Be careful when preparing and filing returns near year end

[EricF]

We prepared a return in 2019 and created the e-file.  For various reasons, the return was not e-filed until 2020.  ATX Electronic Filing Center rejected the e-filing (on the extended due date!).

The explanation was that the e-file identifier contains the year created and must be filed within that year.  The return with a 2019 identifier was not accepted when e-filed in 2020.  We had to delete the EF form and add it back.  The recreated e-file had a 2020 identifier, and it went through.

Lesson learned:  Don't let the time between creating the e-file and submitting the e-file stretch over the end of a year.

[Lee B]

This issue with ATX has existed going back for many years