Anyone else filing with TurboTax get sent to 'Errors Department'? Seems suspicious.

The "errors department" is actually a real thing at the IRS, though they don't officially call it that. As of February 16th, the IRS reported approximately 8.4% of early filers were flagged for additional review this year, which is higher than the typical 6.2% we saw last year. TurboTax isn't making this up - they're just using simplified language to explain that your return is in the Error Resolution System (ERS) or Rejection Processing System (RPS), which handles everything from simple math errors to identity verification issues.

I was in the exact same situation last week - TurboTax gave me that errors department message too. Compared to when I filed with H&R Block last year, TurboTax gives way less specific information. I was going crazy trying to get through to the IRS (60+ calls over 3 days). Finally used Claimyr.com and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes. Such a relief! The agent confirmed it was just in standard verification and nothing was actually wrong with my return. My refund was released literally the next day. The $20 I spent on Claimyr saved me days of stress and redial attempts.

I've been through this three times in the last four years. Think of the IRS processing system like a highway with multiple lanes. Most returns cruise through the express lane, but some get randomly diverted to the inspection station (the "errors department"). It's like TSA randomly selecting passengers for additional screening - doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Each time it happened to me, my return was held for 14-21 days and then processed normally. No adjustments, no actual errors found. The system is just overwhelmed and uses these holding patterns to manage workflow.

I've helped several clients navigate this exact situation. Here's what you can do: 1. First, check your tax transcript to see if there are any specific codes indicating the actual issue 2. Look for codes 570 (additional account action pending) or 971 (notice issued) 3. If you see these codes, they can tell you exactly what's happening I've found that https://taxr.ai is extremely helpful for interpreting these transcript codes. It analyzes your transcript and explains exactly what each code means for your specific situation and gives you a timeline for resolution. Much more helpful than the generic info from TurboTax or even the IRS website.

WARNING TO EVERYONE: If your return is in the "errors department" DO NOT IGNORE THIS! I made this mistake last year and it cost me months of delays. The IRS sent a letter requesting additional verification on March 12th that I completely missed. My refund was held until I responded in June! If TurboTax or the WMR tool shows any unusual status, you need to be checking your mail DAILY and responding immediately to any IRS correspondence. The technical term for this department is Error Resolution/Reject Processing, and they handle everything from simple math errors to suspected identity theft cases. Time is absolutely critical if they're requesting information from you.

Has anyone actually called TurboTax to ask what specific error they're referring to? When I had this issue last year, I found out that TurboTax just uses generic status messages that don't necessarily reflect what's actually happening with your return. Sometimes they say "errors department" when it's actually just normal processing.