS is making it harder for some taxpayers to file online.

Let me walk you through the e-file Kafkaesque situation.

As of March 25, the IRS said it had 7.2 million unprocessed individual returns.

When you file electronically, one of the verification questions asks for your adjusted gross income, or AGI, from your most recent tax return.

If your return is in that backlog unprocessed, the IRS system doesn’t recognize your legit AGI. This can cause your e-file to be rejected.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Can be a problem when trying to track a refund too

Speaking of which the IRS still has not completely refunded my 2020 tax return. Waiting on hold once again.

[in2herbs]

6. Filing year 2021 is the first time I get a return on my fed taxes. If the gov doesn't send me my

refund by tax filing season next year can I take my 2021 refund and apply it as taxes paid in 2022??

[bucolic_frolic]

7. I'm no expert, but I don't think so

I think they handle each year separately.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

13. The IRS used to have this big publication that covered all kinds of questions.

I'm sure it was no match for really problematic returns, but I suspect it handled most of the questions agents would hear during any given day.

It was called ... Publication 17. It is still there, and it is downloadable.

About Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals)

I used to try to grab it in paper every year, but you don't need to do that anymore.

HTH.

[Hoyt]

2. Call IRS, somedays they tell you to wait. Other days, "We can't take any more phonecalls, clunk."

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. When I filed electronically last year, the first time I filed electronically, the IRS told me to

put in zero for the previous year's AGI.

I just filed this year less than an hour. I had a copy of my last year's return in my computer, so I had an AGI to enter this year.

I expect a rejection letter from the IRS on general principles. There's always some box I forgot to check or not check.

[brooklynite]

4. I wouldn't know...our tax return runs to 66 pages and can never be filed electronically.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Understood. There are some forms that the online filing doesn't support.

Anything out of the ordinary, no dice. Last year was the first time I could fill out a free fillable online form. Before last year, no can do.

[iemanja]

10. Mine is long and is still filed electronically

If not for Turbotax, I'd have to hire someone to do them.

[MoonchildCA]

8. Thank you!

We just ran into this issue last night. We couldn’t figure out what we did wrong. This article was very helpful.

I think ours were amended last year, and maybe the new amount is in the backlog and not in the system yet. I’ll try again with the original amount when I can get my hands on it in a few hours, and hopefully that will do the trick.

We are not getting a refund, so we can mail it in if it doesn’t work.

[question everything]

9. One reason for the backlog is that IRS staff have to enter the data from paper into an electronic

file

[sarcasmo]

11. Times like these I'm glad I pay an accountant.

[hlthe2b]

12. +1