Getting IRS Tax Rejection Code IND-031-04 despite using correct AGI in TurboTax - help!

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm definitely using my 2023 AGI, and I didn't file an amended return. I'll double check my actual 1040 from last year instead of just the transcript. One question though - if I did use the $0 trick and it worked, would that cause any problems with my actual return processing? Also, do you know if this is happening to a lot of people this year?

Using $0 as your prior year AGI is actually an IRS-approved workaround for this specific issue and won't affect your return's processing at all - it's just an identity verification step. The actual amounts and calculations on your current return remain unchanged. Yes, this is definitely happening to a lot of people this tax season! There appears to be some kind of systemic issue with the IRS database that's causing these AGI mismatches. I've seen at least a dozen posts about this exact rejection code in the past week. The IRS is aware of the problem but hasn't fully resolved it yet.

Does taxr.ai work if you've already filed on TurboTax or do you have to do your whole return again? My situation is similar but I've already completed everything on TurboTax and just keep getting rejected. Also, how does it handle these weird IRS rejection codes specifically?

I'm skeptical - how does this actually work? I thought TurboTax was supposed to connect directly to the IRS system to verify this info. Are you saying the IRS gives different AGI info to different services? And how does taxr.ai get access to IRS data that we can't see ourselves?

You don't need to redo your whole return - you can keep using TurboTax for filing. Taxr.ai just analyzes your forms and transcripts to identify discrepancies. For rejection codes like IND-031-04, it compares what you're entering against what the IRS actually has on file, which helped me find the exact source of the mismatch. The IRS systems sometimes have updated information that isn't immediately visible on the forms you filed. For example, in my case, they had made a math correction to my return that changed my AGI slightly, but I was still using the original number. Taxr.ai can access the same transcript data you can, but their system interprets all those cryptic codes and entries that most of us don't understand.

How does this actually work? Does it just auto-dial for you or something? I've been trying to reach the IRS for days about this same rejection code and keep getting the "call volume too high" message.

Yeah right. Nothing can get through to the IRS faster. Their phone system is deliberately designed to be impossible. I'll believe it when I see it - they're probably just charging people for something you could do yourself.

It's not just auto-dialing - they have a system that navigates through all the IRS phone prompts and literally waits on hold for you. When they finally get a human on the line, you get a call connecting you directly to the agent. No more listening to that awful hold music for hours! I was super skeptical too before trying it. The IRS phone system is absolutely designed to be frustrating - I spent three days getting nowhere on my own. But this service has some kind of special tech that keeps your place in line even when the IRS tries to disconnect you. I don't know exactly how it works, but I was able to talk to a real person who looked up my file and confirmed the exact AGI number I needed to use.

You might be onto something! I did get the Return Transcript, not the Account Transcript. I didn't even realize there were different types. I'll try pulling the Account Transcript instead and see if the AGI is different there. Man, they really don't make this easy do they? Thanks for the tip!

They definitely don't make it easy! The different transcript types confused me too. The Account Transcript is the one that shows any math corrections or adjustments the IRS made after you filed. If you look at your Account Transcript, check for any transaction codes like "290" which often indicate adjustments. Next to that code will be the amount of the adjustment (could be positive or negative). Add that to your original AGI and you should get the number the IRS is expecting. Good luck!

I had the same rejection code using FreeTaxUSA, so it's definitely an IRS issue, not a TurboTax problem. Switching software won't help because they all connect to the same IRS e-file system. You need to figure out what AGI the IRS actually has on file for you.

This is incredibly helpful - thank you for breaking down the specific steps! I'm definitely going to try getting the Account Transcript instead. The fact that they make these adjustments without notifying us but then expect us to know about them for verification is absolutely ridiculous. Did you have any trouble interpreting the transaction codes, or were the 290/291 codes pretty obvious once you knew what to look for? I'm worried I might miss something important in all those numbers and codes.

The 290/291 codes are usually pretty clear once you know what you're looking for, but I'll admit the transcripts can be overwhelming at first glance. Here's a tip that helped me: focus on the "Transaction Date" column first - look for dates after your original filing date in 2023. Any entries with dates later than when you filed are likely adjustments. The 290 codes will show as either positive or negative dollar amounts. If it's negative, subtract that from your original AGI. If positive, add it. There might be multiple adjustment entries, so make sure to account for all of them. One thing that tripped me up initially - ignore the interest and penalty codes (like 160, 161) since those don't affect your AGI calculation. Stick to the 290/291 series for actual tax adjustments. If you're still unsure after getting your Account Transcript, definitely call the IRS to verify - it'll save you from more rejections!