IRS rejected e-file joint filing my wife's new SSN, should I paper file or wait a few weeks and try to e-file again?

[jaysaldi 213]

My wife recently got her social security card. We are still waiting for her green card interview.

 

Her card was issued on June 3.

 

I tried to e-file out taxes today, married filing jointly with her new SSN.

The e-filing was rejected.

I've seen conflicting info online - some say paper filing is always required the first year after issuance of SSN. Some say it just takes ten days or so for the SSN to get updated in the IRS system.

 

Should I file a paper return or wait a few weeks and try again? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[aratamorne 164]

Not a tax specialist by any means but when my wife came here we did not have to wait a year after she received her SSN nor file by paper the first time.  I would wait, try e-filing again, and if it still does not take, then you can mail in the paper forms.

[potatotoe 0]

Hi jaysaldi- am in the same position as you are. Tried efiling yesterday with new SSN and got rejected. Called Social Security to confirm personal info is fine and agent said to file by paper. 

 

I'm already filing by paper for ITIN process but if I were you, I'd wait a couple of weeks and efile again. Makes sense if the IRS hasn't gotten the updated info from SSA yet. Here is the additional info from my rejection notice from IRS:

 

Quote

If your spouse's last name has changed due to marriage or other reasons, but it hasn't been legally changed yet, you may want to use your spouse's old last name to e-file your return this year. Then you can change it with the Social Security Administration later so it will be updated in time for next year's return.

The IRS gets this information from the Social Security Administration (SSA), so you can visit your local SSA office or call 1-800-772-1213 to see if they have the correct information on their records. You can correct your information with them by filling out Form SS-5.

If the SSA corrects the information, please wait 10 days before trying to e-file your return again. If you can't wait that long, then choose to mail your return or file an extension.

 

[jaysaldi 213]

Thanks I'll wait a couple of weeks and try again

[jaysaldi 213]

I got impatient and tried again (two days later) and my return was accepted. I changed my wife's last name to all lowercase (there's normally a capital letter in the middle of my name) and removed her middle initial because her SS card doesn't have that. 

 

Not sure if the two day wait or the adjustment to her name is what led to success. 

[Ayrton 965]

1 hour ago, jaysaldi said:

I got impatient and tried again (two days later) and my return was accepted. I changed my wife's last name to all lowercase (there's normally a capital letter in the middle of my name) and removed her middle initial because her SS card doesn't have that. 

 

Not sure if the two day wait or the adjustment to her name is what led to success. 

The name needs to match what's in the card, so that's probably what fixed the issue.

[jaysaldi 213]

36 minutes ago, Ayrton said:

The name needs to match what's in the card, so that's probably what fixed the issue.

Yeah Turbotax and the IRS forms ask for a middle initial. Her SS card doesn't have one.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

11 hours ago, jaysaldi said:

Yeah Turbotax and the IRS forms ask for a middle initial. Her SS card doesn't have one.

When she gets a greencard, it will have the middle initial. She can go back to SSA office and update her status as a permanent resident. They will send a new Social Security card that matches the greencard name. Wait about 2 weeks from when she gets it so her greencard is updated in the SAVE database with her name and LPR status. Then your next tax return can have her middle initial. 

[jaysaldi 213]

8 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

When she gets a greencard, it will have the middle initial. She can go back to SSA office and update her status as a permanent resident. They will send a new Social Security card that matches the greencard name. Wait about 2 weeks from when she gets it so her greencard is updated in the SAVE database with her name and LPR status. Then your next tax return can have her middle initial. 

OK thanks