Can I claim the $3000 Retired Public Safety Officer exclusion? i click yes on the form and didn't get the credit.

[brianc0610]

I do have a taxable income which is in box 2a, however there is nothing in 5 at all. I pay my health insurance on my own with the monies from my pension through the California exchange. I did get the question  if I am a Police Officer, but as mentioned in your last post the software only allows for entry if the administrator made the payments. The new law allows for the taxpayer to make the payment.

[BillM223]

"the software only allows for entry if the administrator made the payments. " No, I did not say that. If I did, please tell me where and I will correct it.

The updated law allows, as you note, that the payment be made by the pension recipient.

You say that you got the police officer question. How about the one after it, asking if you made a payment to an insurance company? Did you see that one?

[brianc0610]

Thanks for your help Bill.

So that question comes up, but it says, " Did your Pension Administrator Pay for Health Care?

If I answer yes, I can enter the $3000, however it would not be true as they did not.

If i answer , " no money wasn't taken out to pay for health insurance", then it bypasses the credit altogether.

Brian

[BillM223]

You are correct, the screen on the desktop product still says that (I'll check the Online product in a minute). Assume that it reads: "Did you or the pension administrator take money out from the pension...blahblahblah"

That is how you get the $3k deduction/exclusion (sorry, I have to be picky about terminology).

This is how you get TurboTax to give you a correct tax return. 

[brianc0610]

Thanks Bill...I am on the online version, so they both say the same. Thanks for your help in working through this.