The IRS rejects your return when the prior year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) you entered during e-filing consent doesn't match the figure in the IRS e-file database. To fix it, confirm your AGI from your last year's Form 1040, update it on the consent page, and resubmit.
Here's an overview of what we'll cover—click any section to jump ahead.
- Who This Applies To
- Why This Happens
- How Do You Fix It?
- When Should You Enter $0?
- What You Need to Know
- Related Resources
Who This Applies To
- You submitted your return and received a rejection referencing
PrimaryPriorYearAGIAmtorSpousePriorYearAGIAmt. - You used the Self-Select PIN method to sign your return electronically.
- You are filing a return for a year after your first year of US filing.
Error message you'll see:
"PrimaryPriorYearAGIAmt' in the Tax Return must match the e-file database."
Why This Happens
The IRS uses your prior year AGI as an identity check. It confirms that you are the person signing the return.
The information you entered on the e-filing consent page doesn't match what the IRS has on file. This is a signature validation issue, not a problem with the numbers on your actual return.
How Do You Fix It?
Step 1: Confirm your prior year AGI
If you filed your previous return with MyExpatTaxes:
- Log in to your MyExpatTaxes account.
- Go to the Previous Year's Documents page.
- Open your prior year tax return and check Form 1040 for your AGI.
If you filed elsewhere, contact your previous tax preparer, or pull the figure yourself from your IRS online account. Online transcripts are available immediately, while mailed transcripts take 5 to 10 days.
Step 2: Update the AGI and resubmit
- Go to the e-filing consent page.
- Update the AGI figure.
- Click Save in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Resubmit your return.
When Should You Enter $0?
In some cases the IRS has no AGI on file for you, and $0 is the correct entry:
- You mailed your prior year return and the IRS hasn't processed it yet. Paper returns from abroad can take months to post.
- This is your first year filing a US return.
- You previously filed with an ITIN and are now filing with a Social Security number.
If your AGI from the adjusted gross income line is rejected and one of these applies to you, try entering $0.
What You Need to Know
- Enter the AGI exactly as it appears on your last filed US tax return. Don't round it, split it, or recalculate it.
- If you filed a joint return last year, both you and your spouse use the same combined AGI, even if you are filing separately this year.
- If you filed separately last year and are filing jointly this year, each spouse enters their own individual prior year AGI.
- A rejection doesn't mean your return was wrong or late. As long as you resubmit and the IRS accepts it within the correction window, your original submission date generally stands.
- If your amended return changed your AGI, use the AGI from your original return, not the amended figure.
Related Resources
- Get your IRS tax transcript — look for the line labeled Adjusted Gross Income.
- Validating your electronically filed tax return — IRS guidance on the Self-Select PIN and prior year AGI.
- E-filing consent page
- Federal Return E-filing Consent (Form 8879)
Still stuck? Email our support team at team@myexpattaxes.com, or open the Support tab on myexpattaxes.com and start a chat. We'll take a look at your submission.