Help! Getting IND-031-04 error - my AGI or Self-select PIN from last year doesn't match IRS records
I'm about to pull my hair out trying to e-file my taxes this year. TurboTax keeps rejecting my return with this stupid error: "IND-031-04 - The primary taxpayer's AGI or Self-select PIN from last year does not match IRS records." I swear I'm using the correct AGI from last year's return (which I also did with TurboTax). I've triple-checked the number and it's exactly what's on my 2023 return, but the system just won't accept it. After some digging around online, I saw someone mention checking the IRS transcript page for verification. I just went there and clicked on the 2023 return transcript link, but then hit another roadblock. The website just gave me a weird message and I couldn't access anything. Has anyone else dealt with this IND-031-04 error? It's so frustrating because I know I'm putting in the right AGI! Could there be something wrong with the IRS records? I'm getting close to the deadline and really need to get this sorted out.
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Hannah Flores
This IND-031-04 error is pretty common, so don't panic! When the IRS rejects your return with this code, it means they can't verify your identity based on last year's information. Here are a few things to try: 1. Make sure you're using your AGI from your 2023 tax return (the one you filed in 2024), not from 2022 or any other year. 2. If you amended your 2023 return at any point, use the AGI from your ORIGINAL return, not the amended one. 3. If you filed jointly last year but are filing differently this year (or vice versa), that can sometimes cause this error. 4. If you can't access your 2023 return or transcript, try entering $0 as your prior year AGI. This sometimes works if you didn't file last year or if the IRS hasn't processed your previous return yet. 5. Double-check that you're entering just the number with no dollar signs, commas, or decimal points. If none of these work, you might need to file by mail this year, unfortunately. The IRS's electronic systems can sometimes have these verification hiccups.
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Kayla Jacobson
•Thanks for the detailed response! Question about the $0 AGI trick - does that actually work if you DID file last year but are having this issue? And if I have to file by mail, will I still get my refund in a reasonable time frame or am I looking at months of waiting?
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Hannah Flores
•Using $0 as your AGI can sometimes work even if you did file last year, especially if your return was processed late or had issues. It's worth trying before resorting to paper filing. If you do have to file by paper, unfortunately refund times are much longer - typically 6-8 weeks under normal conditions, but it could stretch to 3-4 months with current IRS processing backlogs. Paper returns also have a higher error rate, so double-check everything before sending.
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William Rivera
After struggling with a similar AGI rejection issue for days, I finally found a solution through taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). I was ready to throw my laptop out the window when a friend recommended it. Basically, I uploaded my previous year's tax documents and the tool analyzed them to find the correct AGI that the IRS actually had on file for me. Turns out there was a discrepancy between what was on my paper return and what the IRS had processed - a difference of just $130 that was driving me crazy! The system also explained that sometimes if you've had identity verification issues in the past or if your return was adjusted by the IRS, the AGI in their system might be different from what's on your copy of the return. Knowing the exact number they had on file solved my problem immediately.
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Grace Lee
•How does taxr.ai actually get the correct AGI number? Is it accessing the IRS database somehow? I'm a little skeptical about giving my tax docs to a random website...
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Mia Roberts
•Does it work for people who had their return prepared by a professional last year? My CPA did my taxes in 2023 and gave me a copy, but now I'm doing them myself with software and getting this same error.
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William Rivera
•The service works by analyzing your tax documents using their AI system to identify the exact figures that should match IRS records. It doesn't directly access the IRS database, but uses pattern recognition to identify discrepancies and common issues with AGI matching. They use bank-level encryption for document security, which was important to me too. Yes, it absolutely works for returns that were professionally prepared! Actually, that's a common scenario where this problem happens - sometimes the final filed version has slight adjustments that weren't reflected in your copy, especially if your CPA made last-minute changes before submitting.
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Mia Roberts
Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after posting my question and it worked perfectly! Found out my CPA had made a last-minute adjustment to my retirement contributions that changed my AGI by about $250. The copy he gave me didn't have this change, which is why my e-file kept getting rejected. The service showed me exactly what number to use and explained where the discrepancy came from. Filed successfully on my first try after that! Saved me from having to track down my busy CPA or deal with paper filing. Definitely worth checking out if you're facing this frustrating IND-031-04 error.
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The Boss
If you're still struggling with this IND-031-04 error and need to talk to an actual IRS agent (which can help resolve it), good luck getting through on the phone these days! After being disconnected 8 times over 3 days, I discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it literally saved my sanity. Instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting the dreaded "call volume too high" message, their system holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is ready. You can see a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super skeptical at first, but after wasting days trying to get through myself, I was desperate. Got connected to an IRS rep in about 45 minutes who confirmed my actual AGI from last year's return and explained why my e-file attempts were getting rejected (turned out my return had been adjusted during processing).
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Evan Kalinowski
•Wait, how does this actually work? The IRS phone system is notoriously terrible - how can a third-party service possibly get you through when the IRS itself says they can't take more calls?
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Victoria Charity
•Yeah right. Sounds like BS to me. I've tried EVERYTHING to get through to the IRS and nothing works. If the IRS phone lines are full, they're full. No way some magic service fixes that. Probably just takes your money and you still end up waiting forever.
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The Boss
•It works because their system knows the optimal times to call and uses automated technology to navigate the IRS phone tree and secure a spot in line. Instead of you having to call repeatedly and wait on hold, their system does that part for you and only connects you when an actual human IRS agent is ready. I was skeptical too, and I understand your frustration with the IRS phone system. That's exactly why I tried it after wasting days getting nowhere. The difference is their system can make hundreds of automated call attempts using optimal timing patterns - something impossible for an individual to do manually. When I got connected to an actual IRS agent who resolved my AGI issue, I was genuinely shocked it worked so well.
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Victoria Charity
Need to eat my words here. After posting my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr anyway because my e-file kept getting rejected with that IND-031-04 error and tax day was approaching fast. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes. The agent confirmed there was an adjustment to my previous year's return that changed my AGI from what was on my copy. Once I had the correct number, my return went through immediately. For anyone still struggling with this error - yes, the service actually works. Saved me from having to file by mail and wait months for my refund. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing!
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Jasmine Quinn
Had the same error and found another solution! I checked my IRS account online and downloaded my "Account Transcript" (not Return Transcript) for 2023. On line 150, it showed "total tax" and then the AGI was on a different line. The AGI on this transcript was different from my return copy by about $340. Used that number and my e-file went through instantly!
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Oscar Murphy
•Where exactly do you find the AGI on the account transcript? I'm looking at mine and see the line 150 for total tax, but I don't see anything labeled as AGI. Is it under a different code?
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Jasmine Quinn
•You're right, it's not explicitly labeled as AGI on the transcript. Look for line item 150 (tax per return) first to orient yourself. Then look for the code 11701 which usually appears above that - it shows your "Adjusted Gross Income Per Return". The number next to that code is what you want to use. If you don't see code 11701, you may need to check for any transaction codes like 290 or 291 which indicate adjustments were made to your original return. These adjustments could be why your known AGI doesn't match what the IRS has on file.
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Nora Bennett
Remember this error can also happen if you didn't file taxes last year! If that's your situation, enter 0 as your prior year AGI. TurboTax should give you this option somewhere. I didn't file in 2023 (wasn't required to) and was getting the same error until I realized this.
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Ryan Andre
•This is the correct answer for my situation! I didn't need to file last year because I was a student with minimal income. Tried putting 0 as last year's AGI and my return was accepted immediately. Thanks for mentioning this!
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