How to Resolve IRS Rejection Error Code 3000

A common type of IRS rejection occurs when personal information you entered to validate your identity for e-filing does not match the data the IRS has in its records. This is not an indication that your tax calculations are incorrect, but rather a security measure to prevent unauthorized filing.

Identifying the Cause of the Error

The most frequent cause for an e-file rejection is a mismatch with the prior-year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or the Self-Select PIN you entered. The IRS uses this information as a form of electronic signature to confirm you are the person filing the return. If you are filing your 2024 tax return, the system requires the AGI from your 2023 tax return.

Another reason for rejection is a discrepancy between the taxpayer’s name and Social Security Number (SSN) and the information held by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The name provided must be an exact match to the one on your Social Security card. This includes suffixes, hyphens, and middle initials. Issues often arise from recent name changes due to marriage or divorce that have not yet been updated with the SSA, or from simple data entry mistakes like transposing numbers in the SSN.

Steps to Resolve the Error

Find your copy of last year’s tax return, Form 1040, and locate your AGI. For the 2023 tax year, this amount is found on line 11. If you cannot find last year’s return, you can use the IRS’s “Get Transcript” tool on their website to view the AGI they have on record. You should also carefully check your Social Security card to confirm your full legal name and SSN.

Once you have verified the correct AGI and personal details, update them in your tax preparation software. Re-open your tax return and carefully re-enter your prior-year AGI, ensuring you do not use a rounded number unless the original was a whole dollar amount. After you have corrected the inaccurate information, re-submit your tax return electronically. Correcting the AGI or personal information will resolve the rejection, and there is no charge for re-submitting a rejected return.

Alternative Filing Method

If your return is repeatedly rejected after you have verified and corrected your information, filing a paper return is a reliable alternative. You will need to print a final copy of your completed tax return directly from your tax software. Ensure all pages of the return and any required schedules are included in the printout. Before mailing, you must sign and date the return in the designated space. If you are filing a joint return, both spouses are required to sign the Form 1040.

Mail the signed return to the IRS. The correct mailing address depends on the state you live in and whether you are enclosing a payment with your return. The IRS provides a dedicated webpage with a list of all appropriate mailing addresses for Form 1040. You can find this by searching for “Where to File Form 1040” on the IRS website.