To open a return, follow these steps: Sign in to your TaxAct account online. Under My Returns & Details, choose the applicable year in the 20YY Returns drop-list. Locate your return and click Open Return. If you have printed or e-filed, you will see a Save as PDF option to the left of the Open […]
Are all taxpayers who file electronically required to pay any balance due electronically? No. Taxpayers who prefer to pay by check or money order should file Form 1040-V Payment Voucher. What if I filed last year’s return using an ITIN (IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)? If the taxpayer had an ITIN (IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification […]
The IRS Free File (FFA) program is offered through the IRS/State website. Guidelines for each trusted partner are detailed on the site. If you qualify, there are a few points worth noting. You are under no obligation to buy any products or services. When choosing a company, be sure to click the link to their […]
Use the e-File and Tax Refund Status webpage to check the status of your own income tax return filed through the TaxAct. Note. If you cannot find your return status: You may be entering the wrong Social Security Number (SSN). The SSN entered should be the primary taxpayer SSN for the return (first SSN listed on Form […]
The TaxAct program will allow you to e-file up to 20 Seller-Financed Mortgage (SFM) statements. If you have more than 20 SFM statements, you can still complete your tax return in TaxAct, but you will not be able to e-file. To ensure the correct amounts will be transferred to the main return, total the amounts […]
To indicate in the TaxAct program that you receive your mail in care of a third party, follow the steps below. Online Dashboard From within your TaxAct return, click Resources. On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection. Under My Return, click Federal Search. Click […]
See Topic No. 157 Change Your Address – How to Notify the IRS for details on when you need to file Form 8822 – Change of Mailing Address. Federal Form 8822 is available in the following TaxAct programs: Professional Editions – 1040, 1065, 1120-S, and 1120 returns Consumer 1040 Edition You can use the Forms […]
Nontaxable combat pay is generally reported on Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement in Box 12 with code “Q.” To fill out Form W-2, Box 12 – Letter code and Amount, you must first add Form W-2. If you need help, go to the Form W-2 – Adding, Reviewing or Deleting FAQ. Then, follow the steps […]
You may need to mail a paper return to the IRS or state agency if: You prefer mail over e-file (personal preference) Your e-file was rejected and must be paper-filed to correct the problem* You’re filing your return after the October deadline (IRS is no longer accepting e-filed returns) Online Dashboard To print a paper […]
If the IRS rejects an e-file, and the reject states that the Name, Social Security Number (SSN), or Date of Birth of either the primary taxpayer or spouse does not match the information currently available in the IRS database, that does not necessarily mean the information you are entering is incorrect, just that it does […]
As of January 1, 2025, savings bonds can no longer be purchased using a tax refund. To purchase a savings bond, taxpayers can visit https://treasurydirect.gov/.
Deadlines for federal returns vary by return type. Most states comply with the federal filing deadline, but we recommend that you check with your individual state taxing authority to confirm. See State Return Due Dates for details. Note: If your area has been declared a federal disaster area, check the IRS Tax Relief in Disaster Situations webpage for more […]
Form 7004 is used to request an automatic extension of time to file certain business income tax, information and other returns, including Forms 1041, 1065, 1120, and 1120-S. Generally, Form 7004 must be filed on or before the regular due date of the applicable tax return and can be filed electronically for most returns. Notes […]
Filing your return is just the beginning! There are a lot of different situations and questions that arise after filing a tax return. Below are some of the most common questions that arise after filing. Refund Status After your return has been accepted, you can check the status of your refund on the IRS Where’s […]
As a taxpayer, it is your responsibility to ensure that your tax return has been successfully filed and accepted by the IRS or your state agency. Check your e-file status – Visit our Check E-File Taxes Status FAQ for assistance with our E-File and Tax Refund Status webpage. Track your federal refund – Use the IRS Where’s My Refund? webpage to […]
The requirements for filing a state extension vary by state. The process for your specific state will be explained in the filing steps. See Form 4868 – Filing a Federal Individual Tax Return Extension (Consumer) for detailed steps. In some cases, no extension form is needed. The program will indicate what is required for your […]
You can use the TaxAct Consumer Edition products Online (using a web browser) or on your Desktop (download the program). We offer a number of programs and packages to fit everyone’s tax filing needs. When you click the links below, they will each take you to a different webpage, and you can click either Online […]
You will see an Alert in the program titled Error or Omission: Missing Form 1095-A if you indicated in the return that you purchased health insurance through a government-sponsored Marketplace, but have not yet entered the information from Form 1095-A Health Insurance Marketplace Statement in the program. This Alert will prevent the electronic filing of […]
If you encounter the following Red Alert during the e-filing process: Error or Omission: Electronic FilingThis return does not qualify for electronic filing. It means that the IRS will reject the return based on their e-filing rules. Why This Happens: Your return must include at least one of the following to be eligible for e-filing: Taxable Income Adjustments to Income Tax […]
These instructions only preview Federal Form 1040. This selection does not include any schedules or other forms. From within your TaxAct return, click My Return, then click My Return Details. On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection. If using dashboards, click Resources and then […]
