All Posts

I learned that you can e-file with H&R block in this situation. I am planning to switch to H&R Block next year. I called Turbo Tax but they could not do anything to help. This is a bug in their software and they treated me as I am stupid by telling me that the IRS does not allow to e-file in this situation. I am a software engineer.

Yes, union dues are deductible on your PA state tax return (but not your federal return).   You can claim a deduction for an unreimbursed employee business expense by filing a PA Schedule UE, Allowable Employee Business Expenses form along with your PA-40 Personal Income Tax Return.   Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Unreimbursed Business Expenses   If you live in a state that lets you deduct job-related expenses, the information will flow from your federal return  to the state return, so enter it in Federal > Deductions and Credits > Employment Expenses > Job-Related Expenses

Are you manually entering your HSA contributions made through payroll in the HSA entry in TurboTax? If so, you shouldn't do that as you will be double-counting your contributions since it was reported on your W-2 Box 12 Code W. ‌You also need to make sure you have indicated you have a high-deductible health plan all year.    According to Why am I showing an excess HSA contribution?, the 2024 maximum for both employer and employee HSA contributions was $5,150 if you were 55 or older at the end of 2024 and are covered by an individual (self-only) HDHP. ‌If you were older than 54, check these entries:   Click on Federal Taxes,  Deduction & Credits Choose "add/edit" HSA, MSA Contributions You will see a page titled "Your HSA Summary" which will show any deductions already computed from your W-2   Choose Edit, Check the box for HSA, Continue You'll now see a screen that says "Here's what we have so far" with the information from the 1099-SA, choose "Edit" After the entry screen for the amount distributed, $4,202, continue and when it asks "Did you spend your HSA money on medical expenses only?" answer "Yes", if accurate.  Choose done and continue until you get to a screen that says "Let's enter your HSA contributions" In the box "Any contributions you personally made (not through your employer)" DON'T enter the amounts you contributed through paycheck withholding. It has already been considered through your W-2 entry. Continue on, and if you were covered by Medicare, you will need to indicate what months this was the case, as your contributions will be limited. Next, you will be asked if you were covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) in 2024? You need to have been covered the whole year to be allowed to make the maximum HSA contribution    

After chatting with Grok, which nails it every time, looks like this was a false alarm. Some income of the child was from a one-time gig, not a business, so not earned income, so the standard deduction calculation does not include it, and part of it ends up being taxable. Turbotax is fine. Thank you for the quick help.

When reporting income from Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) to the IRS, you should use the gross value of the income received from the sale of SRECs. This means you report the total amount before deducting any brokerage fees or other expenses.   Even  you don't receive a 1099-MISC from the brokers, you can still report this income under "Other Reportable Income" on your tax return:   Steps to Report SREC Income in TurboTax without a 1099-MISC   Open your return in TurboTax. Click on Income Scroll to bottom Income screen and click Add Income Scroll down to the Less Common Income next to Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C and select form Go Back to Income screen and click on pencil next to Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C and On the Miscellaneous Income screen, scroll down and select Other reportable income. When asked, "Any Other Taxable Income?", click Yes. Enter a description such as "SREC Income" and the total amount received from the sale of SRECs. For more detailed guidance, you can refer to the IRS's Frequently Asked Questions about Energy-Efficient Home Improvements and Residential Clean Energy Pro.   Original Post

Even if the student is filing their own return and not being claimed as a dependent on their parents' return, they have to be able to prove that they provided over 50% of their own support to claim the credit. 

I did my TT business taxes weeks ago and i put the detailed  fix for this problem in my 2025 tax return folder. I spent 6 hours trying to find a work around for this TT bug, I am away from home now and can't access my notes .I  remember going back to the input screen and deselecting the box checked for partner representative for the partners input data.   There is a post in the TT community help that is almost good enough except it worked for 2023 taxes but not 2024 taxes. if you can find the post it is 90 % correct. it addresses this same problem. sorry i cant get my step by step fix for you right now,  I know how frustrating this TT bug is