Tax Filing Failure Reasons
Understand tax filing failure reasons and follow guidance to resolve issues effectively.
When a tax filing fails, Check creates a Tax Filing Event object, which includes additional information about the failure. One of these fields is the category, which gives partners visibility into the reason for the failure; the label field may also provide an additional level of detail.
Below, you will find descriptions to better understand the possible category values, as well as recommended employer guidance for resolving each type of filing failure.
Category | Description | Example Employer Guidance |
Already Filed | A return is already on file for the company for this period. | We were unable to file because the agency had already received this filing this quarter. Please ensure that you have terminated services from your previous payroll provider, and that you have deactivate any auto-filing features in bookkeeping software. |
Applied For | Check does not have the necessary tax ID to file for this company; they have indicated that they’ve applied for this ID. | We do not have your company tax ID needed to file with this agency. Please provide this ID as soon as possible. |
Inactive Account | The employer’s account with the tax agency is inactive. | Please contact the tax agency directly to reactivate your account. |
Incorrect Account Setup | The company has wrongly indicated something in Check’s system vs. what the agency needs, such as SUI exemption. | Please ensure all tax elections and exemptions are accurately reflected. |
Invalid EIN | The company tax ID provided is invalid. | The relevant company tax ID provided is invalid; please update. |
Invalid SSN | One or more employee or contractor Social Security Numbers are invalid. | One or more employee or contractor Social Security Numbers are invalid; please update. |
Invalid Tax Rate | This failure reason is specific to certain SUI jurisdictions, and indicates that the tax rate provided by the employer is inaccurate. | The tax rate provided is inaccurate; please update. |
Late Company Reactivation | The employer was reactivated in Check’s system after the filing month. | Please request a late filing. |
Missing Historical Data | This failure reason is specific to Minnesota State Income Tax; indicates the tax payments to the agency do not match the tax payments in Check’s system. The website errors out the company and then we have to get TPA access to hand key the return. We could avoid this by requiring TPA for every MN client. Or, we add this as a flag and prevent future filings until resolved. | The tax payments in our system do not line up with the tax payments the tax agency has received. Please provide MN Third Party Authorization to resolve. |
Missing Prior Quarter | This failure reason is specific to Louisiana SUI, and means that because the Agency did not receive a successful filing in the prior quarter, they will not allow us to file this quarter. | The tax agency will not accept a tax filing for this quarter until the prior quarter’s filing(s) has been resolved. |
Not Liable | This employer does not owe taxes to this agency. | Please verify all workplaces and addresses are accurate and up-to-date to ensure we tax for the right jurisdictions. |
POA Failure | Check does not have the necessary Power of Attorney to file with this agency on behalf of this employer. | Please grant Power of Attorney to Check as soon as possible. Agency-specific instructions can be found here. |
TPA Failure | Check does not have the necessary Third Party Authorization to file with this agency on behalf of this employer. This failure reason applies to the following jurisdictions: Colorado State Unemployment, Colorado State Family and Medical Leave Insurance, Hawaii State Unemployment, Minnesota State Unemployment and New Mexico State Unemployment. | Please grant Third Party Authorization to Check as soon as possible. Agency-specific instructions can be found here. |
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