This is the crap that makes me want to quit using TurboTax and migrate to another program.
I finally figured out what numbers I needed to put in by reading the freaking IRS instructions on the form!
Here is a screenshot of the TurboTax entry form:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/h26pexfm7wkog3y/TurboTaxDataEntry.png?dl=0
First question -- why is TurboTax asking me what is on my 2020 Form 8915E?!? TurboTax filled out my 8915E last year, and I transferred last years forms into this year!
But, anyway, here's lines 12-19 from my 2020 8915-E as TurboTax 2021 filled it out. I have not made any repayments since I took the distribution.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tzpx2x9ax3awlb7/8915-E2020.png?dl=0
Here's the TurboTax confusing mumbo jumbo:
2020 Form 8915E, line 17, if you checked the box on that line, enter 0
2020 Form 8915E, line 18
2020 Form 8915E, line 17
Here's MY instructions:
Look at lines 16 and 17 on the 2020 Form 8915E. If the check-box in the middle of the instructions for line 17 is checked, then line 17 should be equal to line 16. If the check-box is not checked, then the amount on line 17 should be line 16 divided by 3 (one-third of the line 16 amount.)
NOW -- start filling out TurboTax form FROM THE BOTTOM LINE FIRST.
- In the bottom box, enter the amount on line 17 of the 2020 Form 8915E -- and no, that's not a typo, line 17 goes here. This will either be the amount on line 16 (box was checked) or one-third of the box on line 16 (box was not checked.)
- In the second box from the bottom, enter the amount from line 18 on the 2020 Form 8915E
- To decide what number to fill into the third box from the bottom -- that's the box to the right of the garbled nonsense "2020 Form 8915E, line 17, if you checked the box on that line, enter 0" -- follow these instructions.
- If the amounts on line 16 and 17 of the 2020 8915E are equal and the check box is checked, enter 0. (zero) in that box
- If the checkbox in line 17 on the 2020 8915E is not checked, and the amount on line 17 is one-third the amount on line 16, enter the amount on line 17 into that box.
This would have been a whole lot simpler if TurboTax would have just loaded the info that it filled out on last year's 8915E. Even if it couldn't do that, it should have simply asked for the numbers on lines 16, 17 & 18, and whether the box was checked...
