Where is form 8853?

[k9208722637]

When will turbo tax get form 8853?

[HelenC12]

The IRS has not finalized the form and not given us permission to update our software. Form 8853, Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts is estimated to be available sometime on 2/18/2021. 

You must file Form 8853 if any of the following applies.

• You (or your employer) made contributions for 2020 to your Archer MSA.

• You are filing a joint return and your spouse (or his or her employer) made contributions for 2020 to your spouse's Archer MSA.

• You (or your spouse, if filing jointly) acquired an interest in an Archer MSA or a Medicare Advantage MSA because of the death of the account holder. See Death of Account Holder, later.

• You (or your spouse, if filing jointly) were a policyholder who received payments under an LTC insurance contract or received any accelerated death benefits from a life insurance policy on a per diem or other periodic basis in 2020. See the instructions for Section C, later.

• You (or your spouse, if filing jointly) received Archer MSA or Medicare Advantage MSA distributions in 2020.

Related information:

• Where do I enter Form 1099-LTC?

[taxdavid667]

This does not appear to be correct.  The 2020 version of Form 8853 has been available on the IRS website for some time, and there is no mention of any expected update.

[Irene2805]

We have to submit our forms to the IRS and state departments of revenue for approval and do rigorous testing before including them in our software.  We are working as quickly and efficiently as we can.   For current information on forms availability please click on the applicable link below:

• Federal forms
• State forms

Form 8853 should be available February 18.

[Edited links | 2/18/2021 7:26am PST]

[johnsteuber2267]

I am also waiting on this form approval to use for a MSA. 

[yankusd]

Your availability list states that Form 8853 won't be available until 3/31/22. Why such a long delay? I have the 1099-LTC that provides me the information to complete this form, which is the only item holding up my filing.

Besides, the Block website indicates that this form is currently availability.  We are seniors and we would like to file as soon as possible.  Do I have to switch to Block to get my taxes filed?

[rartis]

I called the IRS in DC last week. The lady told me 8853p2 was available two months ago?  

[RQUIAMZON]

yet another form Turbo tax can't handle. All other tax software companies are up to date with forms and filing. 

Time to switch.. H&R block..  

[RQUIAMZON]

NOT YET 

[RQUIAMZON]

looks like we need to. This has been a very bad bad bad year for turbo tax with forms. I assume their business will drop. Hopefully their CEO catches wind of this once the see the drop in sales. 

[GaryCPA]

This is ridiculous! A fairly common form - and they say it won't be available till the end of March! At least some of the competitors already have it available - why should we continue to use TurboTax when they can't get needed forms timely.

This on top of all of the issues with entering the activation code on many computers - this issue was around for LAST filing season and STILL has not been resolved!

[SweetieJean]

Please understand that the IRS must first approve TT's version (programming) of its form(s) before TT can release them.

@GaryCPA Are you a paid tax provider. If so, please note that TT is not licensed for your use.

[yankusd]

As Gary mentioned, several of the competitor's have form 8853 available, including Block, which I checked myself.  Why is TT asleep at the switch?

[GaryCPA]

@SweetieJean

If it's any of your business, in my 35 years as an active accountant, I never ONCE prepared a single tax return for pay - not one time! Only my personal returns and those of family, never more than 3 a year - and, again, never was paid for a single one!

As far as IRS approval - TT's competitors have the form in a usable format - why is TT so far behind? It's mid-Feb, competitors have theirs approved and it's going to take over another month for TT to get approval? With all the problems, this may be the last year I use TT - and I've been using it for many years!

[Ed2Help]

TT appears to have dropped the ball when other tax software companies have the from 8853 approved for use.

With fraudulent claims becoming more common, especially for those filing later rather than sooner, I would think TT would push to get all needed forms ready ASAP. At a minimum TT should be advising users waiting for forms to be approved by the IRS to apply for a security PIN before someone else attempts to file a return in their name fraudulently. TT might even be proactive and add that feature to their software for us as an act of good faith?