taxes

Verify that the Social Security Number is correct. Find your Social Security card and make sure that the name you used on the tax return matches the name on the card. Print out the tax return. Attach a note that the filing was rejected for the stated reason. Photocopy your driver's license or other photo ID and your Social Security card. Go to the post office retail window, not the retail kiosk. Pay the certified mail fee; you don't need to pay the additional fee for return receipt. Ask the window clerk to use the rubber date stamp on the certified mail receipt and make sure you have a clear impression. Save this with your records.

Perhaps someone will read the letter and flag the other tax return for use of the wrong SSN. I hope it's not fraud.

Obtaining and retaining that certified mail receipt is key to protecting your own interest here. This is why God invented certified mail.

I would assume that the electronic filing system verifies that the name and SSH matches as a minimal anti-fraud check, but I really have no idea. Where I still have the option to file on paper, that's what I do.

Who did you file the two tax returns for? Did you file two tax returns for yourself, both returns with your name and Social Security number? If so, that's why the second one was rejected. You can only file one tax return for each year. The reject is not saying that your Social Security number is the same as someone else's. It's saying that a tax return has already been filed with your Social Security number.

If that's what happened, you don't do anything right now. The first tax return is filed, and that's your tax return. If there's an error in it, or something omitted, you have to wait until the IRS processes your tax return and you get the refund. Then you can file an amended return, Form 1040-X to make the correction.

Bob Sandler

Bob Sandler <bob snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

If a corrected return is being filed before the due date of the original return, it's a superseding return, and is filed on Form 1040-SR. There is no indication in the instructions for the form that it can't be filed until the origial return is processed. In fact it has to be filed by the due date for the original return. Otherwise, as you say, the taxpayer files an amended return instead.

As a practical matter, a superseding return would have to be paper filed. If you try to e-file it, it will be rejected because a return has already been filed with the same SSN. Cliff Nielsen, who asked the question, is apparently e-filing.

Bob Sandler

A superseding return is NOT filed on Form 1040-SR. That is the form for senior returns. (The print is larger.) Superseding returns are filed using Form 1040-X as the cover and including a full copy of the corrected 1040 behind the 1040-X. The top of the first page of Form 1040 should be marked "SUPERSEDING RETURN."

Ira Smilovitz, EA Leonia, NJ

Superseding returns do not need to be paper filed. They can be efiled the same as any other amended return. The tax prep software adds an electronic indicator that the return is a superseding one. If your software doesn't provide this capability, I would look for new software.

Ira Smilovitz, EA Leonia, NJ

ira smilovitz snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote

Thanks. I misread the information.