How To Fix IRS Error Code 2001?

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Users have reported that they are facing the IRS error code 2001 while filing their tax returns online on the IRS website.

This is an issue with the authentication of your account. When the IRS website cannot identify who you are, they will not allow you to file your tax returns. This can happen for many different reasons such as incorrect Social Security number, Name mismatch, incorrect birthdate, etc.

If case you are entering everything correctly then the issue may be because of server problems and device problems.


How to get rid of the IRS error code 2001?


Fix 1: Confirm your personal information

Since the issue is about your account not being authenticated by the IRS website, the first step that you should take is to check your personal information.

An online tax return form needs a lot of information entered. You need to enter your name, Social Security number, and birthdate to confirm your identity. Since there are so many columns that you need to enter information in, the scope of error also increases.

Take a look at the information that you have entered in every column and make sure that there is not a single letter or number out of place. Keep your government-issued authentication handy so that you can match the information that you have entered. Or that all the information entered is correct, you can move towards the other solutions.


Fix 2: Try again later

The IRS website is not the brightest website on the Internet. There are many issues on the website that repeatedly cause server failure.

During the tax season, when so many users are trying to file their online taxes, the server might crash because it is not able to take the load of high traffic. For the maintenance of the crash server, the IRS website might take some time.

The solution is to wait and come back later. Of course, you can only do this if you have time. In some cases, when you’re filing last-minute returns, you do not have the liberty or luxury to be able to wait. In those cases, you will have to contact the IRS support.


Fix 3: Close all the conflicting programs

While trying to file an online return through the IRS website,  you must make sure that there are no conflicting programs running in the background.

Open the task manager to see what programs are running in the background when you face the error code on the IRS website. You need to shut down any programs that might be running at the same time competing for resources. 

This might help you with the error code.


Fix 4: Run a disk cleanup

The disk space on your computer might be the issue with the error code on the IRS website. A lot of junk files are stored on your computer in the form of cache data that needs to be cleared at regular intervals to free up disk space.

If your hard disk is also running low on space, you might need to clear that up too. These things will surely help the website to load faster even if it does not help you with the error code itself.


Fix 5: Contact the IRS Support team

When it is about filing your taxes, you cannot afford to make any mistakes because any mistakes that you make while filing your returns, you will have to pay for them later.

You can directly contact the IRS Support team to help you with the filing process. The number to contact IRS directly is 800-829-1040 in case of individual filings and 800-829-4933 in case of businesses.

When you contact them, they will help you get to the next step in the process.


Fix 6: File a Paper return

If you are not able to file the taxes online, you can file a paper return instead. If you have the time, you can go for this process.

It might take a little longer but the factors like server and device issues might not pose a hurdle in the filing process. People like the convenience of filing online because a paper return takes a lot of time and you have to make certain trips for the filing process but it is always better when you are facing authentication issues.


Fix 7: Employ the services of a tax professional

Filing taxes is not exactly a cakewalk for the common folk who are not well-versed in the financial language.

This is where the role of a tax professional comes in. They have a knowledge of all the processes that need to be completed before filing the taxes along with the solutions of the common issues that users might face when filing the tax return.

If you have the means, it is worth every penny to employ the services of a tax professional to help you with the taxes. Especially in the case of businesses, it is always better to get a tax professional on board.


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Falguni Rana is a technology writer who has expertise in software and hardware troubleshooting. She publishes how-to and troubleshooting guides for different apps, websites, games, and consumer hardware products.