Help! Just got Form 9143 about invalid signature on my 1040

This is actually pretty common and nothing to panic about! The IRS is very particular about signatures, and several things could have happened: You might have signed with a digital/electronic signature instead of a wet signature (actual pen on paper). The IRS requires a handwritten signature on paper returns. You might have used pencil or a color other than black or blue ink, which they don't accept. Your signature might not match what they have on file from previous returns. You might have forgotten to date the signature line. The good news is this is easy to fix! Just sign the form again (with blue or black ink) where indicated, and mail everything back in the envelope they provided. Since you originally filed on time, you shouldn't face any late penalties - they consider your original submission date as your filing date as long as you promptly correct the signature issue.

Had almost the exact same thing happen to me two years ago. I was stressed too, but found that taxr.ai really helped me figure out exactly what was wrong with my signature. I uploaded a picture of the 9143 and my original 1040 to https://taxr.ai and it analyzed everything and told me exactly what was wrong - turns out I had signed my name but forgot to put the date next to my signature (rookie mistake!). The tool also helped me understand exactly what I needed to do to fix it properly. They have this document analyzer that breaks down IRS forms and tells you what each part means and what you need to do. Much clearer than the actual IRS instructions which just confused me more honestly.

Just wanted to update about my experience with taxr.ai since I was initially skeptical. I ended up trying it after getting frustrated with being on hold with the IRS for 2+ hours. It was actually really helpful! I uploaded my 9143 form and it immediately explained exactly what I needed to do. The document analysis explained that I needed to use dark blue or black ink (I had used a light blue gel pen), and that I needed to make sure my signature matched my previous returns. It even gave me a checklist of items to verify before sending it back. The whole process took like 5 minutes and I felt way more confident when I mailed everything back. Definitely worth checking out if you're confused by IRS notices.

If you need to actually talk to someone at the IRS about this (which might be a good idea if you're worried about penalties), I'd recommend using https://claimyr.com instead of waiting on hold forever. I used it when I had a similar issue with a rejected signature on my tax return. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically they hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent is about to pick up. I was able to confirm that there wouldn't be any penalties since it was their request for a corrected signature. The IRS agent also gave me specific instructions on what to include when I sent back the form. Saved me hours of hold music and stress!

Ok I have to eat my words. I was so skeptical about Claimyr but I was desperate after getting the same 9143 form and not being able to get anyone on the phone. I tried it yesterday, and no joke, I got through to an actual IRS person within about 40 minutes without having to sit there listening to that awful hold music. The agent confirmed that as long as I sign and return everything promptly, my original filing date would still be considered valid. They also explained exactly what was wrong with my signature (I had signed it electronically with a "/s/" prefix which isn't valid for paper returns). Would have taken me days to figure this out on my own with their unhelpful letter. Honestly worth it just for the peace of mind.

I had this problem last year! For me it was because I signed my return but my spouse didn't (they asked me to mail it while they were traveling for work and I completely forgot they needed to sign too). Just make sure you sign with a blue or black pen - no pencil, no fancy colors. And make sure the signature matches what they have on file from previous years. Also, don't stress about penalties. As long as you promptly return the signed forms, they'll consider your original submission date as your filing date. Just make sure to use the envelope they provided so it goes to the right department.

Curious - did anyone else have issues with e-filing? I feel like this whole signature problem could have been avoided if you'd filed electronically. I've been e-filing for years and never had an issue like this.

I went through this exact same thing last year! Got the dreaded Form 9143 and had a mini panic attack thinking I'd messed up my taxes completely. Turns out I had signed with a purple gel pen (seemed like a good idea at the time, don't ask why 🤦‍♀️). The key things I learned: 1) Use only black or blue ink - no gel pens, no fancy colors, no pencil 2) Make sure your signature looks reasonably similar to previous years 3) Don't forget to date it if there's a date line 4) Send everything back that they returned to you, not just the signature page The good news is this is super common and totally fixable! I was worried about penalties too, but as long as you get it back to them promptly, your original filing date counts. Just make sure to use certified mail with tracking - learned that lesson from the comments above and it's totally worth the extra few dollars for peace of mind. You'll get through this! It's way more stressful than it needs to be, but it's really just a paperwork hiccup.

I'm dealing with a Form 9143 right now too! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I was convinced I had completely screwed up my taxes, but it sounds like this is actually pretty routine. My situation is a bit different - I think I might have used a Sharpie marker to sign mine (seemed bold and official at the time, but now I'm realizing that was probably a mistake). The ink was definitely black, but maybe too thick/bold for their scanners? One question for anyone who's been through this - about how long did it take to get confirmation that they received and processed your corrected return? I'm planning to send mine back with certified mail as suggested, but wondering what kind of timeline to expect before I hear back from them. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This thread has saved me so much stress and confusion.