Re: Entering carryover dependent FSA information for 2021
Hi Bill,
Well I filed my taxes using H&R Block Deluxe downloaded tax software. I have to say that H&R Block is not as user friendly with the interview process to complete Form 2441. For example, the interview did not ask me if I had a 2020 rollover or a 2021 forfeiture. However, it did walk me through entering the dependent care expenses that I incurred and was reimbursement for from my FSA plan in 2021. So I was lost at that point because the software was calculating a dependent child care tax credit on the expenses minus the amount in Box 10 of Form W-2. I started a live chat in the help section of the software to find out where in the software I could enter the rollover from 2020 to 2021 and the 2021 forfeiture. I was 41 deep in line, so I waited for half hour to get help that turned out not enlightening at all! I started exploring in the software based on the menu items available for me related to form 2441. I found the form and did an override on the line items where you enter the rollover and forfeiture. When I did that the calculation corrected itself to not calculated the childcare tax credit and entered the expected results on the correct lines. Like TurboTax, H&R Block software did not like this action and it forced me to go back and delete the overrides. The message was that you could not do overrides if you are filing electronically. I deleted the overrides and went back to the child and dependent care section of the interview process. When I was in that section, I notice at the bottom of the screen that they had a button for the 2441 form. I opened the form and I see the line items for the 2020 to 2021rollover field, and the 2021 forfeiture field. The software allowed me to enter that information on those respective lines and BINGO! I got the expected results, except that I noticed the the software kept the eligible expense on Part II, column C, but it put a zero value on Part II line 3, line 6, line 9a, and line 10. Part III, Line 30 and line 0 also has a zero value. I was happy with these results and when I did the final accuracy review check that I ran on my tax return came back with a message that no error were found in the tax return and I was able to electronically file the return. Both the Federal and State Returns were accepted by the respective tax agencies.
I think TurboTax is more designed for the consumer that does not know anything about how to complete tax forms if the interview does walk you through it, where H&R Block software expects you to know how to complete a tax form if additional information is need and where to put it on the tax form. With that being said, I think TurboTax should refund me the money I had to spend to purchase another tax software or find another means to complete my taxes on time. Can you direct me to where I can issue a complaint and ask for a partial refund on my software purchase?
Thanking you in advance
@Tag104
