IRS rejecting my filing because of wrong AGI or self-entered PIN? Need help ASAP!

What you're experiencing is a common verification issue with the IRS e-filing system. When you e-file, the IRS needs to verify your identity using either your prior year AGI or a self-selected PIN you created when filing the previous year. For the self-selected PIN (which TurboTax calls a "5-digit signature PIN"), it would have been created during the filing process when you electronically signed your return. Unfortunately, this PIN isn't typically included in your tax return PDF document - it's used only during the electronic submission process and then isn't stored in your tax records for security reasons. Since you're certain your AGI is correct but the system isn't accepting it, there are a few things to try: 1) Make sure you're entering the exact AGI figure from line 11 of your 2021 Form 1040, with no rounding. 2) If you amended your 2021 return, you need to use the original AGI, not the amended one. 3) As you've discovered, entering $0 as AGI sometimes works as a workaround when there are verification issues. Glad to see your update that the $0 AGI method worked! This is actually a known workaround when people can't get their prior year AGI to validate correctly.

After spending HOURS trying to figure out this exact problem last month, I finally found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it totally saved me. I was getting the same error about needing a PIN but couldn't find it anywhere in my documents. I uploaded my 2021 tax return to taxr.ai and their AI actually pointed out that my AGI was different than what I was entering - turns out I was looking at the wrong line on my 1040! The tool analyzed my entire return in like 30 seconds and showed me exactly where to find the right AGI number to use. They also explained that the self-selected PIN isn't actually stored in your tax documents since it's only used during the submission process. Might be worth checking out if anyone else runs into this verification headache.

Just wanted to follow up on my skeptical comment earlier. I ended up trying taxr.ai after spending over an hour on hold with the IRS getting absolutely nowhere. I was really worried about the identity verification issue since my return got rejected twice. I uploaded my 2021 return and within seconds it showed me that my AGI was actually different than what I thought because of an adjustment the IRS had made that I forgot about. Once I used the correct number, my return was accepted right away. The service was actually super helpful and they didn't keep my documents or ask for any payment info. Just wanted to share since it saved me a massive headache during this tax season!

If you're still struggling with IRS verification or have other tax questions, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually get through to a real IRS agent. I spent DAYS trying to resolve my AGI/PIN issue and could never get past the IRS automated phone system. With Claimyr, I got a callback from an actual IRS agent within 45 minutes who could see my account history and help me with verification. They have a demo video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed my correct AGI and explained that my return was rejected because I had an unreported name change that was causing a mismatch with their records. Would never have figured that out on my own!

Alright I need to eat my words from my skeptical comment above. After trying to call the IRS for THREE DAYS STRAIGHT and never getting through, I broke down and tried Claimyr. Within 37 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS agent who helped me figure out why my return was being rejected. Turns out the AGI the IRS had on file for me was different because my employer submitted a corrected W-2 after I had filed last year, which changed my AGI by about $200. The agent was able to confirm the exact AGI I needed to use and my return was accepted right away. I hate admitting when I'm wrong but this literally saved me from missing the filing deadline. Just wanted to update in case anyone else is desperate to talk to an actual human at the IRS.

A trick that worked for me when I had this issue - try entering your AGI without any cents, just the whole dollar amount. Sometimes the system gets tripped up with decimal places. Also, make sure you're using the AGI from your ORIGINAL filed return, not an amended one if you filed a 1040X later.

I had the same problem and tried calling the IRS but was on hold for like 2 hours and then got disconnected!!! So frustrating. What finally worked for me was requesting a tax transcript from the IRS website and using the AGI shown there. Sometimes the AGI on your tax return copy isn't the same as what the IRS has on file if there were any adjustments made.