Why did I get this rejection?
The IRS uses your prior year adjusted gross income (AGI) or prior year Self-Select PIN (a five-digit number used to sign and e-file a tax return) to confirm your identity when you e-file.
This rejection means the information entered for you or your spouse doesn’t match what the IRS has on file. Once the correct information is entered, you can resubmit your return.
How to fix the rejection
There are a few things you can check to get this sorted. Review the steps below, then resubmit your return in april:
Check prior year AGI or PIN for you and your spouse
Start by confirming the information entered for each person on the return.
Use the original, accepted tax return from last year
Find AGI on line 11 of Form 1040
If you’re filing a 2025 return, use AGI from your 2024 return
Don’t use AGI from an amended return (Form 1040-X)
If you’re filing jointly, make sure both the primary taxpayer and spouse entries are correct.
Important rules for joint and separate filing
How filing status affects prior-year AGI verification
If you and your spouse filed a joint return last year, the IRS expects the full joint AGI from last year — even if you’re filing separately this year
If each spouse filed separately last year, then each person uses their own AGI from last year
If you’re filing jointly this year and filed jointly last year, you and your spouse both use the same joint AGI
Make sure it’s entered exactly
Enter the full AGI or PIN exactly as shown
Follow rounding instructions from your tax software
Double-check for typos or missing digits
Even small differences can cause a rejection.
If you don’t have last year’s return
Request a free IRS tax transcript
Online transcripts are available right away
Look for the line labeled Adjusted gross income
Don’t calculate your AGI from W-2s or 1099s.
If your filing status changed
Filed jointly last year and separately this year
Enter the full AGI from last year’s joint return
Filing jointly this year but filed separately last year
Each spouse enters their own AGI from last year
If you’re using a prior year PIN
Enter the exact self-select PIN used on last year’s return
If you don’t remember it, switch to using your prior year AGI
When entering “0” may work
You can try entering 0 if:
You mailed last year’s tax return and it wasn’t processed before the IRS opened e-file for this tax season
In this situation, the IRS may not have your prior year AGI available for electronic verification yet.
If you’re still getting rejected
If none of the steps above work, you can still e-file.
Request an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS
Enter your IP PIN in april and resubmit your return
If e-file still isn’t accepted, you’ll need to print and mail your return to the IRS.