Electronic Filing Assistance

If you receive a message that your return was rejected, there are steps you can take. If you find a mistake, you can correct the error and re-submit your return electronically. 

1. Identify the Error: Read the rejection message you receive to find the specific error. If your tax return is rejected by Illinois, you will receive a reject message with an explanation of why it was not accepted. Go back through your return and look for possible mistakes you may have made, starting with the form, schedule, or specific line mentioned within the reject message. Most returns are rejected due to a typo, misspelling, or math error. Compare the information you entered to your tax documents and ensure all information has been entered accurately.
2. Correct & Resubmit: Log in, fix the error, and resubmit through your software.
3. Paper File: If the return keeps being rejected, you must print, sign, and mail your tax return.

For additional help, you can call Taxpayer Assistance at 800 732-8866 M-F from 8 AM to 5 PM.

IL-1040-8100-1 Reject Message

The Primary Taxpayer Prior Year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) did not match the Prior Year AGI on the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) production file. This figure can be found on your prior year IL-1040 Line 1, or Federal Form 1040 or 1040SR Line 11. If your AGI was adjusted in the prior year due to an amendment or correction by you or IDOR you should report the most recent AGI. You can find your prior year AGI by logging in to your MyTax Illinois account at mytax.illinois.gov or by referring to the line by line on an adjustment letter received from IDOR. Please note that to be on the IDOR production file the prior year return must have been accepted and processed. If PC Online return, at least one of the following Primary Taxpayer signature fields must be present and match the IDOR production file: Primary IL-Pin, Primary Prior Year AGI, or Primary IL Drivers License/State ID Number. For more information, visit our website at tax.illinois.gov or call Taxpayer Assistance at 800 732-8866 M-F from 8 AM to 5 PM.

IL-1040-10000-1 Reject Message

The Secondary Taxpayer Prior Year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) did not match the Prior Year AGI on the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) production file. This figure can be found on your prior year IL-1040 Line 1, or Federal Form 1040 or 1040SR Line 11. If your AGI was adjusted in the prior year due to an amendment or correction by you or IDOR you should report the most recent AGI. You can find your prior year AGI by logging in to your MyTax Illinois account at mytax.illinois.gov or by referring to the line by line on an adjustment letter received from IDOR. Please note that to be on the IDOR production file the prior year return must have been accepted and processed. If PC Online return is Married Filing Joint, at least one of the following Secondary Taxpayer signature fields must be present and match the IDOR production file: Secondary IL-Pin, Secondary Prior Year AGI, or Secondary IL Drivers License/State ID Number. For more information, visit our website at tax.illinois.gov or call Taxpayer Assistance at 800 732-8866 M-F from 8 AM to 5 PM.

ILHEADER-8500-3 Reject Message

For the FormIL1040, Step1A, Primary TaxpayerSSN, or Secondary TaxpayerSSN when FormIL1040 Step 1B FilingStatus is equal to Married Filing Joint, must not duplicate the Primary TaxpayerSSN or Secondary TaxpayerSSN when FormIL1040 Step 1B FilingStatus is equal to Married Filing Joint, of any previously accepted return for the tax year. If you are attempting to respond to a notice you received from IDOR (such as a Return Correction Notice or Notice of Proposed Tax Due), send a copy of that letter along with any information requested. To make changes to your original return, you must complete Form IL-1040-X, Amended Individual Income Tax Return. See the Form IL-1040-X instructions for more information. If you feel you may be a victim of identity theft, you must file a paper Form IL-1040 along with all required supporting documentation. If you have questions, visit our website at tax.illinois.gov or call Taxpayer Assistance at 800 732-8866 M-F from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Incorrect AGI/PIN/Driver’s License

