Report flags / tax return
NUMBERS“Total income doesn't add up”
What this flag on a tax return means, why it matters, and what to check.
What it means
Line 9 (total income) isn't the sum of lines 1z, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7 and 8, the income lines above it.
Why it matters
Tax software adds these lines itself. Changing one income figure by hand usually leaves the total behind.
Ordinary explanations
- A line cut off or unreadable in the copy you received.
- A hand-filled return with an arithmetic slip.
What to check
Ask the applicant for the IRS tax return transcript for that year (free at irs.gov with Get Transcript, or with Form 4506-T), which shows the return as the IRS received it.
A flag is a reason to verify with the source, not proof. Apply the same steps to every applicant.
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