WMR Error: 'Information Not Entered Correctly' When Using Tax Preparer's Refund Amount

Oh man, I've been there! 😂 Who knew checking on your own money could be so complicated? The WMR tool is surprisingly picky about the exact refund amount - it wants the precise number from line 35a on your 1040 form (assuming you filed that). Your tax preparer might have given you the amount AFTER their fees were taken out, which would explain the mismatch. I was shocked when I realized how many different "refund amounts" can exist for the same return!

This is a common authentication error in the Where's My Refund verification process. The system requires the exact refund amount as calculated on Form 1040 line 35a - the Federal Return Amount - not the net amount after preparer fees are deducted. Did your preparer provide you with a copy of your actual tax return? If so, could you verify the exact amount on line 35a and try entering that instead?

omg this happened 2 me too!! i was freaking out bc i kept getting that error msg 😫 i finally just called the IRS but was on hold 4ever until i found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). they got me connected 2 an IRS agent in like 20 mins who confirmed my tax preparer gave me the amount AFTER their fees were taken out, but WMR needs the BEFORE amount from line 35a. once i put in the right # it worked immediately! saved me so much stress tbh

I made exactly this mistake last year and it cost me 37 days of unnecessary worry. I kept entering $2,873 (what my preparer told me I'd receive) but the correct amount for WMR was $3,148. The difference was exactly $275 - my preparer's fee that they deducted automatically. After 5 weeks of failed WMR checks and thinking my return was lost, I finally realized the issue when I reviewed my actual Form 1040 line 35a.

I've seen this exact issue every tax season for the past 4 years. Back in 2021, I had the same problem and wasted weeks trying to figure it out. The key is to check line 35a on your actual tax return form - that's the amount the IRS is looking for in WMR. If you don't have your full return, you need to get it ASAP. I've started using https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcripts and notices - it helped me understand exactly what was happening with my refund and explained all those cryptic codes. With tax day coming up on April 15th, you'll want to get this sorted quickly!

Look at your actual tax return. Line 35a on Form 1040 has the number you need. Tax preparers often tell you a lower amount because they subtract their fees. WMR needs the full amount before fees. Simple fix, but causes a lot of confusion.

There's another technical aspect to consider here. The IRS Authentication Protocol requires exact matching of three data points: SSN, filing status, and refund amount. When the system returns an authentication error, it doesn't specify which element failed validation. In approximately 72% of cases like yours, the refund amount is the culprit. However, it's also worth verifying that you're entering your SSN exactly as it appears on your tax return and selecting the precise filing status you used. The system has zero tolerance for discrepancies in any of these fields.

Have you contacted your tax preparer about this? I'm wondering if they could provide you with the exact amount that was submitted to the IRS on your behalf. Did they perhaps take out their fee from the refund, making the amount they told you different from what's actually on your tax documents?

Just to clarify what everyone is saying - the amount you need for WMR is from line 35a on Form 1040 of your tax return. I filed on February 3rd and made this exact mistake. The amount my preparer told me included their fee already deducted. When I finally checked my actual return on February 15th and used the correct amount, WMR worked immediately and showed my refund was already approved and scheduled for deposit on February 20th. I had been unnecessarily worried for almost two weeks!