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Thank you, fanfare.   I hired a tax service in 2014, and they calculated a basis that was out of step with, and significantly higher than, my previous returns. I did not think to question it. I had been making nondeductible contributions to a Traditonal IRA, which did not affect the taxes owed — i.e., I paid the correct tax in 2014.   In 2025, I started converting to Roth, which will require an 8606 to report the conversion — and to correct my basis.   Question: Can you share the source for your recommendation to not attach an explanatory letter unless instructed by the IRS? I’ve heard otherwise.   Thanks again.

@xmasbaby0   Might want to let the moderator know that 2025 What-If Senior Ded on line 41e is not working right.  It works right in the 2024 program What-If worksheet.  I imagine the 2025 What-If is mainly for 2026 planning.  

My Home & Business prorgram What-If worksheet is working wonky for me too.  I'm having trouble entering amounts on it.  It shows 12,000 and it's not subtracted.  I closed TurboTax and reopened it.  Didn't help.  But FYI your Senior Deduction should be $5,507 for both spouses 65+.  

  The $6,000 senior deduction will be calculated on 1040 Schedule 1-A page 2 Part V Enhanced Deduction for Seniors which goes to 1040 line 13b. It is separate and in addition to the Standard Deduction or your Itemized Deductions on 1040 line 12e.  Turbol Tax automatically includes it. IRS Schedule 1-A https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/f1040s1a--dft.pdf

Thanks again.   I have self-employment income so need to file estimated taxes quarterly anyway and I use the 110% fail safe often. Here is the URL:   https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/investments-and-rental-properties/discussion/nua-question-need-answer-before-2025-year-end-sorry-and-thanks-so-much/00/3718716  

"....I submitted a paper version in July I was just sent back by the IRS...."    Please explain more --- is this correct----you used online "Live" help in 2024 to prepare a 2023 tax return, but did not actually file that return until July 2025 by mailing it?   When the IRS sent it back to you, there must have been a letter included with an explanation of why it was being sent back.   Did you sign the return and date it on the line that said "Sign here"?    Did the IRS send it back for your signature?   Or did they give you some other reason for sending it back to you?

What does it say if you try to get a transcript from the IRS?   What does it say in your IRS account online?     https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript   https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account  

Not sure why you think you could file as Head of Household.   Do you have a qualifying dependent?     You have not mentioned your age---which is important.   What is your age as of the end of 2025?   If you are younger than 24, your mother might be able to claim you as a qualifying child dependent if you have been a full-time student for at least five months in 2025; if you are older than 19, she might still be able to claim you as a qualifying relative if you had less than $5200 of income in 2025 (not counting any Social Security).      Even if you can be claimed as a dependent, you can file your own tax return to seek a refund of tax that was withheld from your paychecks, but you will need to say on your own return that someone else can claim you.   Consider the criteria for claiming a dependent and answer the IRS questions as if you are your mom: IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed: https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent       WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?   You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2025 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements: Qualifying child They're related to you. They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else. They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident. They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse. They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students). No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children. They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply). They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year. Qualifying relative They don't have to be related to you (despite the name). They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else. They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident. They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse. They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply). They made less than $5200 in 2025 (not counting Social Security) You provided more than half of their financial support. When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent. Related Information: What does "financially support another person" mean? What is a "qualifying person" for Head of Household?  

We cannot see your screen or your tax return so we do not know why it is saying you are not eligible for CTC or EIC.   Have you entered a W-2 from working or have you entered self-employment income?   You cannot receive those credits unless you have income from working, and the credits are based on the amount of income you received from working.   Tax documents like W-2's or 1099NEC's are normally issued by the end of January so maybe you are just entering the children's information too soon, before you enter your income.     Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number.    Careful— do not say that your child’s SSN is not valid for employment.  If your child was born in 2025 make sure you said he lived with you the whole year.  There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support.  Say NO to that question.   Have you entered income from working in 2025?  If not,  you will not receive an income tax refund based on having dependent children.     The maximum amount of the child tax credit is now $2000 per child; the refundable “additional child tax credit” amount is $1700.   In order to get that credit, you have to have income from working.   Take the amount you earned from working.   Subtract $2500.   Multiply the rest by 15%.  That is the additional child tax credit per child that you can get—- up to the maximum of $1700 per child.   If the amount you earned from working was low, you will not get the full $1700 per child.    If your child is older than 16 at the end of 2025, you do not get the CTC.  But you may still get the non-refundable $500 credit for other dependents instead.   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/child-tax-credit/L2lNhfGDl_US_en_US?uid=m68dfq2u   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/additional-child-tax-credit/L6xFeMFEf_US_en_US?uid=lqnuygah https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents     And for the Earned Income Credit—-   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/qualifications-earned-income-credit-eic-eitc/L7w4BFP32_US_en_US?uid=m62rmz09   https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant   https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p596.pdf   Look at your 2025 Form 1040 to see the child-related credits you received   PREVIEW 1040 https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/preview-turbotax-online-return-filing/L77WCkvnu_US_en_US?uid=m681fkhr   Child Tax Credit line 19 Credit for Other Dependents line 19 Earned Income Credit line 27 Additional Child Tax Credit line 28