Rejected: fix and refile
Reviewed
A rejection means the IRS did not accept the return, so it is not filed yet. The rejection names the IRS business rule the return broke, for example “EIN and name don’t match IRS records”.
What you will see
- An email: “Action needed: the IRS rejected your [year] Form [form]”, with reminders on day 5 and day 8 if it is not fixed.
- The return shows Needs fixing, with the IRS reason and its rule number, such as “(IRS rule R0000-922-01)”, and a fix by date.
Fixing it
If your account shows “Review and refile, free”, open it. The panel lists the answers the rejection affects, each with a Change link. Correct them, sign again if the app asks, and choose Refile now, free.
Otherwise, email [email protected] with the organization’s name and EIN, or reply to the rejection email. Online refiling is being switched on in stages; until it reaches your return, we fix and refile it with you, also free. Some rejections are a technical problem on our side; we refile those for you and tell you when it is done.
The 10-day window
If the original return was sent on time and is rejected, the IRS gives a short perfection period: a corrected return sent and accepted within 10 calendar days of the rejection keeps the original filing date. The fix-by date on the return shows the last day.
Look up what each code means in our IRS reject code reference; see also Common reject codes.
California FTB rejections are fixed with you by email; we will contact you.
Questions
Do we pay again to refile?
No. Refiling a rejected return is free.
Can I just send it again without changing anything?
No. The IRS will reject it again for the same reason, and repeated rejections help no one. Fix the answer the rejection names first. If you do not understand the rejection, email [email protected].