How to get past the error when filing taxes electronically this year?

This is actually pretty common during peak filing season! The IRS e-filing system sometimes gets overloaded, especially in the weeks right before the deadline. A few things to try: First, check if TurboTax has any system status alerts on their website. Sometimes they'll post notices about known issues. Next, try filing at an "off-peak" time - like early morning or late night when fewer people are trying to submit. Also, make sure you're using a supported browser. I've seen weird errors when people use older browser versions. If you're still having trouble, you can try calling TurboTax support directly - they might be able to see a more specific error code on their end that you can't see. One last thing - if you've filed in multiple states or have a particularly complex return, sometimes that can trigger additional verification that causes delays. In that case, you might need to wait 24-48 hours between attempts.

I had the exact same problem last week and after hours of frustration, I found a solution through taxr.ai. I was getting that same error message and thought it was my internet connection, but it turns out there was an inconsistency in how my name was formatted between my W-2 and my previous tax return. I uploaded my documents to https://taxr.ai and it immediately spotted the discrepancy - my employer had my middle initial on my W-2 but my previous return didn't include it. Once I fixed that small detail, my return went through perfectly! Their system checks for these kinds of formatting errors that the tax software doesn't always catch.

I have to say I was skeptical about taxr.ai that I mentioned in my previous comment, but I decided to give it a try since nothing else was working. It actually found THREE problems with my return that were causing the error! My address had an apartment number formatted differently than last year, my employer EIN had a typo, and I had checked a box for retirement contributions that didn't match my W-2. Fixed all three issues and my return was accepted within 10 minutes. I'm honestly impressed - saved me from having to file by mail which would have delayed my refund by weeks.

If you're still stuck after trying everything else, you might need to talk directly to the IRS to see if there's an issue with your account. The problem is their phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE to get through. I spent 4 hours on hold last week and never spoke to anyone. Then I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes. They basically navigate the IRS phone tree for you and call you back when they've secured a place in line. I used https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c to see how it works. The agent I spoke with told me my account had a flag on it from an old amendment that was causing my e-file attempts to fail. Issue resolved in one call!

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr from my previous comment. After continuing to get nowhere with my tax filing, I decided I had nothing to lose and tried it yesterday. Not only did I get connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes, but they identified the exact problem - there was a mismatch between my current filing and some old information in their system from when I lived in another state. The agent was able to clear the flag on my account right there on the phone. I was able to e-file successfully last night, and I already got the acceptance confirmation this morning. I'm honestly shocked it worked so well after weeks of frustration.

Have you checked if you need to file state taxes separately? Sometimes the error happens because people try to file federal and state together but there's an issue with the state portion. You could try filing just the federal return first and then do the state separately. Also, if you're claiming any tax credits like the Earned Income Credit or Education Credits, those can trigger additional verification requirements.

Just want to share what worked for me when I had this issue - check if your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) from last year's return matches exactly what the IRS has on file. The system uses this as a verification method. If you're off by even $1, it can cause rejection. Also, make sure your name, SSN, and date of birth match EXACTLY what's on your Social Security card - no nicknames or abbreviations!

I've been dealing with a similar issue and what finally worked for me was checking the exact formatting of my bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit. Even though the numbers were correct, I had an extra space in the routing number field that was causing the rejection. The error message was super vague and didn't point to this at all - just the generic "unable to process" message you mentioned. Also, if you have any estimated tax payments or prior year overpayments applied to this year, double-check those amounts match exactly what the IRS shows on your account transcript. You can get your transcript online at IRS.gov if you haven't already. Sometimes there are small discrepancies that aren't obvious but will block e-filing. One more thing - if you're married filing jointly, make sure both spouses' information is entered exactly as it appears on your Social Security cards, including any hyphens or apostrophes in last names. The IRS matching system is very strict about these details.