Rejected: BR R0000-198 - Suspicious Activity Alert on my Tax Return? Can't find any info on this code

This rejection code typically means the IRS system has flagged something in your return that triggered their fraud detection algorithms. It doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong - these systems can be overly sensitive sometimes. The "BR" in the code stands for "Business Rule" and the R0000-198 is a specific rule related to their fraud prevention measures. Unfortunately, the IRS intentionally doesn't publish detailed explanations of these codes to prevent people from gaming the system. Your best options are: 1) Try filing by paper instead of e-filing, 2) Double-check your personal information (SSN, birthdate, name spelling) against your Social Security card to ensure perfect accuracy, 3) If you've moved recently or had any major life changes, that might have triggered the flag.

I ran into something similar last year and it was incredibly frustrating. After hours of trying to figure it out myself, I found this AI tax assistant called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that actually helped me understand what was happening with my return. The tool analyzed my rejection code and explained that my return had been flagged because I had recently moved to a different state and there were some discrepancies with my address information that triggered their system. I was able to fix the specific issues and successfully file. What's cool is that it can look at all the documents and forms you've received and tell you exactly what's wrong.

Just wanted to follow up here - I was desperate enough to try that taxr.ai site after getting the same rejection code, and I'm actually shocked at how helpful it was. Uploaded my documents and within minutes it identified that my employer had entered my SSN incorrectly on my W-2 (transposed two digits). The AI pointed out the specific error and showed me where the discrepancy was. No wonder the IRS system was flagging it as suspicious! I would never have caught this tiny mistake on my own. Got a corrected W-2 from my employer and my return was accepted on the next try. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck with one of these weird rejection codes.

When I had a similar issue last tax season, I spent DAYS trying to reach the IRS by phone. Always busy signals or disconnections after waiting for hours. Then I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super skeptical but desperate. They basically call the IRS for you, navigate the phone tree, wait on hold, then call you when they have an agent on the line. The agent I spoke with explained exactly what triggered the rejection code and helped me resolve it. Saved me so much frustration and time!

Ok I need to eat my words here. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to reach the IRS about my own rejection code, so I tried Claimyr as a last resort. Got connected to an IRS rep in about 15 minutes when I had previously wasted HOURS trying to get through. The agent told me my return was flagged because I had an identity theft marker placed on my account last year after a data breach (which I had completely forgotten about). She removed the flag and walked me through the steps to resubmit my return. Problem solved in one phone call after weeks of stress. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing!

I got this exact code last year and it turned out to be because I had forgotten to report a small 1099-MISC income from a side gig. The amount was only $250 but it triggered their systems. Double check that you've reported ALL income from ALL sources, even small amounts.

Has anyone tried looking up this code in the IRS's error explanation docs? Sometimes they have public documentation for these error codes even if they don't explain them in detail.

I had this exact same rejection code last month and it was incredibly stressful! After trying everything suggested here, what finally worked for me was calling the IRS Practitioner Priority Line early in the morning (around 7 AM). I got through in about 30 minutes, which is way better than the regular taxpayer line. The agent explained that my return was flagged because I had claimed a dependent who had been claimed on someone else's return the previous year (my ex claimed our child in 2023, but custody changed for 2024). Even though I was legally entitled to claim the dependent, their system flagged it as potentially fraudulent. She gave me a special PIN number and told me to paper file with Form 8332 attached to prove the custody arrangement. The return was processed without any issues after that. Sometimes these rejection codes are just the system being overly cautious, but there's usually a specific reason buried in your situation that you might not think is relevant.