topic Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR? in State tax filing

Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

thebakers4 — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:54:30 GMT

I’m not a business, but my CA state tax is asking for form 3804-CR. Why?

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

Anonymous_ — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 00:45:09 GMT

See https://support.cch.com/kb/solution/000156788/000138857?IsNewArticle=True

The 3804-CR is used by a member on their individual return to list the partnership and S Corporation K-1s received reporting the amount of tax paid on their behalf by the Pass-through entity and calculate an amount allowed as a credit on their personal return or carried over into a following year.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

jaeden311 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:35:19 GMT

This make zero sense to a lot of people that are stuck in this situation.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

battebe — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:58:48 GMT

The response to this question is a non-starter. I have hit the same roadblock during the preparation of my California 2022 return. I have never (knowingly) been eligible for payments from a Partnership or an S-corp. entity. I have never claimed income, credits, adjustments or deductions emanating from a partnership or S-corp. relationship. Why out of nowhere am I being advised by TurboTax Deluxe that I am missing Form 3804-CR? Even when this form becomes available around 1/26/23 (as suggested by Intuit), I still will have nothing to report. Can someone please take a look at this issue and respond with a real answer, rather than simply regurgitating the widely published FTB definition/description of the official purpose of Form 3804-CR. We are already aware of its purpose. The question was "why is TurboTax asking for this form", if the subject of this form has no applicabiliy to the filer, and why should we be required to submit it?

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

AliciaP1 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 21:32:14 GMT

It would be helpful to have a TurboTax ".tax2022" file that is experiencing this issue.

You can send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information.  If you would like to do this, here are the instructions for TurboTax Online users:

Go to the black panel on the left side of your program and select Tax Tools.

Then select Tools below Tax Tools.
A window will pop up which says Tools Center.
On this screen, select Share my file with Agent.
You will see a message explaining what the diagnostic copy is.  Click okay through this screen and then you will get a Token number.
Reply to this thread with your Token number. This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.

We will then be able to see exactly what you are seeing and we can determine what exactly is going on in your return and provide you with a resolution.

If you are using TurboTax Desktop please comment back and I will give you those instructions.

@battebe

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

eiwhite11 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 21:39:16 GMT

This is a huge issue. I was teaching my adult son how to use TurboTax so that he can file himself next year. He has a very simple tax return and it is stopping him from filing without this form which has nothing to do with him and we did not enter anything that should have triggered it. It is stating that he cannot file his taxes without this form, available on the 26th, that is a waste of our time. Please fix this bug!

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

battebe — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 00:37:47 GMT

Thank you for responding to my post regarding TurboTax California Return requiring Form 3804-CR. I am running TurboTax Deluxe from my desktop. You may need to send me alternative instructions for creating a "diagnostic file" of my return, as I cannot find anything on my TurboTax Deluxe launch screen that provides access to any tools. I anxiously await your reply. battebe

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

VolvoGirl — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 00:44:28 GMT

For the Desktop program go up to the menu bar to Online (menu bar says File Edit View Tools Online Help)

Click on Send Tax File to Agent

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

battebe — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 00:45:29 GMT

Sorry, I did finally find the tool for creating an "agent" file. It is located under the "Online" tab at the very top of the TurboTax window. Consequently, the token number for my 2022 return is 1051337. Thanks for assistance.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

SHetkey — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 17:56:55 GMT

I'm not a Business and have no K-1 or Q, why am I being asked for form 3804-CR

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 21:16:11 GMT

No I paid to "upgrade" only to be able to ask someone bs that is completely not related to me, what the heck? The "answers" are completely not helpful to anyone. People clearly state no business interest.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 21:18:10 GMT

How is this "best answer" it doesn't solve anything for the requestor. Its a stupid copy paste answer, obviously the questioner is aware what it is and says its not related. That is the problem, this stupid form is showing up to people who claim no to have business interest. The answer is not helpful at all.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

TaxGirlRenee — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 01:48:28 GMT

I was stuck on this too, you can delete the form and then return with filing successfully. In the desktop version, click on forms (icon at top right corner of program). Click on the form in the list and choose "Delete Form".

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

battebe — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 16:01:54 GMT

Hi TaxGirlRenee:

You clever person. Your "work-around" got me beyond my roadblock. As you suggested, I deleted the Form 3804-CR from the list of forms downloaded with my California software. On returning to my 2022 Return, I was able to proceed with filing my return. It would appear that TurboTax has internal instructions not to allow the filing of a return, if "any" of the tax forms are still pending final release. Had I waited until the form was released (purportedly on 1/26/23) I may have been able to complete my filing without a hitch. If that is the case, then this would still appear to be a glitch in the TurboTax software. I can think of no legitimate reason TurboTax should block the filing of a return simply because they have not yet released an updated version of a form, unless that form was needed for that particular filing. Anyway, thank you so much for your assistance. Hopefully other users experiencing this problem will find your post and will also be able to work around TurboTax's apparent glitch.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

DebbieN — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 16:46:56 GMT

Thank you for posting the solution! So simple yet I never thought about deleting the form.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

thedonster — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 17:28:26 GMT

I am using the 2022 desk top version of Turbo Tax and I am getting this same issue.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

thedonster — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 17:33:20 GMT

I have the same issue.

Thanks for your instructions.

I was able to send data so they can debug their program,

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

thedonster — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 17:52:44 GMT

Me too and your information is/was a viable work around.

Thanks for sharing this information.

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

vonrotz — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 19:23:10 GMT

I'm using the desktop version and have run into this issue, also. What do I do to fix it?

Thanks

Roger

Re: Why is my CA tax return asking for 3804-CR?

Tuki — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 02:53:06 GMT

Thank you so much!
I think you're my hero now 🙂