How should my expenses for two offices add up to zero?

[bid-rich]

I have two home offices due to moving (one for Jan-Feb, one for Mar-Apr). I am confused by the prompt that says, "Let's split your business expenses between your two home offices." In the prompts after this one, I provide this information, so I am confused why it asks again beforehand.

I am especially confused by the line that says, "If you've already entered all of your expenses, the expenses for your two offices should add up to zero." If I re-enter my expenses for both offices, they will not add up to zero. How would they?

I will attach a screenshot of the prompt (without any of my personal information).

Please help clarify this!

[BettyJoP]

Hi there, 

I would need more information to answer your question, if you could please provide us with a diagnostic copy of your return so that we can get a visual we would greatly appreciate it.  Don’t worry none of your personal information will be transferred over with it.  I have included steps below on how to generate that file.   

1.      Log in to your TurboTax Account
2.      Click on “Take me to my return”
3.      Click on “Tax Tools” Dropdown located on the left of your screen.
4.      Click on “Tools”
5.      Under “Other Helpful Links” you will see Share My File with Agent
6.      The program will then generate a Token # for you
7.      Please reply to this message with Token #

Thanks in advance. 

[bid-rich]

Thank you for the quick response! My Token # is 444842.

[BettyJoP]

Thank you for the Token #.  I am researching this now, and will let you know my findings soon.

[BettyJoP]

This screen is asking for an allocation of the Business Expenses to each home office.  So if all of your expenses on your Schedule C line 28 were $500.  You would allocate what portion of that amount belongs to each home office.  We apologize about the confusion that "zero" amount throws in there.  I will try to see if we can change the wording there so it won't be so confusing in the future.  If there is anything else we can help you with please let us know.  Thank you for your patience and being a valued TurboTax customer.

[cater31]

I am baffled by this screen as well.  It makes no sense.