There is an error in the office in home form. It pulls he wrong number from schedule C

[scott62556]

I found my issue.  I had entered the % of home used for business into the % of time used for business field.  This reduced my deduction.

[LeticiaF1]

The number that gets pulled into the calculation of the office-in-home Form 8829 line 8 is the tentative profit or loss from line 29 of Schedule C.  Sometimes this number needs to be adjusted by:

• Adding any capital gains from the business use of your home (from Form 8949 or 4797)
• Subtracting any business losses that are related to your business but not related to the physical use of your home

Due to these adjustments, the number that carries in to Form 8829 isn't always the same number as line 29 of Schedule C.  For more information, refer to Instructions for Form 8829 (2025).

If you are referring to a different calculation, let us know and we can help with any other questions.  

Can I take the home office deduction?

Where do I enter the home office deduction for my business?

 

[dragonswng2]

The 2025 software is pulling line 28 from Schedule C  and putting it where line 29 is supposed to go.  To be more detailed your software is malfuctioning. It is taking the total expenses and putting it on form 8829 where Tentative profit should go. Thus causing the math to be wrong. Your software is also not allowing me to put in  Indirect expenses. This is a Major problem. 

[AnnetteB6]

If you are willing to provide a diagnostic copy of your tax data file, I can take a closer look to see what is going on with your home office expense to determine if there is something that needs to be corrected and reported to the development team.  The diagnostic file is a copy of your tax return that has all of your personal information removed. You can send one to us by following the directions below:

In addition to providing the token number in a follow-up thread, please also include which version of TurboTax you are using.  

TurboTax Online:

1. Sign into your online account.
2. Locate the Tax Tools on the left-hand side of the screen.
3. A drop-down will appear. Select Tools
4. On the pop-up screen, click on “Share my file with agent.”
5. This will generate a message that a diagnostic file gets sanitized and transmitted to us.
6. Please provide the Token Number that was generated in the response.

TurboTax Desktop/Download Versions:

1. Open your return.
2. Click the Online tab in the black bar across the top of TurboTax and select “Send Tax File to Agent” *
3. This will generate a message that a diagnostic copy will be created.  Click on OK and the tax file will be sanitized and transmitted to us.
4. Please provide the Token Number  (including the dash) that was generated in the response.

*(If using a MAC, go to the menu at the top of the screen, select Help, then, “Send Tax File to Agent”)

 @dragonswng2 

[bdrandco]

I am having this same problem.  The only way I can correct it is to delete the Form 8829 Wks but once I run the final check it reappears and changes all the numbers again.

Has this been fixed yet?

[PatriciaV]

In order to research this experience, we would like to have a diagnostic copy of a return with this issue. Please follow the instructions previously provided by AnnetteB6 and post a screenshot of your token in this thread. We will attempt to determine the cause of your experience and possibly provide you with a resolution. 

@bdrandco 

@dragonswng2 

@scott62556 

[scott62556]

In my case, the error was caused by my inadvertently entering 14 in the % of time used for business screen.  One I changed it to 100% everything was correct.

[bdrandco]

Thank you!  After reading several posts I entered 100% directly on the form and all was good.  It would be really nice if TurboTax had something in the narrative that would prompt the percentage.  I went over it repeatedly and never found anything.

[angierysanek]

I am having the exact same issue. The instructions on Form 8829 Line 8 clearly say to pull the number Schedule C Line 29 and then make adjustments. Instead TurboTax is inserting Schedule C Line 28 as a negative number. This causes the calculation for Line 15 to be wrong. Since I rent an apartment and do not have any adjustments on lines 9-13, this error results in Line 15 being calculated as zero and completely disallows business use of home. This is not correct. Form 8829 Line 8 should show my profit from Line 29. 

[angierysanek]

If you look at the lines, TurboTax is clearly pulling Schedule C Line 28 NOT Schedule C Line 29 as the starting point for this calculation AND it is making it a negative number.

[DawnC]

You have to enter the business percentage usage in the interview in order to to ensure the correct number is calculated on Schedule C @angierysanek -   Are you using the desktop product?   If so, go into Forms Mode and find the home office deduction worksheet and update the business percentage and the error will correct.     

If you are using Deluxe or Premier, the question may be missing from the interview and so the percentage must be entered in forms mode.  

[angierysanek]

Hi Dawn,

Thank you for your reply. I am using Desktop Premier. The questions were asked in the interview.  The percentage is shown on Form 8829 Line 7. The issue is that Line 8 is pulling from Schedule C Line 28 instead of Line 29.  Here is the rundown as it is currently shown on Schedule C and on Form 8829: 

Schedule C Line 28: 13,446 (Total Expenses)

Schedule C Line 29: 23835 (Tentative Profit)

Form 8829 Line 7: 10.34% (Business Percentage)

Form 8829 Line 8: -13,466 (SHOULD BE SCH C LINE 29 BUT IS FORM IS ACTUALLY SHOWING SCH C LINE 28 AND MAKING THAT NUMBER NEGATIVE)

Form 8829 Line 15: 0 (Total Direct & Indirect Expenses from home ownership- in my case 0 because i rent my home)

Form 8829 Line 26: 2344  (total Other Expenses)

Form 8829 Line 27: 0 (Allowable Operating Expenses)

As you can see, Form 8829 Line 8 is being entered as a negative number and is pulling from Sch C Line 28 instead of Sch C Line 29.  

Please advise on how to fix this glitch in the system.

[bdrandco]

I was using the Deluxe and the problem was fixed when I went directly to the form and entered the percentage.  You might try deleting the Form 8829 worksheet then when you run the final check it will re-create it.  I think the problem pulls from the worksheet.  Maybe that will help.

[AnnetteB6]

I tried to recreate the situation you described, but things seemed to be working for my test example.  If you would be willing to provide a diagnostic copy of your return so that either the situation can be explained or reported to the development team for further investigation, that would be helpful.  The diagnostic file will not contain personally identifiable information, only numbers related to your tax forms.  

To provide us with the diagnostic file, follow the instructions below and post the token number in a follow-up thread.

Use these steps if you are using TurboTax Online:

• Sign in to your account and be sure you are in your tax return.
• Select Tax Tools in the menu to the left.
• Select Tools.
• Select Share my file with agent.
• A pop-up message will appear, select OK to send the sanitized diagnostic copy to us.
• Post the token number here. 

If you are using a CD/downloaded version of TurboTax, use these steps:

• Select Online at the top of the screen.
• Select Send Tax File to Agent.
• Click OK.
• Post the token number here.

If you are using a Mac version of TurboTax, use these steps:

• Go to the Menu at the top of the screen and select Help.
• Then, Send Tax File to Agent.
• Post the token number here.

@angierysanek 

[angierysanek]

Token # 193514479842344-00603000

Thank you!