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Sorry  There is a lot of confusion about this. For the Desktop Deluxe and above it's a free download of one state PROGRAM, not a free state efile. You can prepare unlimited federal and unlimited state returns. Some people need to file in more than one state so they have to buy another state program. You can print and mail the state for free or each state return including the first one is $20 early or 25 to efile. Except New York is free to efile state. Check the box or online description. It should say Federal + Efile + State. Not state efile.

That option doesn't exist for an amended return. Upon getting to the filing options, I have a choice to review both state and federal. State was accepted so I'm just trying to re-file federal and select e-file. The following screens say its validated my phone number and then ask to add identity protection PINs (we both have ours entered here).  After that it asks for ID. We're both using our driver's license.  From there, it does a final review and then submits.   At no point does it allow me to enter AGI from last year.

In the desktop product, there has always been a $25 fee to efile the state return (actually I think it used to be $20 several years ago.)   I have to pay it myself.  There is no state efile fee for NY state, and there is no fee to file the state return by mail.   The included state in a desktop product refers to the state program download, but the state efile fee is extra. . .

Thanks -- but, if that fee was 50% of the rental income (an amount that would get us to the same desired outcome - we each pay tax on half of the income), wouldn't that invite IRS scrutiny as above and beyond what would typically be reasonable for management fees?

Thank you so much for your reply! I feel like I am finally getting closer to an answer but I am still a little confused.   If I understand you correctly, you are advising that I enter the remaining $1080 in contributions currently unaccounted for as 'contributions personally made (not through employer)'. For additional context/clarification, this results in a summary window that shows a $1000 deduction but no listed excess contributions (though I do get a prompt asking if I want to withdraw the excess funds). I will also note that I was never prompted to specify if the excess contributions were personal or employer, but since they don't show up as 'excess company contributions' in the summary window, it seems they are deemed personal.   What confuses me is that these are NOT in fact personal contributions but contributions made by the insurance company. I've been doing some additional digging and the instructions for line 9 of Form 8889 state that 'contributions made by a health insurance plan on an employer's behalf' should be included as employer contributions. Why they aren't on the W-2 somewhere (e.g., box 14) is still unclear but this is what made/makes me think that the additional $1080 should be entered under the 'Do any of these situations apply' screen as 'other company contributions that weren't reported on their W-2'. Plus, for what it's worth, Gemini also thinks it should be reported in line 9 of Form 8889 when I ask specifically about my health insurance (G.E.H.A.) HSA contributions (but I always take those responses with a grain of salt). Doing that results in a summary with no deduction, $4300 tax-free company contributions (which tracks since the insurance contributions are also tax-free to my understanding), and $80 excess company contributions (and a smaller rebate).   Any additional guidance/resources that can help me make sense of the 'personal' vs 'employer' distinction here? (For what it is worth, the bank designates the insurance contributions as 'employer' but for some reason designated the 'bonus' $80 that caused all the problems as 'personal'.)   On a related note, if I follow through with your initial suggestion, I get an error that requires me to enter a year end HSA value. Does this need to match the value I used for my withdrawal calculations (which is a bit more than the the end of year value they are requesting)?   Interestingly, if I follow through with the second scenario, I also get an error but it's wanting me to enter a year end Roth IRA value but nothing about the HSA value, which seems like it has to be a bug.   Thanks again for your help.