You can prepare a previous year’s tax return with TaxAct. See TaxAct Software For Previous Years for details as to which program you may need to use. Most individuals who wish to file their own prior-year return will need to print and mail it. If you have been issued an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number […]
Once a return has been submitted electronically, it cannot be stopped. It will be transmitted to the IRS and processed. You will receive an acknowledgement from the IRS indicating the acceptance or rejection of your return, generally within 48 hours after they receive it. If the IRS rejects the return, you can make necessary corrections […]
The IRS e-file processing system generally accepts or rejects tax returns within seconds or minutes. If your return is accepted, and you later discover that you made an error on your e-filed return or you have received additional information (example: Form W-2) that needs to be included in the return, you will need to file […]
Below you will find information regarding each states driver license requirements for filing returns. Alabama – The Alabama Department of Revenue is committed to fighting stolen identity refund fraud. To that end, the Department request that taxpayer’s driver license number or State Issued ID number, as well as the state that issued it, the issue date and expiration […]
Complete the following steps to ensure your return is correct. It’s your responsibility to ensure that the return is accurate and has been successfully filed. Step 1: Review Your Return and Locate Information Before beginning the e-file process, print your return and look over your entries (if you intend to e-file your state return, complete […]
How the IRS confirms your identity when you e-file: When you print and mail your tax return, your signature validates the information and personally identifies you. When you e-file, you don’t have that option. In lieu of a physical signature, the IRS uses a Self-Select PIN method to electronically authorize your e-file. How to create […]
To file a return in TaxAct, you must complete the filing steps from within your return. To file your TaxAct return, go to our File My Return with TaxAct FAQ. After you submit your return, you should receive an email within 24-48 hours indicating that your return has been received by TaxAct and submitted to […]
If you receive a Publisher Could Not be Verified warning while installing the TaxAct program on your computer, read the warning. Click Yes or Run or whatever option necessary to verify that the program is coming from a trusted source. When installing TaxAct, you can trust our program to be virus-free. Ensure that you download […]
Data entry errors are the most common cause of rejections. Carefully review all entries related to your rejection to avoid further problems. For specific information regarding an error code, see Most Common E-File Error and Rejection Codes. After you correct any errors, review the return and resubmit. If you need help, go to our Steps […]
If you are seeing the Red Alert Error or Omission: Ordinary and Rental Activities on Single Schedule K-1 when reviewing your return, this is due to entering an amount in both the Ordinary business income or loss field for the Schedule K-1 and the Net rental real estate income or loss. This alert includes passive […]
Every Form 1099-MISC Miscellaneous Income needs to be assigned to one of the following schedules or worksheets: For the self-employed, freelancers, and independent contractors – Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business (Sole Proprietorship), For those that own rental and royalty property – Schedule E (Form 1040) Supplemental Income and Loss, or Other […]
To request an email notification for when a form becomes available, follow the steps below. Online From within your paid TaxAct return, click the Print Center drop-down, then click Return, and then click Print. The Print Center window will display a list of forms that are not available at this time. Click Sign up to […]
If you are seeing a red alert about your adjustment for Marketplace Health Insurance, it may be because a positive number was made for the adjustment to the Marketplace premiums during the Premium Tax Credit Q&A. This adjustment entry may need to be a negative number, which you can correct within the Alerts section. To […]
The Internal Revenue Service has issued several consumer warnings regarding the fraudulent use of the IRS name or logo to illegally gain access to financial information for the purpose of identity theft. Because these emails are sent out as “bait,” this is called “phishing.” In some cases, these fraudulent emails may also contain links to […]
While there does not appear to be any reference on Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return nor in the IRS instructions requiring that a return contain taxable income, adjustments to income, tax liability, credits, other taxes, or tax payments, the IRS does have a rejection code that will reject any return e-filed that does […]
You do not need a driver’s license number to file a federal return. Some states may request your driver’s license number for state tax returns because they have the ability to match state records and help confirm your identity. This is one more layer of protection against identity thieves. TaxAct will prompt you for your […]
A red alert appears when one of the Partners is a grantor trust and has a Partner type of DISREGARDED ENTITY. The DISREGARDED ENTITY has a Social Security Number(SSN), but not an Employer Identification Number (EIN). For Partner types that are Disregarded Entities, the program requires an EIN. Error or Omission: Inconsistent ID Number(s)The identification […]
To view and/or print your e-filing instructions: From within your TaxAct Online return, click Print Center down the left to expand, then click Instructions/Reports. Check the instructions/reports you wish to print, and enter the appropriate Number of Copies. Click Print, then click the PDF link. Click the printer icon or the save icon (available when […]
