Federal 941 Rejections: Common Errors and Resolutions
Overview
When filing Form 941 electronically, the IRS may reject submissions for various reasons. Below are common 941 rejection messages and the steps to resolve each one.
Rejection: R0000-914-01 — Duplicate Return Already Accepted
Message: "Taxpayer TIN in the Return Header must not be the same as the TIN of a previously accepted electronic return for the return type and quarter ending period indicated in the tax return."
What This Means: The IRS has already received and accepted a filing for the specified TIN for this return type and quarter.
How to Resolve:
Contact the IRS directly to obtain details about the previously submitted form, as they can provide additional information regarding the filing on record.
Rejection: R0000-901-01 — EIN and Name Control Do Not Match
Message: "Filer's EIN and Name Control in the Return Header must match data in the e-File database."
What This Means: The EIN and name control submitted do not match the information the IRS has on file.
How to Resolve:
- Verify that the EIN and name control are entered correctly.
- To update the EIN, navigate to Setup > Employer > Tax Information.
- To update the name control, navigate to Setup > E-Services > Taxes, then click on the Federal row in the table. A menu will appear on the right where the necessary update can be made.
Rejection: R0000-188 — Reporting Agent PIN Does Not Match
Message: "The Reporting Agent PIN in the Return Header must match the data in the e-File database."
What This Means: The Reporting Agent PIN submitted does not match the information the IRS has on file.
How to Resolve:
Verify that the PIN entered is correct. If an update is needed, navigate to Firm Administration > Firm Options > Reporting Agent tab to make the correction.