There are still many IRS terms and codes that are a mystery to the average taxpayer. Tax terms can be confusing, whether you’re a first-time tax filer or have been filing tax returns for years. IRS Code 9001 is a common error code, but many people don’t know what it means. We’ll explore what the IRS Code 9001 is, and how to avoid it.
IRS Code 9001
You filed your federal income tax return a while ago and you are expecting a refund. You can check the status of your return and your refund check (for paper returns) or direct deposit (for electronic returns) at the IRS.gov website. The “Where’s My Refund?” portal also provides an estimate of when you should expect your refund.
If you receive an error code such as IRS Code 9001 when you check the status of your return, you may worry that your return has been flagged for an audit. Relax. In fact, IRS Code 9001 is one of an entire set of codes that are included within the Internal Revenue Manual (IRM), which is the set of guidelines used by the IRS. This is not an audit flag, but rather an error code generated when taxpayers attempt to access return or refund results using the wrong Social Security Number or TIN.
Where’s My Refund?
The IRS established the “Where’s My Refund?” portal to allow taxpayers to check the status of their federal income tax return and refund. To access the portal you need three pieces of information: your Social Security Number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), your filing status, and amount of the refund that you are expecting. This refund amount should be listed in whole dollars and must match the amount listed on your tax forms exactly.
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Most taxpayers include a SSN on their tax returns. But certain taxpayers, such as resident and nonresident aliens, are not eligible to get one. The TIN is designed to allow individuals to file federal and state income tax returns, without an SSN.
How to Fix an IRS Code 9001
In most instances, when you check the status of your return on the “Where’s My Refund?” portal, you will receive a message stating that your return is being processed or that your refund is on its way. Occasionally, you may receive one or more error codes, including IRS Code 9001: “Taxpayer accessed Refund Status using a secondary TIN. Refund Status could not be returned. Get a Primary TIN Analyze account and follow appropriate IRM.” The fix is simple – enter the proper Social Security number or TIN into the “Where’s My Refund?” portal. If you still receive error messages, contact the IRS or an expert such as an attorney with Optima Tax Relieve for further assistance.
Wondering where your tax refund is? Read our dedicated blog to learn more. If you need tax help, contact us for a free consultation.