If you are seeing the Red Alert in the electronic filing steps, Error or Omission: Form W-2G – Winner State Abbreviation, this is indicating you have not entered a state of residency for the taxpayer or spouse on Form W-2G Certain Gambling Winnings, an entry made in the Basic Information section of the Q&A (in […]
If a return was e-filed using your personal information and you did not file that return, we recommend you immediately contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (or through the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490). You will need to paper-file your return with an explanation of the situation and documentation verifying the Social Security Number […]
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Troubleshooting Data Entry Issues on TaxAct If you’re experiencing problems typing in data entry fields—such as entering your name on a TaxAct form without it appearing or receiving an “invalid username or password” message when signing in—try the following steps: Check Your Input – Ensure you are typing correctly in the field. Disable Autofill – […]
The Red Alert in the electronic filing steps: “Error or Omission: Electronic Filing” with the following text, indicates there is an inherited IRA entered in the return with a prior basis (or there has not yet been an indication the prior basis was zero). This return does not qualify for electronic filing. The IRS does […]
TaxAct does support the e-filing of pass-through income reported on PA Schedules RK-1 and NRK-1; however, does NOT support the e-filing of pass-through income reported on Federal Schedule K-1. If the taxpayer received a PA Schedule RK-1 or Schedule NRK-1, then the taxpayer must indicate that within the Pennsylvania Q&A. If you are seeing the […]
TaxAct supports a number of election statements within the business programs, but these are generated based on certain information the user enters in the return. We do not support an additional form for user-entered elections. If you wish to attach additional information, you would need to paper file the return to include those attachments.
If you come across a Red Alert, and see there is a question on that screen with “N/A” as a selection, the alert may be asking that you switch your “N/A” selection to “Yes” or “No” instead. Although the alert may not be directly related to any other information on the screen, you will, of […]
The TaxAct Attachment Manager allows you to attach PDF copies of supporting documentation to your return. The program will determine which optional or required attachments apply to you. Only PDFs can be attached to your return. If you have a paper copy of your attachment, you will need to use a scanner to create a […]
In the TaxAct® program, you can attach certain documentation to your Federal and/or State tax return. When documentation is necessary, the program will prompt you to upload the documentation during the e-filing steps. You can attach a PDF document to your Federal return for the following situations: Form 8949 Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital […]
If you are seeing the Red Alert “Error or Omission: Form 8815 – Bond Interest” when reviewing your return, it is likely due to the amount entered on Line 6 of Form 8815 Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989 (For Filers With Qualified Higher Education Expenses) being […]
If you receive a red alert about inconsistent ID numbers, it is because the identification number entered for one (or more) of the partners does not match the entity type selected for that partner. For an Individual (or Nominee Individual) Partner, enter the partner’s Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). For […]
The yellow alert Warning: Excess FICA Credit states in the TaxAct program: “Return to the Wages topic and confirm that you have properly identified the owner of each Form W-2, W-2GU, W-2AS, and W-2VI, and W-2CM. A credit for excess FICA withholding of $XXX has been included on your return. If you have incorrectly labeled […]
If you have data to enter for Box 9 from Form 1099-DIV Dividends and Distributions, review your return by running the Double-Check feature. There will be a Yellow warning titled Warning: Form 1099-DIV – Liquidation Distributions which will provide additional information. Generally, when you receive distributions of your stock from a liquidating corporation, you will […]
If your federal return is rejected with IRS Reject Codes: “IND-664,” “IND-665,” “IND-666”, or “IND-667,” then the primary or secondary taxpayer’s Social Security Number (SSN) appears more than once in the IRS files for the prior tax year. Therefore, they are unable to match the information and will not allow you to use the self-select […]
In most cases, you cannot e-file a return which contains a Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement with no wages in Box 1. You will see the following alert when there is a Form W-2 in the return that contains information, but does not contain any wages in Box 1. Error or Omission: Form W-2 […]
A taxpayer that is under age 16 at the end of the year and has never filed a tax return does not qualify to e-file. In this case, there are two options: A paid tax preparer can complete and e-file the return The taxpayer can paper file the return If the taxpayer is under 16 […]
While going through the Alerts in the program, if you see the Red Alert Error or Omission: Missing Information, it may relate to entering a donated property item on Form 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions for an amount greater than $500 and not completing Part I, Line 1, Column G for the Donor’s Cost or Adjusted […]
The Centralized Authorization File (CAF) number is a 9-digit number assigned to individuals based on the filing of Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative. Per IRS Instructions for Form 2848 Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, on page 4: Line 2. Representative(s) Enter the full name and mailing address of your […]
The mailing address for Form 8453 U.S. Individual Income Tax Transmittal for an IRS e-file Return: Internal Revenue Service Attn: Shipping and Receiving, 0254 Receipt and Control Branch Austin, TX 73344-0254
The format of all forms that print with a return in the TaxAct program have been approved by the IRS and each State. The printing of the forms are correct and will be accepted for your return.
