Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Here is the step-by-step path to ensure the software recognizes those 2024 payments properly.

Since you are filing your 2025 return, TurboTax will usually reject any birth year after 2025.

1.  Enter 2025 as the birth year.
2.  For a non-finalized adoption, this entry is simply a "folder" for your expenses on Form 8839. It does not grant you the Child Tax Credit (which requires an SSN and a real birth date). 
3. When the child is actually born/placed in 2026, you will update the permanent records on next year's return so that you will be able to report them as a dependent.

TurboTax asks for expenses based on the year they were paid. Because of the IRS rule for domestic adoptions, expenses paid in 2024 are claimed on the 2025 return.

1. In the Adoption Credit interview, look for the screen titled "Enter Expenses Paid for [Child's Name]." 
2. Do not enter the amount in the box for "Expenses paid in 2025."
3. Look for the box specifically labeled "Qualified expenses paid in 2024 (or prior years)."
4. Enter your 2024 total there. TurboTax will then apply the "Year After Payment" and pull that amount onto your 2025 Form 8839. 

If you do not have an ATIN or SSN yet, do the following:

1. First Name: Enter "Unknown" or "Baby."
2. SSN Field: Leave it blank.
3.  TurboTax will flag this as an "error" during the final review. You can ignore this. The IRS instructions for Form 8839 explicitly state that for a non-finalized adoption where a child hasn't been identified, you should leave the identifying number blank or enter "Unknown."  This is located in part 1, paragraph 1 of the instructions.

Even though the adoption isn't final,  TurboTax should now show you a refundable credit of up to $5,000 for these 2024 expenses. If you don't see this, double-check that you selected "No" to "Was the adoption finalized in 2025?"

You will need to print and mail this return since there is no SSN issued for the unborn child.