Report flags / tax return
NUMBERS“The return is for a year that hasn't ended”
What this flag on a tax return means, why it matters, and what to check.
What it means
The return's tax year is the current year or later.
Why it matters
Form 1040 reports a whole calendar year, so it can't be filed until that year is over.
Ordinary explanations
- A draft or estimate prepared ahead, which isn't a filed return.
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.
Check a document for this and moreStubSure checks the file, the numbers and how documents line up, in about a minute.
Check a document — $3.99