Although TaxAct® provides the ability for desktop users of the product to override fields in the return if they wish, numerous Alerts are generated to warn of the consequences of doing so. The first key pressed to change a field that would be considered an override (changing a calculation made by the program) triggers a […]
When entering a military address, the only valid city entries are APO (Army Post Office), DPO (Diplomatic Post Office), or FPO (Fleet Post Office). Related Links What are APO/FPO/DPO addresses, and how can I send a care package to one? Note that any link in the information above is updated each year automatically and will […]
The most common cause of incorrect ZIP code errors is the selection of the wrong state. For example, Wal-Mart employees often receive an error for choosing AZ (Arizona) instead of the correct state of AR (Arkansas). Please verify that you have entered the correct state information. If you have verified that you entered the correct […]
You can cancel scheduled Electronic Funds Withdrawals (EFW) by contacting the IRS e-file Payment Services at 1-888-353-4537. They can also help you change your banking information for future payments. It is possible they will direct you to use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) available at the IRS EFTPS website. For more information, go […]
If the return that was accepted by the IRS did not contain valid banking information for a direct debit of the amount due (information entered either through the electronic filing steps or on the Electronic Filing Worksheet), you have the following payment options available to you: Pay your taxes electronically by using the free Electronic […]
A Section 83(b) Election is made to include the value of restricted property at the time of transfer (minus any amount you paid for the property) in your income for the year it is transferred. If you make this choice, the substantial vesting rules do not apply and, generally, any later appreciation in value is […]
The IRS Modernized e-File (MeF) Internet Filing webpage allows you to receive notification of Federal acceptance or rejection almost instantaneously. When a return is transmitted through the MeF system, notifications of acceptance contain a Federal Submission ID (20 digits) instead of a Declaration Control Number (DCN) (14 digits). Note that any link in the information […]
A yellow alert indicates that you may or may not need to take any additional action. It is informational only and does not indicate any errors on the return. The alert continues to generate so that you may go back and change your entry if need be. However, once you are satisfied with your entry, […]
If you need to submit certain forms (or attachments) with your return, you are still able to e-file. However, you will need to complete and mail in Form 8453 U.S. Individual Income Tax Transmittal for an IRS e-file Return along with the forms or attachments. Acceptable attachments to Form 8453 include Form 1098-C Contributions of […]
The IRS Modernized e-Filing (MeF) system allows you to receive notification of federal acceptance or rejection almost instantaneously. When a return is transmitted through the MeF system, notifications of acceptance contain a Federal Submission ID instead of a Declaration Control Number (DCN).
If you need help printing filing instructions, go to our Print Filing Instructions Online and Desktop FAQ. Related Links Common Printing Difficulties – TaxAct Online Navigating Within Your TaxAct Online Return .
To file a return in TaxAct®, you must complete the filing steps in the program. To begin the filing process, click Filing (on smaller devices, click in the top left corner of your screen, then click Filing). You will choose to either file your return electronically or mail a paper return to the IRS/state agency. Filing Electronically To file […]
The following taxpayers are not eligible to use the Self-Select Pin method and need to mail a paper return: Primary taxpayers under age 16 who have never filed. Secondary taxpayers (spouse) under age 16 who did not file in the prior year.
If the return was accepted Once your return has been accepted, you can no longer make changes to it in the TaxAct program. You must create an amended return in order to make changes to your return. Go to our Form 1040-X – How to Create an Amended Return FAQ for more information. If the […]
Where is my Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) located on my prior year return? Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Line 11 – (round amount to the nearest dollar) If you used TaxAct Desktop to file the return, you can find the return file on your computer. Go to our Consumer Editions – Locating Return […]
