Why was my return rejected?

Your tax return may be rejected by the IRS for a number of reasons. Here’s what you should know and do about a rejected tax return.

The IRS generally rejects tax returns that have missing or incorrect information, like your legal name. For example, if you file your taxes with a nickname and not your full legal name, the IRS may reject your return. Missing or incorrect information is usually easy to correct, and most times you can refile online.

In some cases, your return may be rejected because a return was already filed with your Social Security number. This can happen if someone used your Social Security number to file on your behalf, to try to collect your tax refund. If this happens to you, you may need to send in a corrected tax return, depending on the issue. In this instance, you often will be required to mail in a corrected return.

Your return generally won’t be rejected if your math is wrong. For instance, if you calculate that you owe the IRS $1,000 in taxes and the agency finds a mistake indicating you actually owe them more, say $1,500, it will accept your return, make the correction, and send you a letter indicating your new balance.

During tax season, scammers may reach out to you about issues with your tax return or bill. The IRS will not reach out to you via text or email. Instead, you’ll receive a letter if your return is rejected, with the reason why printed there. If you receive a phone call asking you to pay a sum of money to fix or correct your taxes, it’s likely a scam.