Complete the following steps to ensure your return is correct. It's your responsibility to ensure that the return is accurate and has been successfully filed.

Step 1: Review Your Return and Locate Information

Before beginning the e-file process, print your return and look over your entries (if you intend to e-file your state return, complete the state Q&A in addition to the federal Q&A). When reviewing your return, check the following:

• Names, birth dates, and SSNs entered in Basic Info
• Information entered on Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement and Form 1099 Miscellaneous Information
• Line entries for each form in the return

After reviewing your return, gather the following before starting the filing process:

• Locate Your Previous Year AGI. Required by the IRS to verify your identity (prior year AGI is zero (0) for first-time filers).
• Bank Routing Number and Account Number Location. Required for the IRS to deposit your refund or to deduct your tax payment.

Step 2: Begin the e-filing process

Go to our File My Return with TaxAct FAQ for help e-filing.

Step 3: Sign Your Return

The IRS requires all taxpayers e-filing to include an electronic signature. The only other option is to paper-file your return. Your electronic signature verifies your identity and authorizes your information. For more information, go to our "AGI,'Self-Select PIN,' and Electronic Authentication" FAQ.

You must provide your Prior-year AGI amount or Prior-year Self-Select PIN (the 5-digit Self-Select PIN you created to e-file last year) on the screen titled E- Filing - Prior-Year Information.

Step 4: Submit Your Return

Continue with the interview process to enter your information, and click Submit E-File. The next screen should indicate that the return was successfully submitted, meaning your return has been received by TaxAct and submitted to the IRS.

To check your TaxAct e-file status, go to our 2021 E-File and Tax Refund Status webpage. To see if the IRS accepted your return, go to the IRS Where's My Refund? webpage.

If your e-file wasn't successful, you need to resubmit; for help, go to our Correct and Resubmit E-Files FAQ.

Note that any link in the information above is updated each year automatically and will take you to the most recent version of the webpage or document at the time it is accessed.