# TaxWise error codes: 631, sign-in codes and MeF validation errors

Source: https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/pro-software/taxwise-error-codes
Publisher: Tax Software Desk (taxsoftwaredesk.com), independent editorial site
Topic: Tax Pro Software Errors
Last updated: 2026-09-19

> The TaxWise error codes people hit most are error 631, which CCH says means TaxWise was open on a workstation while an update installed, and rejected sign-in codes, which usually come from an expired code, since TaxWise's authenticator codes change every 30 seconds. MeF validation errors are IRS rules and are fixed on the return itself.

## Key facts

- Error 631: Program is being updated; close TaxWise on every workstation
- If 631 persists: Delete mutex.dat and update.dat
- Authenticator code life: New code every 30 seconds
- TaxWise Online MFA: Phone call or SMS only; email no longer supported
- Rejected e-file resend window: 5 calendar days after the due date

## Where does Wolters Kluwer document TaxWise error codes?

Wolters Kluwer documents TaxWise error codes in the CCH support knowledge base at support.cch.com, where articles are titled with the number and message, such as 631 - This program is being updated. Search with the full message text. Tax Software Desk is independent and is not affiliated with Wolters Kluwer or CCH.

TaxWise problems fall into three groups: program messages at startup or after updates, sign-in and authentication failures, and e-file validation errors or rejects. The first two stop you from working; the third stops only one return.

## What does TaxWise error 631 mean?

TaxWise error 631 reads (631) This program is being updated. Please exit immediately and re-enter after update has been applied. CCH says it happens when TaxWise was running or locked open on one or more workstations while an update was being installed, so the update never finished cleanly.

1. Close TaxWise on every workstation that shares the installation, including computers left open overnight.
2. Apply the update again from the computer that installs updates.
3. If the message returns, delete the mutex.dat and update.dat files, which TaxWise uses as update lock markers, and open TaxWise again.

> **Schedule updates when no one is working:** Error 631 is a locking problem, not damaged data. Installing updates before the office opens, with every station signed out, prevents most repeats.

A different startup message, Closing TaxWise because of the following errors, has its own CCH article. Read the lines listed under that heading and search the knowledge base for them, since they name the actual cause.

## Why is my TaxWise authentication code not working?

A TaxWise authentication code not working is usually expired or entered for the wrong account. CCH's TaxWise login guide says each code is valid only for that application and that user, and a new code is generated every 30 seconds. A wrong or expired code brings back a prompt asking for a valid code.

1. Wait for a fresh code and type it in right away rather than reusing one you read earlier.
2. Confirm the authenticator entry you are reading is for TaxWise and for your own user ID; codes do not work across users.
3. Check that the phone's date and time are set automatically. Time-based codes depend on the device clock, and a phone that is a minute off produces codes the server rejects.
4. If you lost or replaced the phone, ask your TaxWise Admin user to reset your device pairing. You can pair the new device at your next login.
5. On TaxWise Online, remember email is no longer a multi-factor option; codes arrive by phone call or SMS, so check the phone number on your profile.

## TaxWise login problems that are not the code

If the TaxWise login fails before the code prompt, the problem is the user ID, password or registration rather than multi-factor authentication. New installations need the Registration Code issued after purchase, tied to your Client ID, before anyone can sign in.

- Confirm the exact user ID with your site or office administrator, since IDs are set up per preparer.
- Check Caps Lock and keyboard language before retyping the password, and stop after a few failed tries so you can get help instead of guessing.
- If no one has the Registration Code, contact Wolters Kluwer support through support.cch.com with the Client ID ready.

## How do I fix MeF validation errors in TaxWise?

MeF validation errors in TaxWise are IRS Modernized e-File business rules, so the fix is always to correct the return data the rule names and create the e-file again. CCH keeps a knowledge base article titled How do I correct validation errors in TaxWise for the program-specific screens.

The IRS timing rules in Publication 1345 apply to every TaxWise reject. A rejected return is treated as not filed. If it was first transmitted by the due date, a corrected e-file resent by the fifth calendar day after the due date is still timely; otherwise a paper return filed by the later of the due date or 10 calendar days after the rejection counts as timely if it explains the delay.

Small fixes may not need new signatures. Publication 1345 allows resending without new signatures when total income or AGI changes by $50 or less and total tax, withholding, refund or amount owed changes by $14 or less. Common individual rejects, such as a prior-year AGI mismatch, are explained from the filer's side in our [prior-year AGI or PIN](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/efile-fixes/prior-year-agi-or-pin) guide.

## Tips for volunteer site setups

Many community and volunteer sites run TaxWise on shared laptops, which makes error 631 and code problems more frequent. IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites generally serve people earning $69,000 or less, people with disabilities, people 60 or older and people needing language help, based on 2025 tax year figures.

- Have the site coordinator install updates on every laptop before the site opens, with TaxWise closed on all of them.
- Give each volunteer their own TaxWise user ID and authenticator pairing; shared logins break the one-user, one-code rule.
- Keep an Admin user available on site days to reset device pairing for volunteers who change phones.
- Follow IRS Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights, for protecting taxpayer data on shared equipment.

Compare how other professional programs handle similar problems in [Drake Software error codes](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/pro-software/drake-software-error-codes) and [ProSeries error codes](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/pro-software/proseries-error-codes), or return to the [professional tax software hub](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/pro-software).

## Common questions

### How do I get rid of TaxWise error 631?

Close TaxWise on every workstation and apply the update again. If the error continues, CCH says to delete the mutex.dat and update.dat files.

### How often does the TaxWise authentication code change?

A new code is generated every 30 seconds, according to CCH's TaxWise login guide. Enter a fresh code promptly, and make sure your phone's clock is set automatically.

### What if I lost the phone I use for TaxWise authentication?

Your TaxWise Admin user can reset your device pairing. At your next login you can pair a new device and continue.

### Can I get TaxWise Online codes by email?

No. Wolters Kluwer says email is no longer supported for TaxWise Online multi-factor authentication; codes come by phone call or SMS.

### Are TaxWise MeF validation errors the same as IRS reject codes?

They come from the same IRS Modernized e-File business rules. The difference is timing: a validation error is caught before or at transmission, while a reject comes back in the acknowledgment.

## Sources

- [CCH Knowledge Base: 631 - This program is being updated](https://support.cch.com/kb/solution/000043614)
- [CCH: TWD15 - Logging into TaxWise (PDF)](https://support.cch.com/apioss/Knowledge/GetAttachement?AttachementId=068Vt00000SiV04IAF&AttachementName=TWD15+-+Logging+into+TaxWise.pdf)
- [Getting Started with TaxWise 2025](https://support.taxwise.com/taxna/getting-started/taxwise/2025)
- [Publication 1345, Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file Providers](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1345.pdf)
- [IRS e-file options (VITA and TCE eligibility)](https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options)
- [Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4299.pdf)