Turbotax question

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

DD2 has been trying to file her taxes via turbotax. Her filing keeps getting rejected. Apparently her son's SS# doesn't match IRS records. Her son was born in June 2019. Apparently because she used the free filing, she is unable to get answers to her questions from Turbotax in order to figure out where her mistake or mistakes might be. I am not familiar with Turbotax, so I can't help her out.

Does anyone know resources where she can speak to a person to try and help her figure out what is going on? She does not have the resources to pay for advice. She is in the Austin area.

[billisonboard]

Perhaps try filing with a different site and see if the same SSN problem appears. If it does, I would say the problem is with Social Security.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

I hadn't thought of that, and I will  mention it to her. I would then be concerned, if she does so, that she might be flagged for a possible fraudulent filing?

I did mention to her that since she is a massage therapist, she might be able to exchange a few sessions for some help from a local CPA. After things settle down from the virus of course though.

[bean29]

We had a thread about Tax Filing Programs earlier this year.  Maybe look for that and see if you can get a better idea of the Free Filing Products available.

I think Turbo Tax is easier to use, but H&R Block is more robust/has more forms in it - if I remember correctly.

I buy Turbo Tax Home & Business for DH's business. It allows me to do 5 Federal Returns free and one state free. So I do my kid's tax returns in Turbo Tax and then Free File directly on the State of Wisconsin Web site. I don't know if there is a Free File option directly with the IRS, but I think there might be.

I would expect that a SS number rejecting would be the same across all their versions of Software, so one of us that has the paid version of the software could maybe look to see if there is any help for SS # rejecting? I am at work and don't have access - I will try to look it up tonight.

[billisonboard]

Apr 2, 2020 8:56:49 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

I hadn't thought of that, and I will  mention it to her. I would then be concerned, if she does so, that she might be flagged for a possible fraudulent filing?

I did mention to her that since she is a massage therapist, she might be able to exchange a few sessions for some help from a local CPA. After things settle down from the virus of course though.

NOTE: I am not a tax person so feel a little uncomfortable so anyone please feel free to say I am wrong here

I don't think that the IRS is going to get really bent out of shape on a return so simple it can be filled for free. What could happen? If, a very big if, she is "flagged". What? She gets a letter asking what's up? She answers. Are they going to throw her in jail?

[Deleted]

She might have to pay for Turbo Tax help, but she can call the IRS or the Social Security department for free.  That's probably all Turbo Tax is going to tell her to do anyhow. 

But, I wouldn't hesitate to just try another software program first as it will probably take forever to get through to anyone at IRS.   TaxAct, H&R Block...these would both be free as well. 

[jeffreymo]

I’m confused how the IRS would have her child’s social security information if the child was born in 2019, thus not on the 2018 return.

Does turbo-tax, during their help “wizard” ask anything about number of dependents at the start of the year or previously claimed? Maybe that would kick out an error like this?

I have never used TurboTax but I’m familiar with some of it’s checks and balances which can cause problems if there are operator errors on some of the simplest of questions.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Apr 2, 2020 9:47:49 GMT -5 jeffreymo said:

I’m confused how the IRS would have her child’s social security information if the child was born in 2019, thus not on the 2018 return.

Does turbo-tax, during their help “wizard” ask anything about number of dependents at the start of the year or previously claimed? Maybe that would kick out an error like this?

I have never used TurboTax but I’m familiar with some of it’s checks and balances which can cause problems if there are operator errors on some of the simplest of questions.

I was confused about that too. 

She doesn't live near me so I can't walk through the online program with her to help her figure out what might be going on. I also do not use TurboTax, so I can't really advise her about program specifics either.

I appreciate everyone's input!

ETA: I did inquire whether she accidentally transposed any numbers and she triple checked that, and her input matches her son's SS card.

[TheOtherMe]

It's most likely matching to SS database.

It might be a transposition error.

I'd try another free file service and if she gets the same error, she needs to determine if the SSN is correct for the child.

Could also be a mismatch on the name.  It must be exactly as on the social security card or it will reject.

ETA:  The child's name must be what is shows on the SS card.  Hyphenated, spelling, etc.

Also, someone else could have already filed using the number and she will have to paper file.

[billisonboard]

Apr 2, 2020 9:47:49 GMT -5 jeffreymo said:

I’m confused how the IRS would have her child’s social security information if the child was born in 2019, thus not on the 2018 return.

Does turbo-tax, during their help “wizard” ask anything about number of dependents at the start of the year or previously claimed? Maybe that would kick out an error like this?

I have never used TurboTax but I’m familiar with some of it’s checks and balances which can cause problems if there are operator errors on some of the simplest of questions.

I do use TurboTax. The basic process is you enter info, check it, hit "submit", and then get a notice the IRS has accepted it. I am reading it is at last stage that the rejection is happening. I can see where the IRS would have a simple name to number check to make sure they match. It makes sense to me that Social Security tells the IRS when they issue a number for a newborn.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Apr 2, 2020 9:55:36 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

It's most likely matching to SS database.

It might be a transposition error.

I'd try another free file service and if she gets the same error, she needs to determine if the SSN is correct for the child.

Could also be a mismatch on the name.  It must be exactly as on the social security card or it will reject.

ETA:  The child's name must be what is shows on the SS card.  Hyphenated, spelling, etc.

Also, someone else could have already filed using the number and she will have to paper file.

I actually asked her about that, supposedly the child's father does not have his SS#. I just messaged her to make sure her child's name is entered exactly as shown on the SS card.

[bean29]

I googled SS # rejected and got this (Intuit is the Software Company that owns TurboTax):

ttlc.intuit.com/community/rejections/help/e-file-rejections-related-to-incorrect-or-duplicated-names-birth-dates-or-social-security-numbers/00/26208

There are some specific rejection codes that detail specific problems - did she get a code indicating why they rejected it?

Could someone else be claiming her child?

[jeffreymo]

Apr 2, 2020 10:03:37 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Apr 2, 2020 9:47:49 GMT -5 jeffreymo said:

I’m confused how the IRS would have her child’s social security information if the child was born in 2019, thus not on the 2018 return.

Does turbo-tax, during their help “wizard” ask anything about number of dependents at the start of the year or previously claimed? Maybe that would kick out an error like this?

I have never used TurboTax but I’m familiar with some of it’s checks and balances which can cause problems if there are operator errors on some of the simplest of questions.

I do use TurboTax. The basic process is you enter info, check it, hit "submit", and then get a notice the IRS has accepted it. I am reading it is at last stage that the rejection is happening. I can see where the IRS would have a simple name to number check to make sure they match. It makes sense to me that Social Security tells the IRS when they issue a number for a newborn.

Ok. That makes sense. I wasn’t sure if the IRS had access to all SS #’s. I knew they cross-referenced for SS#’s filing returns to prevent fraud.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Apr 2, 2020 10:12:09 GMT -5 bean29 said:

I googled SS # rejected and got this (Intuit is the Software Company that owns TurboTax):

ttlc.intuit.com/community/rejections/help/e-file-rejections-related-to-incorrect-or-duplicated-names-birth-dates-or-social-security-numbers/00/26208

There are some specific rejection codes that detail specific problems - did she get a code indicating why they rejected it?

Could someone else be claiming her child?

I forwarded this link to her, thank you!