topic Re: Efile with form 3520 in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Efile with form 3520

ash2sap2 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:05:12 GMT

Hello,

I have a need to file form 3520 along with the 2023 tax return. I also completed form 8938 as part of the Turbotax to list the foreign account information.

However, at the last stage of review, TurboTax indicates that I cannot Efile since I have indicated that I will be filing form 3520 and indicated a count of 1 on the form 8938 for the Form 3520.

I checked with CPAs and it is perfectly ok from IRS side to Efile your return with this same set of information and send the Form 3520 as paper filing separately.

It seems to be a limitation on TurboTax side which must be resolved at the soonest since it is causing grievance and issues for customers.

Please assist and resolve this at the soonest to support e-filing along with the indication that there will be a form 3520 sent via paper mail.

Re: Efile with form 3520

AmyC — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 23:34:58 GMT

The Form 3520 is not part of the software. You can upload documents and attach things to the return but this does not yet relate to this form officially. When you mail your return, be sure to use tracking for the safe arrival of your forms.

Reference: Forms Not Included

Re: Efile with form 3520

ash2sap2 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:24:37 GMT

Thanks so much for your response. I understand that form 3520 is not part of the efile and it has to be paper mailed.

The question is why does Turbotax take away the efile option, given that the form 3520 is sent via paper and is NOT to be sent/filed along with the return as per the IRS filing requirements?

The solution should have been to let people still eFile and the Form 3520 would need to be anyway sent separately via paper mail.

This seems to be a limitation in Turbo tax's implementation.

Re: Efile with form 3520

DaveF1006 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:41:57 GMT

Yes, I agree. Turbo Tax does allow some returns to file electronically while allowing certain forms to be mailed in in a separate transmittal form. Perhaps at some point, a 3520 will be a form that can be submitted in a separate transmittal form but for now, this option is not available.

Re: Efile with form 3520

SL1234 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 18:25:52 GMT

Hello,

I'm in the same situation as the original poster. On form 8938 I have to mark off that I need to submit one (1) form 3520. I know this 3520 form needs to be submitted by mail. But the problem is that marking off that a form 3520 needs submitted now takes away the possibility to file the rest of the tax forms with efile.

This is something that must have changed in the latest 2023 TT version, as last year I was able to send my 3520 form by mail, while still being allowed by TT to efile the regular tax return.

So the question would be if the federal tax law has changed and no longer allows part of the tax return to be efiled and part to be mailed, or if this an error in the 2023 TT version, in which case I hope this can be resolved soon.

Re: Efile with form 3520

meszilag — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 21:54:34 GMT

I'm having the same issue - last year's, submission was fine - last year, I was able to send my 3520 form by mail while still being allowed by TT to file the regular tax return.

Re: Efile with form 3520

ash2sap2 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 23:37:54 GMT

Its almost like Turbotax ended up with a bug in their software or rolled back a feature they had added.

They should fix it to make it more seamless for their customers.

Re: Efile with form 3520

SL1234 — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:49:17 GMT

Considering Turbotax is not willing to solve this bug, has anyone in the same situation (8938 form marked with 1 form 3520 to be filed) tried efiling with a different software? Debating on cutting my loses (money spent on Turbotax) and buying TaxAct, or other software, as well so I can efile. And then just start using that software from now on for the next years instead of Turbotax.

Re: Efile with form 3520

ash2sap2 — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 17:15:16 GMT

I am not aware of any other software which allows e-file in this scenario, Any one else does?

Re: Efile with form 3520

Darenl — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 04:55:25 GMT

Hi has this been resolved or have you figured out what to do? Or end up filing by print out and mail it?

Re: Efile with form 3520

ronnierrl — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 01:51:21 GMT

Is there a way to submit a request to fix the bug on not allowing efile when the box for Form 3520 was checked on Schedule B? I hope TurboTax will fix the bug, so that I can still efile my Form 1040 and mail in the Form 3520 separately.

Re: Efile with form 3520

ash2sap2 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 02:34:06 GMT

Don't know for sure. I reported it via Support, but nothing has happened so far.

Re: Efile with form 3520

ash2sap2 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 02:34:52 GMT

I tried one of the competitor one's too and that has the same issue and did not allow e-filing. Guess, paper filing is the only option.

Re: Efile with form 3520

SL1234 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 02:44:29 GMT

I gave up on waiting on TT to fix this and went ahead and redid my taxes with TaxAct and I was able to file Federal and State online, and only send my 3520 by regular mail.

Re: Efile with form 3520

ronnierrl — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 17:18:04 GMT

I called the TurboTax Expert line, and he did a screenshare. He said that unfortunately, TurboTax will not allow efile when there is a Form 3520. We either need to use another software provider or mail it in.

Re: Efile with form 3520

spsefton — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 22:18:10 GMT

Has anyone tried reporting the same amounts disclosed on Form 3520 on form 8938 in TurboTax (it says you don't need to, but it doesn't say you can't) and then not entering this in the Number of Copies to be Filed field so that you can then e-file? It would work, but would it cause other issues with the IRS?

Re: Efile with form 3520

ronnierrl — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 03:29:13 GMT

I think as long you remove the number of Form 3520 from Part IV of Form 8938, TurboTax will allow you to e-file. However, there is a check mark on Form 3520 to indicate whether you filed Form 8938. In other words, these two forms talk to each other, so I personally will not risk an inconsistent filing which could increase my audit risk. I will paper file my federal return to make sure it is correct and consistent. However, I will remove the number to trig the system to allow me to e-file my state return as Form 8938 is not reqired to be attached to my state.

Re: Efile with form 3520

sean99 — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 06:07:41 GMT

Hi Dave - what if I leave the Number of Copied to be Filed to empty (or 0) for Form 3520 on Turbotax when I answer Foreign Financial Asset Already Reported question. Then I mail in my 1040 along with 3520 to IRS. Is there any inconsistency concerns? This is my first time file 3520. Print out over 100 pages of return form just because of 3520 is so inconvenient. Thanks

Re: Efile with form 3520

spsefton — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:13:54 GMT

This is true. The wording on Form 3520 c) is "Check if any excepted specified foreign financial assets are reported on this form." with meaning that you haven't reported them on 8938. If you don't check c) but report them on both 3520 and 8938 too then I wonder if this is good enough? The duplicative reporting change was brought in to make life easier, but because TT can't get its act together is actually makes it harder!

Re: Efile with form 3520

yihaow1229 — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 18:46:11 GMT

Hi,

I also need to file 3520 and I saw this topic. Seems like if you need to file both 8839 and 3520 then it will not be allowed to be efiled by TT? I am wondering if 3520 is the only form that I need to attach(actually mail), would it be applicable then(say no need to file 8839 as the value is always less than 10k in my oversea account), or will this still be risky as some said above these 2 forms are talking to each other.