You're right, tax liability reporting in the case of negative numbers can seem like it is being done incorrectly when rounding occurs. However, IRS has provided clear language that instructs taxpayers to round up when the amount is 50 cents and over, and down when it's 49 cents and lower.
The following can be found on the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch01.html
Computations
The following information may be useful in making the return easier to complete.
Rounding off dollars.
You can round off cents to whole dollars on your return and schedules. If you do round to whole dollars, you must round all amounts. To round, drop amounts under 50 cents and increase amounts from 50 to 99 cents to the next dollar. For example, $1.39 becomes $1 and $2.50 becomes $3.
If you have to add two or more amounts to figure the amount to enter on a line, include cents when adding the amounts and round off only the total.
If you are entering amounts that include cents, make sure to include the decimal point. There is no cents column on Form 1040 or 1040-SR.
Form 1099B doesn't allow a negative number for these transactions, so it causes an error.
Here is how to fix the issue in TurboTax:
You will need to revisit the input section for the Form 1099-B transactions. Use the following steps:
- On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
- This opens a box where you can type in “1099-B” and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
- The search results will give you an option to “Jump to 1099-B”
- Click on the blue “Jump to 1099-B” link
- Click Edit beside the institution name
- Click Edit beside each transaction that contains a wash sale adjustment amount of $0.49 or less
- Delete the wash sale adjustment amount and click Done
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