Rejected Efile, can't fix

[Patrick Michael]

Hope everyone made it through with their sanity in tact.

Efiled MFS return on the 15th and it was rejected because spouse's name/SSN does not match master file. Client is sure the name and SSN is right but it was rejected a second time. Looks like she will have to paper file. What does she have to do to show she filed before the deadline but it was rejected?

Thanks.

[RitaB]

My best off the cuff answer: Attach the e-file acknowledgement history and Form 8948.

[Jack from Ohio]

Hope everyone made it through with their sanity in tact.

Efiled MFS return on the 15th and it was rejected because spouse's name/SSN does not match master file. Client is sure the name and SSN is right but it was rejected a second time. Looks like she will have to paper file. What does she have to do to show she filed before the deadline but it was rejected?

Thanks.

Did you make sure that what you filed matched EXACTLY what is on her SS card? EXACTLY. "Client is sure..." is not good enough unless she is reading from the SS card. Been through this dozens of times and what the client is "sure of" very rarely matches the SS card.

[RitaB]

Did you make sure that what you filed matched EXACTLY what is on her SS card? EXACTLY. "Client is sure..." is not good enough unless she is reading from the SS card. Been through this dozens of times and what the client is "sure of" very rarely matches the SS card.

Well, yeah, there's that. I have one who swears every year that she changed her name with SSA. I just nod and continue to use her old name.

[Jack from Ohio]

Well, yeah, there's that. I have one who swears every year that she changed her name with SSA. I just nod and continue to use her old name.

We have three clients that we mail the returns to them with her married name on them, then change her name to her maiden name and efile. We stopped asking....

[Gail in Virginia]

And I had a client whose return we had electronically filed for several years using her current married name. All of a sudden one year, it would not file and the name that actually worked was her married name from a previous marriage. Sometimes the system has indigestion.

[David1980]

From pub 1345:

If the taxpayer chooses not to have the electronic portion of the return corrected and transmitted to the IRS, or if the IRS cannot accept the return for processing, the taxpayer must file a paper return. In order to timely file the return, the taxpayer must file the paper return by the later of the due date of the return or ten calendar days after the date the IRS gives notification that it rejected the electronic portion of the return or that the return cannot be accepted for processing. Taxpayers should include an explanation in the paper return as to why they are filing the return after the due date.

[David1980]

Also worth considering: Would you want to e-file this return even if you could? The e-file perfection period for a 1040 is 5-days. E-file a 1040 today and the return would be considered late. Paper-file a rejected tax return today and assuming it was rejected 4/11 or later it is on time.

[Jack from Ohio]

Also worth considering: Would you want to e-file this return even if you could? The e-file perfection period for a 1040 is 5-days. E-file a 1040 today and the return would be considered late. Paper-file a rejected tax return today and assuming it was rejected 4/11 or later it is on time.

ONLY if the client owes tax. Otherwise, no consequences.

[David1980]

True, though I'd paper file it anyway to get it timely filed in case some other income pops up at a later time. Wouldn't be a happy taxpayer if they discover they "forgot" a $50k pension distribution and the refund turns into a significant balance due with FTF penalties.