Each and every year sees many tax returns get filed, and some of those get rejected. Not to worry as many reasons exist for this. Below we will answer the question: what do I do if my tax return is rejected?

1. Why Did My Tax Return Get Rejected?

There are a multitude of reasons your tax return may be rejected. Simple ones include typos such as misspelling on name, wrong address, typo on your Social Security Number, EIN, or other. These can be easily corrected in order for you to refile your tax return correctly. More serious errors are ones that involve the actual numbers. This can include simple math mistakes, such as forgetting to carry the one, adding instead of subtracting, adding the wrong two lines together, and a mountain of other simple but serious errors. Even more serious errors include filing numbers that don’t match your employer’s or worker’s numbers.

Other reasons an e-file tax return get rejected include:

  1. Your primary PIN or adjusted gross income does not match the previous year’s data.
  2. You may be missing the proper IRS Form 8962 for a premium tax credit.
  3. The primary PIN is invalid. You may be asked to reset this PIN so we advise you keep this data safe and current.
  4. Your Tax Identification or Employer Identification Number does not match.
  5. Your primary first or last name do not match.

Did you know? Approximately 12%, or 18 million, tax returns were rejected by the IRS in 2024? Source: ABC WRIC

2. Do I Have to Pay if the IRS rejects my tax return?

Unfortunately, you may be hit with penalties and fees in many cases where tax returns are rejected. This is especially true if you filed a wrong number on your income in your tax return. We highly advise you to constantly check on the status of your tax return on a regular basis. You may do so by either signing in to your IRS account and checking on its status. You may also use the Where’s My Refund tool offered by the IRS to check your status. The best part is you can get your status as soon as 24 hours after you e-file. It takes longer if you file by paper. In fact, it can take a good 4 weeks.

Did you know? The biggest fears among those filing their taxes are 1. Lack of funds 2. Making a mistake with math 3. Getting Audited Source: E-file.com

3. What to do if your Tax Return Gets Rejected?

The good news is for those of you who checked your return early is you can file again without any penalties or fees. Just do it before the official tax day of your year. You may look up the error code the IRS sends you to see what you did wrong. We highly recommend using the services of a professional bookkeeper in your area to refile your tax return to make sure it is done correctly.

What Do I Do If My Tax Return is Rejected in Houston?

Have you had a personal or business tax return rejected and you live in the Houston area? Please contact us as soon as possible to see what was done wrong, as well as file correctly.