• If this is your first-year filing in Illinois, your software should require your full Illinois Driver’s License or State ID information to be entered. If you do not have an Illinois Driver’s License or State ID, you cannot file your first Illinois return using online software. However, you may be able to go to a tax professional’s brick and mortar office and submit your return electronically with them.
• The IL-PIN is the account number we assign after you have filed an Illinois individual income tax return. If you have been assigned an IL-PIN, you may access it by using our IL-PIN Inquiry in MyTax Illinois or calling us at 800 732-8866. Before you make an inquiry, have your Illinois Driver's License/State ID or prior year adjusted gross income readily available.
•  If your Prior Year AGI doesn’t match the Prior Year AGI on the IDOR production file, there may be:
  • No prior year return on file with IDOR. This may be because:
    • The prior year return was rejected.
    • The prior year return was filed under an incorrect SSN/ITIN.
    • The prior year return was received but was unable to be processed.
    • The prior year return had a notice issued regarding verification of identity, and no response to that notice was received by IDOR.
  • A change or correction was made to the return by the taxpayer or IDOR after the original filing. Did you file an IL-1040X, Amended Individual Income Tax return, or did you receive a letter stating the department made an adjustment to your return?
  • A typo in the number provided, or the incorrect line was entered from your prior year return. This amount can be found on your prior year IL-1040(X), Line 1, or your federal Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, Line 11.
• If you filed in Illinois before, most software allows for you to enter any one of our three “shared secrets”, prior year AGI, IL PIN, or Illinois Driver’s License number. If you are having trouble getting a specific shared secret to be accepted, you can typically go back through your filing software and choose another one of the options to sign your return electronically.

Duplicate SSN

• If you are attempting to respond to a notice you received from IDOR (such as a Return Correction Notice or Notice of Proposed Tax Due), send a copy of that letter along with any information requested.
• If you are attempting to make changes to your original return, you must complete Form IL-1040-X, Amended Individual Income Tax Return. See the Form IL-1040-X instructions for more information.
• If you feel you may be a victim of identity theft, you must file a paper Form IL-1040 along with all required supporting documentation. 

Account Holder Name

• Whenever you submit a payment with your electronic return, you must enter the account holder name for the bank account being used. The name should match the statement you receive for the bank account being used. Using only a short version, single name, or nickname will cause a mismatch and can lead to problems during account verification.

Why won’t tax preparation programs accept my driver’s license or state ID information?

If this is your first year filing in Illinois, your driver’s license or state ID information must be entered exactly as it appears on your card issued by the Illinois Secretary of State. Your 12-character license or state ID number starts or ends, respectively, with the first letter of your last name. Make sure you do not enter any punctuation after your middle initial, and do not enter an invalid suffix (valid suffixes are Sr, Jr, II, etc. and are not Mr., Ms., your gender, or your pronouns).

Examples of common entry errors:

• Entering just your driver’s license or state ID number, rather than entering every field. If this is your first year filing in Illinois, every field must be entered. If the software does not prompt you to enter every field, you may have to go back through the software and answer the question “Is this your first year filing in Illinois?” differently.
• Using a Middle Name when only a Middle Initial is shown
• Using a Middle Initial when a full Middle Name was shown
• Using a different weight from what is shown
• Using a Suffix when none is shown
• Not using a Suffix when one is shown
• Typos
• ID is too new and is not yet in IDOR’s system

Why won’t electronic tax preparation programs accept my Prior Year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)?

If your Prior Year AGI doesn’t match the Prior Year AGI on the IDOR production file, there may be:

1. No prior year return on file with IDOR. This may be because:

• The prior year return was rejected.
• The prior year return was filed under an incorrect SSN/ITIN.
• The prior year return was received but was unable to be processed.
• The prior year return had a notice issued regarding verification of identity, and no response to that notice was received by IDOR.

2. A change or correction was made to the return by the taxpayer or IDOR after the original filing.

3. A typo in the number provided, or the incorrect line was entered from your prior year return.

• This figure can be found on your prior year IL-1040 Line 1 or your federal Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, Line 11.