Fixing problems
Form 990-N rejected: how to find out why and fix it
If your 990-N shows "Rejected," sign back in to the IRS e-Postcard system, open Manage Form 990-N Submissions and click the Submission ID to see why. Fix that item and submit a new e-Postcard. If the status says anything other than Pending, Accepted or Rejected, call IRS Customer Account Services at 877-829-5500.
Where do I see why my 990-N was rejected?
The IRS doesn't email you about a rejection or an acceptance (IRS). To see what happened:
- Sign in to the IRS e-Postcard system with the same Login.gov or ID.me account you filed with.
- Go to Manage Form 990-N Submissions. It lists every e-Postcard you've submitted and its status.
- If it says Rejected, click the Submission ID link for the details (IRS).
What do Pending, Accepted and Rejected mean?
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | Submitted, not processed yet | Wait about seven minutes, refresh the page, and click Get Updated Status |
| Accepted | The IRS has your e-Postcard | Nothing. Print the TEOS listing for your records once it appears |
| Rejected | The IRS didn't accept it | Click the Submission ID, fix the problem, and file again |
| Anything else, such as "submitted" or "MeF failed" | Something went wrong on the IRS side | Call Customer Account Services at 877-829-5500 |
The IRS user guide says that once the status updates, "the only valid statuses are 'Accepted' or 'Rejected'" (IRS Publication 5248).
Common reasons, and the fix for each
| What went wrong | The fix |
|---|---|
| The IRS doesn't recognize your EIN as a 990-N filer | An officer calls 877-829-5500 to be set up, then allows about six weeks. See EIN not found |
| A text field has special characters or is too long | Use only letters, numbers and hyphens, 35 characters at most. Periods, slashes and most special characters cause errors (Pub 5248) |
| The website is entered as "http://…" | Enter it starting "www." (Pub 5248) |
| Your legal name changed and the IRS doesn't have the new one | Report the change to the IRS first. If the IRS hasn't confirmed it by your due date, that year needs a paper Form 990 or 990-EZ instead (IRS) |
Do I fix it, or file again?
File again. You can't amend a 990-N (IRS). After a rejection, fix the problem and submit the e-Postcard again. If you're not sure the new one went through, call 877-829-5500.
Taking a few weeks to sort it out won't cost you a penalty. There's no penalty for a late e-Postcard (IRS). The three-year rule still applies, so don't let it drift past your next deadline. See two years behind if that's close.
How do I prove it was accepted?
Print the confirmation page when you submit, because you can't print it later. The IRS says that copy is "for reference only" and doesn't confirm acceptance (IRS).
The proof is the listing in the IRS's Tax Exempt Organization Search. An accepted e-Postcard shows up there within up to four weeks, and you can print it.
See whether the IRS has your 990-N on record
When to call the IRS
Call TE/GE Customer Account Services at 877-829-5500 if:
- the status is anything other than Pending, Accepted or Rejected;
- the rejection details don't make sense;
- the system won't let you file at all.
The IRS says that if you can't fix a filing problem, "a representative will file your Form 990-N information" (IRS).